Boston Terrier

Search Boston Terrier Dog Info by Google® Boston Terriers (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) This manual focuses on the care of a friendly, intelligent dog that is easy to care for. Boston Terriers make ideal household companions, whether for a family or a lone apartment dweller. Barron’s Complete Pet Owner’s Manuals are written mainly for prospective and inexperienced pet owners, introducing them to the details and responsibilities of pet care. The heavily illustrated books in this series are also helpful for older children seeking pet care information and advice.

The Boston Terrier
Also known as: "The American Gentleman"


The Boston Terrier is a small, compact, sturdy and squarely built dog. The brachycephalic head has a pronounced stop. The eyes are big and protruding, the ears are small and erected and the tail is short, low-set and tapered. The Boston Terrier's facial expression is gentle but alert. The thorax is moderately deep and the legs are straight and relatively long.


The Boston Terrier has a short, fine, smooth and glossy coat that lays flat against the body. Accepted coat colors include black, brindle and seal with well demarcated and specifically distributed white patches. The distribution of the white patches makes this dog look like he is wearing a tuxedo.


The overall personality of the breed varies from individual to individual. Some are sassy and loud, while others are mellow and even-tempered. All Boston Terriers are affectionate, loving and gentle. They love children and get along well with other dogs and pets.

The Boston Terrier bonds strongly with its owner. He feels everything the owner does and is even capable of adjusting its behavior according to the owner's mood.

Boston Terriers are generally intelligent and eager to please, which makes the training relatively easy. However they can sometimes be stubborn and strong-willed. In those cases they need to be trained with persistence and consistency.

History
Luckily, the Boston Terrier's history is well recorded. It all started with a man named Robert C. Hooper, of Boston, whose dog was a mix between the now extinct White English Terriers and English Bulldogs. This dog, popularly known as Hooper's Judge, had an offspring that bred with French Bulldogs, thus giving rise to a completely new breed.

Initially the bred was named Bull Terrier, but later on the name was changed to Boston Terrier. Unfortunately during a certain period of time, the Boston Terrier was used in the blood sports of bull baiting and pit dog fighting.

Today, the Boston Terrier, also known as the American Gentleman, is a loving and cherished companion.

Health & Care

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: The ideal height at withers for both females and males is 15-17'' (38-43cm) and the ideal weight is between 10-25Ibs (5-11kg).

FOOD/DIET: As with any other dog breed, Boston Terriers should be fed healthy diets with high-quality protein sources and natural ingredients.

Boston Terriers are specifically prone to food allergies and sensitivities. To prevent such problems, depending on the dog's sensitivity, certain ingredients should be avoided. They are also gluttonous about their food and if not supervised tend to overeat.

HEALTH ISSUES: The Boston Terrier is prone to developing dermatological conditions (intertrigo generalized demodicosis, atopy, skin allergies, canine pinnal alopecia, pattern baldness, color-dilution alopecia, calcinosis circumscripta), endocrine conditions (hyperadrenocorticism), gastrointestinal conditions (pyloric stenosis), musculoskeletal conditions (craniomandibular osteopathy, congenital elbow luxation, perineal hernia, sacrocaudal dysgenesis), neoplastic conditions (mast cell tumors, melanoma, fibroma, primary brain tumor), neurological conditions (congenital deafness, hydrocephalus, cerebellar malformation, sacrocaudal dysgenesis, arachnoid cysts), ocular conditions (keratoconjunctivitis sicca, prolapse of the gland of the nictitating membrane, corneal dystrophy, cataract), renal and urinary conditions (urethral prolapsed), reproductive conditions (dystocia) and respiratory conditions (hypoplastic trachea).

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 13-14 years

FUN FACTS: A Boston Terrier, named Rhett, is the official costumed mascot for two educational institutions - the Boston University and the Boston University Academy.

Perhaps being one of the most iconic and recognizable breeds is the Boston Terrier as the breed originates here in the United States and is a popular breed of choice among families. The Boston Terrier has inherited many names that include the "Boston Bull", the "American Gentleman" or the "Boston Bull Terrier" which in-part is because of its personality and its origin.

