Boston Terrier Lovers

What The Heck Is The Boston Terrier Breed Standard?

Although the breed standard for the Boston Terrier is pretty strict on what they should look like, they are also strict on what the breed should act like. This attention to temperament has sadly been lacking in some other breed standards like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Even pet quality Boston Terriers who would be laughed out of a show ring will not be offended, as they will be happy for the chance to make anyone smile. The charming personality of the Boston Terrier is not only one reason why it is so popular, but also why they do so well outside of a show ring or a breeding kennel. The purpose of developing the breed was to make a good pet for people, unlike other breeds bred to hunt, fight or herd livestock. They are lively, kind, easy-going and good with kids and senior citizens as well as other animals. The breed standard also reveals another reason why the Boston Terrier is so popular. They are small, but not so small as to jeopardize their health. They are robust, but portable. Although you may find some Boston Terriers outside the lines, they are usually fifteen to twenty-five pounds and only about fifteen inches high at their shoulders. They are most famous in black and white, but also come in seal and white and brindle and white. The breed standard is quite strict on the distribution of white around the body, which disqualifies a lot of Boston Terriers from the ring. The breed standard also emphasizes sturdiness. They are not to have physical weaknesses like swaybacks, spayed legs, very slow gait or look overly muscular. Their bodies should look sturdy but everything should be in proportion. And the tails are naturally very short, although occasionally a purebred is born with a long tail. The ears are perky and most of the time they are pointed (occasionally a floppy eared one comes along). Knowing as much Boston Terrier information as you can absorb will help you not only get along with your Boston Terriers, but decide if the breed is right for you in the first place. The breed standard emphasizes a short, smooth coat, so that tells you that Boston Terriers are easy to groom and don't need to be clipped. But that also tells you that these dogs need to be kept indoors, as they lack any protection from the elements. The Boston Terrier breed standard not only tells you what to look for in a champion show dog, and how hard it is to find one, but also lists common physical faults of the breed. This can help you identity a dog in a shelter that you might want to adopt. Although the dog might not match the physical description exactly, you'll know they have the temperament, which is the most important aspect of the Boston Terrier breed standard. Unfortunately, you can often find a Boston Terrier available for adoption at many local shelters. Asking your vet or going to the library are good ways to get more Boston Terrier information.

What To Expect From Your Boston Terrier

The Boston Terrier is a truly an American breed of dog. It is the result of cross breeding an English White Terrier and an Old English Bulldog, whose offspring was bred to a smaller female, and then to a French Bulldog. This breeding practice resulted in what is today’s Boston Terrier. Did you know that Boston terriers were originally bred for fighting? Today however, Boston terriers have been bred down to be excellent companions and house pets. They are very intelligent, alert, gentle and well mannered. A Boston Terrier is bred for companionship, so they enjoy being around people; if properly trained to socialize they are excellent with children and the elderly. Boston Terriers only bark when necessary, in fact some females rarely bark at all. This breed is a rambunctious one, although males usually retain the spunky terrier attitude. Unfortunately the friendly nature of Boston terrier extends even to strangers so you must give them a secured area to play in. Because they don’t need too much exercise, not having a yard and living in an apartment is suitable for this breed of dog. Boston Terrier should be fed with a dry kind of dog food to make sure that their teeth will be well maintained. They should also be fed twice daily, to provide them with ample nutrition. The Boston Terrier has several health issues, that is why they should be wiped with a clean damp cloth everyday, and their eyes and ears checked. Since they have short hair, they won't shed too much, all they need is a daily comb, a bath when needed and their nails should be clipped occasionally. Even though Boston Terriers were bred to become fighting dogs, they have been bred down for companionship. It is an incomparable companion because of its being highly intelligent, alert, kind, gentle and well-mannered. Boston Terriers on the other hand are difficult to housebreak, so it is very important to start training tem while they are still young. A Boston Terrier will make a fine addition to your family. If you are single, it will make for an excellent friend. They are very loyal. This breed loves to learn, so you can train them quite easily. They have a bit of a personality and can be a bit willful. The nice thing about Boston Terrier is that they only bark when necessary, so they are not very noisy. The Boston Terrier is original American. It is the result of cross breeding an Old English Bulldog with an English White Terrier. Appropriately named, it originated from Boston and was inducted in the American Kennel Club in the year 1893. Now, it is one of AKC’s most popular non-sporting breed. Its popularity stems from the fact that a Boston Terrier has spunk and personality. To choose the right dog for you, you will have to see if its temperament suits yours. For more Boston Terrier information simply go to www.akc.org Dubbed the American Gentleman, a Boston Terrier is well mannered, alert and intelligent. Boston Terrier information is available in your local kennel club.

