Boston terrier

A gentle and cheerful companion of children and adults – the Boston Terrier will work in every family, provided that it does not have to spend many hours alone. This small, short-haired dog is muscular, and at the same time lively and agile.

Nature

It is not without reason that the Boston Terrier is called an American gentleman – he is a dog with an elegant appearance, friendly, cheerful, endowed with a nice disposition. Extremely strongly attached to the owner, it also requires a lot of attention and interest, although it is not obtrusive. Three or four hours of loneliness usually tolerate calmly, but the prolonged absence of household members badly affects his psyche. He sometimes destroys objects in the surroundings and even arranges himself in the apartment.

The representative of this breed is gentle and gets along well with children of all ages, but you should ensure that the little ones do not bother him.

In general, his relationships with his friends are correct. He is happy to play with dogs found on walks, but it’s better than his companions are not much bigger and more spontaneous than him. He also accepts other pets: a cat, ferret or guinea pig.

Boston terrier amazes with sportiness. He has a great temperament, is lively, physically fit and full of verve. Discharging the energy that spreads through it requires providing it with a lot of movement and mental exercises. He eagerly retrieves, jumps and will keep his owner on a long trip without any problems. The dog of this breed does not need a large space, therefore it is suitable even for a small apartment.

The small height and ease with which it adapts to all conditions make Boston a great travel companion. He is an inquisitive and very alert dog, but fortunately not noisy.

Skills

Although the blood of war dogs flows in the veins of the Boston Terrier, he was bred for companionship and today is a valued friend of the family. His intelligence and physical fitness make him perform well both during obedience courses (PT) and in sports such as obedience, agility or flyball. Some bostons participate in dogotherapy.

Boston terrier. Training and education

Although the Boston Terrier belongs to decorative dogs, it is surprisingly good at training. He is distinguished by intelligence, cleverness and willingness to learn. All you need is a bit of patience and commitment on the part of the owner and appropriate motivation (preferably in the form of a favorite delicacy) for science to bring results quickly.

Lessons should be varied and do not exercise too long – otherwise, the dog will get bored quickly. As a rule, Boston is not stubborn, but if the training stops giving him pleasure, he will manage to not hear the instructions.

The representative of this breed shows no tendency to dominate, which does not mean that he can be allowed anything. Like every dog, he needs consistent upbringing and early socialization. Breeders recommend classes in the dog kindergarten, thanks to which the puppy will strengthen his bond with the guardian and establish proper relations with his brethren.

Who is this race for?

The Boston terrier is suitable for almost everyone – almost because of the poor tolerance of loneliness, it is not recommended for overworked people. The owner does not have to have much experience, but he should show consistency, devote a lot of time to the pet and ensure regular movement in the fresh air.

The representative of this breed will be perfect both for families with children and in the homes of older people.

Boston terrier. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• he snores and has a tendency to gas in the intestines
• not very resistant to frost
• badly tolerates loneliness

Advantages

• the perfect dog for the family
• gentle, cheerful and friendly
• gets along well with children
• likes to spend time actively
• intelligent, eager to learn
• easily adapts to new conditions
• accepts dogs and other animals
• easy to care for

Health

Compared to other breeds with shortened mouths, the Boston Terrier tolerates high temperatures well. However, it should be protected from overheating and not exposed to the sun for a long time. In hot weather, it is better to take him for a long stroll early in the morning and of course, do not forget to provide him with water.

A slightly worse representative of this breed feels when it is cold. A short robe with no undercoat does not provide him with sufficient protection during cold weather, so you have to put on his clothes and shorten the walks. This dog also doesn’t like rain and moisture.

Boston’s weak point is eyes. There are corneal ulcers, juvenile cataracts (a genetic test for its occurrence can be performed) and glaucoma. Large eyeballs are exposed to injuries, so it’s better not to let the dog roam in thick thickets or play intensively with large brethren.

There are falling out patella, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, spondylosis and hip dysplasia. A short tail may be the cause of the so-called hemoid vertebrae in the thoracolumbar spine.

Snoring for this breed does not mean illness. However, anxiety should be caused by loud wheezing or pronounced breathing problems, which may be caused by an elongated soft palate or tracheal collapse (in both cases a visit to a veterinarian is necessary).

Boston terrier has a tendency to allergies, deafness (dogs with a predominance of whiteness in the coat or with blue iris), and in old age to cardiological problems and cancer.

The shortened muzzle makes the dog swallow a lot of air, which leads to gas formation in the intestines. Bitches may have problems with delivery (large, round heads of puppies), so it is usually done by cesarean section. A short snout also means sensitivity to anesthesia, which should only be used when absolutely necessary (inhalation narcosis is the safest).

Feeding

The Boston Terrier usually has an appetite and is not picky. It should not be too thin or too heavy, well-defined muscles under the skin and a small indentation in the weakness are required. You can give Boston a high-quality dry food for small breeds or self-prepared meals, remembering to supplement them with calcium and vitamin preparations.