The Boston Terrier is a breed that became so popular that it earned the title as the State Dog in Massachusetts which goes to show how respected this breed is as the Boston Terrier has some of the best traits that one could hope for as they're full of life, very intelligent and friendly with everyone that they meet.

They also have a beautiful dark coat of fur with someone having white spotty markings that distinguish them from other breeds.

Before delving in to this post where I'll be covering everything from training to dietary information for the Boston Terrier I want to touch base a bit on their personality which is one of the best among any breed.

Boston Terrier Personality

When it comes to the Boston Terrier they're unique as a breed as their personalities can vary quite substantially from terrier to terrier although this can be impacted by their owner and upbringing.

Boston Terriers are very friendly and are a great breed of choice for families or for those who are looking for a dog that they can involve in social/family activities. Whether you're going to a dog park, taking the Terrier on a car ride or simply going for a stroll thru the park your Boston Terrier would be more than happy to join along!

One attribute of this breed that's quite unique of other dogs is the fact that they're very focused when it comes to providing their attention to an individual. If you're sitting down with a Boston Terrier and giving it attention, it's going to give you attention back and usually will not leave your lap even if others are around.

Because of this reason and this reason alone the Boston Terrier has become an excellent companion breed for those who are elderly or are living alone as the Terrier will give "you" all of the attention that you could hope for.

Boston Terrier Physical Activity Requirements

There are no abnormal requirements when it comes to making sure your terrier is getting the proper exercise. The Boston Terrier while small enjoys running (and I mean running) and will be your best friend if you throw him/her a ball that they can fetch.

Since they're not as large as a majority of other breeds they won't require quite as much exercise as some other breeds but I personally would recommended that you provide at least 20 minutes per day of physical exercise (even just a neighborhood walk) in addition to at least 1-hour per week of extended physical activity (dog park, throwing the ball and playing fetch).

If you happen to adopt or assume ownership of a Boston Terrier during the puppy stages you may want to provide them with even more time per day/week to burn off all of the energy that they have.

Training your Boston Terrier Training a Boston Terrier at first can seem quite difficult although they're one of the easiest breeds to train and are highly response to proper training. From both personal experience and advice given to me by a trainer I can say that the key to successfully training a Boston Terrier is consistency as this is what this breed responds to.

Throughout the training of your Terrier it's important that you keep in mind to have patience and to not raise your tone at the terrier as this can cause the adverse reaction of the dog becoming stubborn to your training which you don't want to have happen.

Always speak in a soft/happy tone while at the same time being assertive. Yes, it's a delicate balance but taking disciplinary measures or raising your voice loud at the Terrior will not give you the results that you're aiming for while making it more difficult for the dog to be receptive to the training.

Behavioral Characteristics of the Boston Terrier

The Boston Terrier has another side of its friendly and understanding demeanor and that's its protective instincts. They are very intelligent and seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to sensing danger or unwanted company which is why it's a great breed to have if you're someone who lives alone and wants the companionship while also wanting a dog that will alert you of danger.

They bark a lot and that's something you'll quickly learn if you choose to take ownership of one although it's very rare that they involve themselves in physical altercations.

My friends Boston Terrier will aggressively bark at every dog they walk by although when up close and personal the Terrier acts like the other dogs best bud.

One thing to keep in mind if you're thinking about getting a terrier is the fact that they become attached to their owner(s) very quickly and as a result of this suffer quite a bit from separation anxiety if you leave them frequently or for long durations of time.

They'll let you know they're upset about being along when you come home and see furniture and other objects chewed up and bitten on as this is common behavior of terriers who are left to be by themselves.

If you happen to travel a lot for work or tend to be away from home a majority of the day the Boston Terrier wouldn't be a good breed for your home due to the separation anxiety that they'll be put thru.

Owning a Boston Terrier

Owning a Boston Terrior is a very rewarding experience as they’re understanding, intelligent, fun to play with and will give you their undivided attention. What more could you ask for from a dog?

Give them the same attention and love that they show you, engage in physical activities with them and involve them in social/family functions and they’ll be one of the best companions that you could ask for!

They’re full of life, fully of energy, very friendly and will help to put you in a great mood on a daily basis just by being around their personality!

The perfect all-around breed that will fit perfectly in to any family!