Boston Terrier: Training, Breed Temperament, Exercise Needs & Health
(Boston Bull)
Group: Utility, Non-Sporting
Also known as: Boston
Bull, Boston Bull Terrier
About
Boston Terrier
History
of the Breed
The Boston Terrier originates
from the United States of America. The breed
has been around since the year 1870, when
a man named Robert C. Hooper bought a dog
named ‘Hooper’s Judge’.
Hooper’s Judge was a cross between an
English Bulldog and an English White Terrier.
Over time the breed was bred
down in size and in 1893 they gained recognition
with the American Kennel Club. |
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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. |
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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.
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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
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