Boston Terrier is a little lively gentleman who will look straight up to you with those large round eyes to show affection. Known for his appealing eyes and wearing a tuxedo, Boston Terriers are lovely little dogs. They have markings on their body appearing as if the dog is wearing a tuxedo, which makes it look like a true gentleman.
Boston Terrier Breed Overview
| Group: | Non-Sporting Group |
| Size: | Small (12-25 pounds) |
| Lifespan: | 11-13 Years |
| Best Suited For: | Families |
| Temperament: | Friendly, Intelligent, Lively |
| Exercise Needs: | Low to Moderate |
| Drooling Potential: | Low |
| Grooming Needs: | Low |
| Similar Breeds: | Manchester Terrier, Mastiff, Miniature Pinscher |
1. Basic Features
Boston terrier is rightly called the “American Gentlemen” for the tuxedo-like markings on his body.
They are black, brindle or seal with white markings over them. Very small and compact, they have erect ears, a short tail, and a slightly arched neck.
A Boston Terrier’s large eyes are its distinguishable feature. A Boston Terrier has a short coat which sheds little and is easy to groom.
Bostons are said to be very intelligent and easily trained. They are friendly and very enthusiastic. They’re great companions who are always ready to be by your side.
These little compact dogs excel in dog sports and also make great therapy dogs.
2. Boston Terrier Origin
Bostons originated around the 1870s following a popularity of blood sports. Boston Terrier descends from a dog named “Judge” who was a mix between a bull and terrier type lineage.
“Judge” was a powerful dog. He was high stationed and was a dark brindle, and had a white stripe in the face. His head was square and blocky.
The offspring interbred with French Bulldogs, providing the foundation for the Boston Terrier. They were then bred down in size from fighting dogs of the Bull and Terrier types. This was the first non-sporting dog breed to be bred in the US.
Earlier, these dogs were aggressive but now the dog has become much gentle preferring the company of humans.
3. The Personality of Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is a very enthusiastic and a sweet dog. He loves human company and is known to be friendly. He is very lively, smart, gentle and even-tempered.
Bostons were originally bred for fighting and hunting rats in factories. Later, they were down bred for companionship. Due to this the Boston Terriers which were earlier considered fierce, are not gentle and friendly following their human companionship.
4. Boston Terrier Behavior
A Boston terrier is a happy and a friendly dog who is sure to give you an enthusiastic welcome.
They are very protective of their owners which can result in aggressive and territorial behavior.
They are considered sweet and quiet and bark only when necessary. Early training, however, is necessary.
They are an excellent choice for an apartment living. They are friendly with children and other pets too.
5. Exercise Requirements
Although the Boston Terriers are active dogs, they do not require much exercise. A walk twice a day would suffice. They do not have an excessive exercise requirement.
Bostons are well suited for apartments due to their low exercise needs. They are inactive indoors.
They will be happy playing with a toy or two but will love nothing more than a human’s company to exercise and play with.
6. Diet Need
You can feed two meals a day to your Boston Terrier. Boston Terriers can be greedy for food, so monitor their condition and make sure they don’t become overweight.
A regular check on their weight is a must as they are prone to gaining weight.
They can even be susceptible to flatulence, which may be related to their diet.
However, you can feed them hygienic and quality food to generally avoid any sort of problems.
7. Trainability
Boston Terriers are easy to train. They are very eager to please their owners and learn new tricks easily. Treats may work as a great training tool.
Early socialization, exposing the puppy to new places, people and animals slowly at an early age would help grow him friendlier. Bostons are quite sensitive to the tone of voice, so it is very important to be soft while training.
Being harsh can cause them to shut-down. Socialization helps make sure that your Boston puppy grows up to be a well-behaved dog.
8. Common Health Problems
It is very important to check a Boston’s eyes for redness or irritation. A Boston’s eyes are sensitive and may catch infections, cataracts, corneal ulcers, and glaucoma.
Bostons can experience difficulty in breathing when not given adequate shelter from the excessive heat. This is common in all flat faced breeds. Their flat face also causes snoring and snuffling in them.
A small however significant number of Boston Terriers are deaf in one ear, and some are completely deaf. It is very important to find out so at an early age.
Boston Terriers do share one drawback with the many other small breeds: a condition called luxating patellas, or kneecaps which will slip out of place. Severe cases may require surgical treatment.
9. Who should adopt a Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are great family dogs and do well with children. They love people and are very affectionate. A borate terrier is a perfect apartment dog and does well in an apartment.
Its less barking tendency makes it perfect for him to be living in an apartment. Bostons are great if you have little children in the house.
Boston Terriers make great dogs. They’ll guard you well while giving you all the love.