Boston Terriers Are Wonderful Companions

The Boston Terrier dog, although not officially defined as a Terrier by the American Kennel Club, is a small but sturdy dog. It is ideal for people who don’t have a lot of land and therefore cannot keep large breed dogs that are most happy with a large area to run around in. The Boston Terrier is best suited to an indoor life with occasional outdoor play. Their small size also makes them ideal for houses where space is an issue. They are also highly intelligent dogs, which makes training them much easier. It is a great dog for families because of its loving nature. It is also very sociable and does not mind other dogs or cats. It can be hard to have territorial dogs if you are a social family and like to invite people over. The Boston Terrier is a very friendly dog and will not growl or bark at new people who come over. You may have heard that the Boston Terrier dog is very yappy and aggressive. This fear of aggression in your Boston Terrier dog is probably confounded by that fact that it was once bred as a fighting dog. However any negative things you have heard about this breed in terms of behavior is the result of irresponsible breeders who produce neurotic puppies that will grow into neurotic dogs. A well-socialized Boston Terrier will get along with everyone in your household and barks only when it senses danger or intruders. The high intelligence of a Boston Terrier allows it to differentiate between friends of the family who are welcome in the house and people who are clearly intruding. This is in part due to the sensitivity of Boston Terriers to their owner’s moods. They are especially sensitive to the tone of your voice and can instantly sense a rebuke in your voice. Consider buying or adopting a Boston Terrier dog instead of a puppy. This way you know what you are getting into. A puppy could potentially be a lovable dog to add to your family or it could be a little terror waiting to happen. Hyperactivity in a puppy is expected and usually wears off as your puppy grows older and settles into a routine. However if you were unlucky enough to get a puppy that was not well socialized then you may have a Boston Terrier that is always going to be hyperactive and this can be a real pain. If you have small children in the house you need to be especially careful that whatever dog you choose is going to be gentle and not aggressive in the least. A full-grown dog that is gentle is a good choice. Check shelters for full-grown Boston Terriers that need good homes. The Boston Terrier is a wonderful dog that does well in a family environment with plenty of people to play and cuddle with. This article will give you all the Boston Terrier information that you need to know before deciding on bringing home a Boston Terrier puppy.

Let's Learn Boston Terrier Breed History

The Boston Terrier, nicknamed The American Gentleman, is the first dog breed to be developed in America. They were bred specifically to be companion dogs to human beings. However, their ancestors were fighting dogs, including their original type of the rare breed the Olde English Bulldogges. This ancient breed was thought to have been created from crossing the English Bulldog and the long-gone English White Terrier. This is not as crazy as it might first sound. Many breeds of dogs that are vicious to other dogs are very protective and loving to people. Often, gentleness to people was favored in dog fighting dog breeds such as the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the original Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It seems that if the fighting dogs can't get their companionship from other dogs, they'll turn to people for company. Over time, the Olde English Bulldogge was bred smaller, with a different shaped head and even gentler personality to become the Boston Terrier. The founding sire of the Boston Terrier breed is thought to have been a jaunty little dog called Hooper's Judge, owned by Robert C. Hooper of Boston, who bought him in 1870. This pivotal dog was imported from England and made a big impression on not just the female dogs of Boston, but their owners as well. He was thirty-two pounds, which is a lot heavier than the Boston Terriers of today. He also is described in old America Kennel Club records as having a well built, high-stationed body, being a dark brindle with a white blaze down the nose. No matter what kind of bitch Hooper's Judge was put to, the puppies took on mostly his characteristics and not hers. Nobody spayed or neutered their dogs back then, as there was usually a need for more dogs, and no sign of the pet overpopulation problem of today. Also, veterinary medicine for dogs was pretty primitive back then. Soon, the Boston Bull Terrier was known outside of Boston. The Boston dog breeders first developed the Old English Bulldogge, which is a far larger dog of solid colors and a round head. The founding father of the Boston Terrier is considered to be the English import Hooper's Judge, which was bought by Richard C. Hooper of Boston in 1870. Smaller dogs were favored and kept in the breeding program. The Boston Terrier became a familiar sight in the fashionable homes of the North East as early as 1889. The breed as we recognize it today wasn't seen until about 1900. That was when top breeders formally set down their breed standard. Although there were strict physical standards for a Boston Terrier to make it in the show ring, there were also strict standards on temperament. Although some outright mean dogs in other breeds have won in the show ring, this has not happened with Bostons. They are always ready, willing and able to be part of the family. A Boston Terrier makes a great pet for both families and singles. Dog care books containing Boston Terrier information can help you understand the needs of this breed.