Description

Boston terriers are compact dogs. They have big flat heads with no wrinkles, wide-set dark eyes, small erect ears, and a wide flat snout with an ample black nose. Their frame is boxy, with a nice muscular build, and a short stubby tail. The fur of a Boston is fine, short, and thin. The neck is slightly arched, leading down to a broad chest. Their face shows a lot of personality and intelligence. A Boston\'s limbs are straight and well pronounced, and close to the same size as his body. They are odor-free and rarely shed. Bostons are a very easy going dog and can adapt to almost any living condition. The city or country, apartment or mansion, but keep in mind they are inside dogs. They get along great with children, other dogs, cats, and other animals. They love to please you and will do anything to keep you happy. Nothing makes a better door bell than a Boston. As soon as there is a knock at the door most of them will come running and wagging their little stump tails to tell you about it. If you want a dog that will lay around with you all day, a Boston is your dog. If you want a dog to do agility with you, a Boston is your dog. They can and will do just about anything as long as you don\'t try to take them swimming.

Coat Description

Bostons have a thin, short, fine coat that does not shed much. Their coat is usually black and white, brown and white, brindle and white, or in some cases red and white. The white will cover its belly, come up the chest, around the neck, and come down the middle of the face to the nose. They may also have white paws. Your Boston terrier may have more or less white on them. The standard is the markings are described above.

History

The breed originated around 1870 when Robert C. Hooper purchased a dog known as Hooper\'s Judge. Hooper\'s Judge was a cross between an English bulldog and an English terrier. Hooper\'s Judge was then bred down with a smaller female. The offspring were then bred down again with one or more French bulldogs, which were what provided the foundation for the Boston terrier. Bred down from pit fighting dogs the original Boston weighed about 44lbs. Their weight was once classified at light weight, middle weight, and heavy weight. They were first shown in Boston in 1870 and in 1893 the breed was admitted to membership in the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Boston is the first US breed to be recognized and is one of a few breeds to have originated into the United States that the AKC recognizes. The Boston terrier was the first non-sporting dog bred in the United States. In the early years the color and markings were not important, but by the 1900\'s the breeds distinctive markings and color were written into the standard, becoming an essential feature. "Terrier" is only in name to the Boston, as it has lost most of its ruthless desire for mayhem, prefers the company of humans, and though a few males will challenge dogs if they feel their territory is being invaded, the Boston does not fit the Terrier stereotype.

Temperament

The temperament of a Boston is hard to describe. They are unlike any other breed there is. They are very loving, caring, wanting to please at all times. It takes a lot to make a Boston mad, but when they do get upset they walk away. They are very easy to train, they love to learn, and catch on very fast. They are quite sensitive to the tone of your voice, using a harsh tone will upset them and when they are upset their face shows it. Many Boston owners have said they make great watch dogs and only bark when they feel it\'s a must. Others say their females don\'t bark at all. They are great with kids, great for the elderly and friendly to strangers once they are sure the stranger is not going to harm their family. They are a very playful breed, very affectionate, and very much a part of the family, and very popular in the United States because of its excellent character. Although they love to please and are easy to train, house breaking can be a small problem. Over all a Boston is a gentle, alert, very intelligent, and well-mannered dog.

Thyroid Disease - Low Risk

The Boston Terrier ranks #128 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. This is considered a low risk breed so your chances of obtaining a dog with the disease is small. It is still suggested that dogs meant for breeding still be tested to help bring the incidence of disease even lower (or even eliminate it). 

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

These little guys do have health problems.
With their short faces they can have problems breathing, especially when stressed or hot. Some can have problems with allergies as well. Their big, buggy eyes are easy to harm. The biggest eye problem is Corneal Ulcers. Around 1 in 10 will experience Corneal Ulcers in their life time. Corneal Ulcers are caused initially by injury to the eyes. They are also prone to cataracts and Juvenile cataracts.

Deafness has been known to occur in Boston's sense the beginning of the breed. Deafness can occur in any Boston, but it is more prone to affect Bostons that have one or both eye blue or white and there offspring.
The most common orthopedic problem found in Bostons is Patellar Luxation, which can lead to rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Occasionally Bostons can suffer hip dysphasia, but this condition occurs more often in large breeds, while patellar luxation is more common in small breeds.

Ingrown or corkscrew tails can become a serious problem. The tail grows backwards and down creating a deep crevice that can become painful and infected. In severe cases the tails need amputated. Milder cases require attention to keeping the area clean and dry to maintain the pet's comfort.