SCRAPS Breed Profile BOSTON TERRIER

Stats

Country of Origin: United States Group: Non-sporting Use today: Family companion. Life Span: 15+ years Color: Coat colors are seal, brindle and white, black and white and some are born brown and white. Coat: Short, fine textured coat. Grooming: The smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. Wipe the face with a damp cloth every day and clean the prominent eyes carefully. Check both the ears and eyes for grass seeds. Ticks may also lurk in the ears. The nails should be clipped from time to time. This breed is an average shedder and does not have a strong doggie odor. Height: 15 – 17 inches Weight: 10 - 25 pounds

Profile

In Brief: The Boston has been nicknamed "the Temperament: The Boston Terrier is gentle, American Gentleman" because of his dapper alert, very intelligent, well-mannered and appearance, characteristically gentle disposition enthusiastic. Without the proper amount of and suitability as companion and house pet. mental and physical exercise it can become They require only a moderate amount of rambunctious and a bit high strung. They are exercise and a minimum amount of grooming. very sensitive to the tone of one's voice. The breed is easy to train and they are easy Boston's like to learn and therefore are not keepers, preferring to remain by their owner’s difficult to train. Their intelligence ensures they sides. pick things up quickly. If the humans around the dog do not display the leadership that all dogs Description: Boston Terriers, also called need, they will become willful as they begin to Boston Bulls, are compact and well-muscled believe they are running the show and need to dogs. The body is short with a square tell YOU what to do. Do not allow the Boston appearance. The square-looking head is flat on Terrier to develop Small Dog Syndrome, human the top and in proportion to the rest of the body. induced behaviors where the dog believes he is The deep, wide, short muzzle is in proportion pack leader to humans. This can cause a with the head. The nose is black. The stop is varying degree of behavior issues. Bostons well defined. The bite is either even or slightly need a gentle, but firm, confident, consistent undershot, giving the muzzle the square look. pack leader who knows how to display authority The large, round, dark eyes are wide-set. The over the dog. It is canine instinct to have a erect ears are small and either cropped or left strong leader and this little guy is no exception natural. The limbs are straight and muscular. to the rule. Either the human will be that leader, The legs are set somewhat wide apart and the or the dog will. Some owners have reported that chest is broad. The neck is slightly arched. The their dogs are good watchdogs, barking only low-set, tapered tail is short and either straight when necessary, while other owners have or screw-shaped and is never docked. The reported their female Boston Terriers do not short, fine textured coat comes in seal, brindle bark at the door at all. Most reliable with and white, black and white and some are born children, especially good with elderly people and brown and white. very friendly with strangers, the Boston Terrier is playful, very affectionate and likes to be part of the family. Very popular in the United States, Origins: Bred down in size from pit-fighting dogs due above all to its excellent character, they of the bull and terrier types, the Boston Terrier generally get along well with non-canine pets. originally weighed up to 44 pounds (20 kg) (Olde Without proper leadership from humans Boston Bulldogge). It is difficult to believe that communicating to the dog what is acceptable these stylish, little dogs were once tough pit- behavior and what is not, they can become fighters. In fact, their weight classifications were dominant and may fight with other dogs. These once divided as lightweight, middle and little dogs may be difficult to housebreak. heavyweight. Originating in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, the Boston Terrier is one of the Health: Prone to eye problems, such as juvenile few breeds developed in the USA. The original cataracts, late-onset cataracts, entropion, Boston Terriers were a cross between the English distichiasis, glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, Bulldog and the now extinct English White Terrier. corneal ulcers, cherry eye, dry eyes (Keratitis Around 1865, the coachmen employed by the Sicca). The Boston Terrier’s prominent eyes are wealthy people of Boston began to interbreed prone to injury. Also, deafness, patellar luxation, some of the dogs owned by their employers. One heart and skin tumors, including mast cell of these crosses, between an English White tumors. These short-faced dogs may have Terrier and an English Bulldog, resulted in a dog breathing difficulties when stressed by exertion named Hooper's Judge. Judge weighed over 30 in hot or cold weather and can overheat if they pounds (13.5 kg). He was bred down in size with a are pushed too hard. They may also snore or smaller female and one of those male pups was drool. Whelping is often difficult as the pelvis is bred to yet a smaller female. Their offspring narrow; the large-headed pups are often interbred with one or more French Bulldogs, delivered by cesarean section. providing the foundation for the Boston Terrier. By 1889 the breed had become sufficiently popular in Living Conditions: Boston Terriers are good for Boston that fanciers formed the American Bull apartment as well as country living. They are Terrier Club, but this proposed name was not well relatively inactive indoors and do okay without a liked by Bull Terrier lovers. Nor did they like the yard. This breed is sensitive to weather breed’s nickname, "roundheads." Shortly after, the extremes. breed was named the Boston Terrier after its birthplace. The breed was recognized by the AKC Exercise: A long daily walk and sessions of free in 1893. It was first shown in Boston in 1870. In play in a fenced-in yard are all the Boston the early years the color and markings were not Terrier needs to stay in shape. They are fairly very important but by the 1900s the breed’s lightweight and can easily be carried. distinctive markings and color were written into the standard. Terrier only in name, the Boston Terrier has mellowed from the pit fighting dogs of the past.

Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service 6815 E. Trent • Spokane Valley • Washington • 99212 (509) 477-2532 voice (509) 477-4745 fax www.spokanecounty.org/animal