Boston Terrier: Training, Breed Temperament, Exercise Needs & Health

(Boston Bull)

Also known as: Boston Bull, Boston Bull Terrier

About Boston Terrier

In 1889, about thirty people from the Boston area organized the American Bull Terrier Club. Dogs known as "Round Heads" or "Bull Terriers" were bred and exhibited by these people. Bull Terrier breeders objected that these crosses were not Terriers and Bulldog breeders objected because they were not Bulldogs. In 1891 the name was changed to the Boston Terrier Club of America, (BTCA) and a standard was written. In 1893 the breed was accepted by the American Kennel Club.

By 1915 the breed was stabilized and had become the most popular in the country. They were number one in registrations in 1919, 1920 and 1930. The Boston Terrier remained in the Top Ten until 1960, but have slipped steadily since that time.

The Boston Terrier has become refined and standardized, has this intelligent and spunky little dog is a fitting representative of the spirit of independence from Boston Commons.

Description of the Dog

The Boston Terrier is a well proportioned dog which has a small, compact build. The ears are fairly large and erect, and they have extremely short tails as well as a short muzzle. The muzzle does not contain any wrinkles and the breed has an alert and intelligent expression.

Coat

The coat colors vary but white seems to be constantly present with black, seal, brindle, or a combination of all of the mentioned colors. Overall the seal color is the most common and it is described as a black color with red highlights which appear when they are out in bright sunlight. White generally always should cover the chest, the band of the neck, half way up the forelegs, the muzzle, and up to the hocks on the rear legs. If the dog is to be showed, then symmetrical markings are often preferred.

Boston Terriers have very short, smooth-haired coats, which means they require less care than many breeds.

Height: Both males and females measure 15-17 inches.

Weight

Weight is divided by classes as follows:

Under 15 pounds;
15 pounds and under 20 pounds;
20 pounds and;
Not to exceed 25 pounds.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

Although the Boston Terrier was originally bred for fighting, it has been since bred down to more of a companion dog. These days the breed is gentle, well-mannered and alert, and they also tend to have a few of the spunky Terrier characteristics.

One advantage of the breed is that they are fairly quiet animals and they do not bark unless it is necessary. They love being around people and they are quite a cuddly breed. However, there are some which prefer to be independent.

The breed also tends to have a sense of humor and they can be fairly enthusiastic and occasionally Rambunctious. They can make good watchdogs although generally they are really good with strangers.

As well as being naturally quiet dogs, the female Boston Terriers have been reported to not bark at all. This means if you are looking for a watchdog, a male would be your best choice.Although they are generally a gentle breed, they can be protective of their families and extremely loyal too.Overall this breed is one of the best family pets to own.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

The Boston Terrier generally should be kept indoors. All small breeds are better off indoors, especially if they only have a short coat which will not keep them warm enough in the colder months.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

As the Boston Terrier loves to be around people, it would ideally suit a home where there is somebody constantly with it. A home with children is ideal as they will give the dog plenty of attention and the breed thrives in a family household. As the breed is so small and they do not need a great deal of exercise, they can be kept in an apartment. The Boston Terrier does not cost much to keep so it is an ideal breed for those who are on a low income.

How to take care of the Boston Terrier Puppies? When you first purchase your Boston Terrier puppy it is essential that you feed them regular, small meals throughout the day. It is always better to feed a good quality food and try and keep the diet consistent. If you change it too much the puppy will develop an upset stomach.

All puppies need rest and quiet time in order to allow them to properly settle and grow. It is also important to socialize your puppy from an early age as some male dogs have a tendency to fight.

Boston Terriers like all small dogs should not be overfed. It is always better to feed around three small meals a day and the food should be a mixture of dry biscuits and meat.

Training

Due to their intelligent nature, the Boston Terrier is fairly easy to train. They are willing to please and the only problems people generally tend to have with the breed is housebreaking. Whilst the dog is intelligent it can often take a while for it to learn various things and housebreaking is one of them.

It is always easier to start training the Boston Terrier as early as possible. If shown from an early age what is expected of them, they will learn a lot quicker and you will not have as many problems when the dog grows up.

This breed tends to thrive on routine and they need a training schedule which is structured and consistent. Ensure that the puppy is not allowed to chew much when they are first brought home. Whilst it may seem cute at first, the puppy’s teeth will grow and it will carry the habit through until they are fully grown where it starts to become a problem! So, be consistent and stick to a routine. That way your Boston Terrier will know exactly what is expected of them and they will be a lot easier to train.

Activity Level

How active is the breed?

The Boston Terrier is not overly active and so usually you can get away with having only a fenced yard for them to play in. They can easily be kept in an apartment without any worries about whether or not they will chew the place to bits whilst you are gone.

Generally tiring them out with a few dog toys seems to do the trick and one walk a day is often sufficient enough for them.

Exercise Needs

As a puppy the breed will not need much exercise at all. Just a few sessions of playing with them with a dog toy will be enough for them as they tend to get tired out fairly easily. You should never play with your puppy straight after they have eaten as this could cause serious health problems with the dog. Adult dogs do not need much exercise at all, and usually just running around in a fenced yard, or taking the dog on one walk a day should be enough. Remember that this breed has small legs so when you do go for a walk, it should only really be a short one as you do not want to tire the dog out too much.

Grooming

The Boston Terrier sheds seasonally and usually you only need to brush the dog weekly with a firm bristle brush. As the coat is so short there is no risk of it becoming matted, that is why daily grooming is not always necessary. To keep them completely clean, it is always better to wipe the face daily with a damp cloth and be sure that you clean around the eyes as they are prone to eye infections.It is also important to check the ears frequently too for any signs of infections or irritations.

Health & Care

Genetic Problems

The Boston Terrier suffers from problems such as Respiratory problems, eye infections, heatstroke and cataracts.The breed also suffers from snoring and snorting due to its incredibly short muzzle. Another problem also includes gas which is usually caused by the dog’s diet. You should find that changing the diet a little will really help to eliminate the problem.

Breeding the Dog and any Cautions

When breeding any dog you need to think about the health of your dog and whether it has any faults at all. There are far too many Boston Terriers ending up in rescue home these days and so breeding really does need to be seriously thought about beforehand.

If you are still interested in breeding, then you will need to make sure that you have a nice, safe, warm place where the puppies will be born and where they will not be disturbed. It is possible for a new mother to kill her puppies if she feels they are being threatened.

There are always problems which could arise so it is always best to have a vet on hand. It is a good idea to speak to the vet before you decide to breed anyway as they will be able to tell you if your dog is in good enough health and what you will need to consider before breeding them.

Litter Size: The average litter size of the Boston Terrier is 3-4 puppies

Life Span: The Boston Terrier can live from nine to fifteen years.

National Breed Club

e.g. The National Club of the Boston Terrier in America is called ‘Boston Terrier Club of America’. There is also a Boston Terrier Club of Canada.

Recognition

The Boston Terrier is recognized by: FCI, UKC, CKC, AKC, ANKC, KC(UK), NZKC