It is better not to give him bones, because sometimes they contribute to the formation of hard deposits in the intestines. During the molting period, it is worth using specifics containing unsaturated fatty acids, zinc, selenium and biotin. We divide the daily portion into two meals.

Care

The Boston Terrier’s short coat is easy to care for. The representative of this breed usually molts moderately twice a year – in spring and autumn. The coat is small and quite hard, which is why it easily sticks into the ground and is difficult to clean. When replacing the coat, we comb the dog daily with a rubber comb or a hard bristle brush.

Outside of this period, it is enough to do it once in a while, e.g. after a walk, to remove dust and mud from the coat. You can also wipe your pet’s hair with a damp towel.

Where necessary, we bathe Boston in shampoos designed for sensitive skin (e.g. hypoallergenic). Then wipe it thoroughly and dry it with a dryer set at medium temperature or – if it is warm – let it dry by itself. You must also trim too long nails. Boston terrier bones tend not to build up tartar, but it’s good to clean your teeth regularly.

The representative of this breed does not require special preparation for the exhibition. He should be clean, in good condition and be able to behave in the ring. It can be set and held in the right position or taught how to display freehand (the dog stands alone in front of the handler). It’s also a good idea to get your pet used to stand on a table where judges judge small dogs. Boston presents on a ring matched to the coat.

Accessories

Although Boston is not prone to escape, it should not be loose in busy places. It’s best to walk him in a soft collar and on an ordinary leash (only when he learns to walk quietly can you change it to an automatic one). Puppies should not wear braces so that they do not deform their chest and shoulders.

The toys should be solid and large enough that the dog does not swallow them. Balls, darts and hard rubber balls work well. You can also give large smoked bones or hard chews.

It is worth getting your pet used to the transport cage, which will be useful during travel and at the exhibition.

Boston terrier. History

The Boston Terrier belongs to the group of ornamental dogs, but the blood of the same quadrupeds flows in its veins, from which bull terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers originate. It was bred in the United States, but its ancestors should be sought in the British Isles, where dog fighting became popular in the 19th century. English bulldogs were used for them, which in appearance and character differed significantly from today’s representatives of the breed.

In the mid-nineteenth century, workers from around Boston – mainly English and Irish immigrants – crossed them with white English terriers (a non-existent breed whose blood flows in the veins of most modern terriers). Initially, it was not intended to create a new breed, but only to improve the type of existing war dog.

Around 1880, a resident of Boston, Robert C. Hooper, considered to be the father of the race, bought from William O’Brien a dog named Judge, who is considered the ancestor of almost all modern Boston Terrier lines. Judge was a descendant of an English Bulldog and a White English Terrier. He had a strong physique (weighed 14.5 kg), a dark brindle ointment with a white mark on the muzzle, long paws and an angular, slightly rounded head that made him look like modern Boston.

Crossed with a white bitch, Burnett’s Gyp gave a dog named Well’s Eph, father of Barnard’s Tom, who was considered the best representative of the breed of that time. He was the first to have a corkscrew rudimentary tail.

Initially, breeding mainly sought to obtain the characteristic round shape of the head, which is why these dogs were called “bullet heads”.

For the first time they were presented at an exhibition in Boston in 1878 as American bull terriers, although they did not resemble them at all, that is why the breeders of the latter did not agree on a common name. In 1891, the Boston Terrier Club of America was renamed Boston Terrier. Two years later, American Kennel Club recognized her. Over time, these dogs became one of the most popular breeds in the United States and the mascot of the University of Boston.

The first Boston arrived in Great Britain in the mid-1930s thanks to G. McCormick-Goodhart. Their greatest propagator in the British Isles was Ewelina, the duchess of Essex (Ukansee kennel). The breed appeared on the European continent in the 1950s.

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Boston terrier – group IX FCI, section 11, reference number 140

• Country of origin: United States
• Size: three weight categories: under 6.8 kg, 6.8-9 kg and 9-11.35 kg
• Coat: short, smooth, shiny and delicate coat
• Color: brindle, seal or black with white markings; desirable white markings: areola on the muzzle, a regular arrow between the eyes and on the top of the skull, collar, chest, forelegs (in whole or in part), whiteness on the hind legs is below the ankle joints; minimal white markings required: areola on muzzle, arrow between eyes and chest
• Reaching puberty: 1.5 years
• Lifespan: 10-12 years
• Weather resistance: quite high

Interesting facts

Boston terrier is one of several breeds (next to, among others, French Bulldog), which has a naturally shortened tail. In addition, the Boston tail is often spirally twisted (resembling a corkscrew), although there are individuals whose tail is simply quite short, but straight. This is not disqualifying in any way, unless the dog carries a tail above the back line. The bottom line is that the Boston tail must not be trimmed.

When it comes to ears, in Europe bostons are left with their natural, large ears, thanks to which they look funny like cartoon dogs. On the other hand, in the United States, home of the Boston Terrier, dogs of this breed are reproduced with ears cut to the point, which gives them a more menacing look. Bostons with copied ears resemble a little boxer, while those with natural ears – a French bulldog.