Boston Terrier: American Gentleman (Detailed Information)

The Boston Terrier is a compact, square-built, and short-bodied breed. His sporty body is covered with short and smooth hair. Boston has a confident and determined character with an elegant, strong, and robust body. Many features of his ancestor, the Bulldog, have been preserved in the Boston Terrier breed. They will take place in your life in cheerful, kind, intelligent, and friendly ways.

At A Glance To The Boston Terrier

Kind

Non-Sports

Weight

8 - 20 lbs

Height

20 - 22 inch

Family

Mastiff, Terrier, Bull

Origin

United States of America

Origin Date

1800's

Lifetime

10 - 15 Years

History Of The Boston Terrier

Unlike many dog ​​breeds, the origin of the Boston Terrier has been documented. It came into our lives as a result of crossing the Boston Terrier Bulldog and the white English Terrier breed, which is now extinct. The homeland of the Boston Terrier is the United States.

In 19th century England, an attempt was made to create a new breed by pairing terriers and bulldog breeds to produce dogs that could be successful in blood sports and competitions. In Liverpool, crossing a Bulldog with a white English Terrier in 1860-1865 resulted in a hard, muscular dog named "Judge".

Another rumor is that a Boston native named Robert C. Hooper, living in America bought a Bulldog/English Terrier hybrid named “Judge” from England in 1865. After this situation, the dog's name was "Hooper's Judge". According to both rumors, the ancestors of this breed were the Bulldog and the now-extinct white English Terrier, and as a result of their crossbreeding, the basis of the Boston Terrier breed was formed.

The judge was only bred once. In Massachusetts, Edward Burnett's female Burnett's Gyp breed was mated with a small white dog named Kate. As a result, Kate gave birth to a small body of white, 9 kilos. Judge and Kate have only one baby boy named "Well's Eph." This dog, which was not very attractive and did not have a different appearance, only had some other habits. That's why they started to breed this dog. As a result of these matings, the dogs were crossed with the French Bulldog once or more. As a result, he was transformed into an attractive dog with a round head, smaller and sweeter than his original form. He predicted that these dogs would emerge as today's Boston Terrier breed. But he wasn't immediately called the Boston Terrier.

In 1889 it became so popular that the American Bull Terrier Club was formed in Boston for these dogs. However, names such as "Round Head", "Bullethead", "American Terrier", and "Boston Bulldog" were used for the breed, which were originally given due to his structural features. His common nickname was "Round Head". This name was not accepted and wanted by strict fans of the dog. It was soon decided to name it the “Boston Terrier” because of the breed's birthplace and in honor of the city where it was elaborately developed.

 In 1870, Boston Terrier dogs were first shown in Boston. Colors and signs were not given much importance in the early days. In the 1900s, the Boston Terrier breed's distinctive markings and color standards were determined and written. The Boston Terrier Club of America was founded in 1891. Then, in 1893, the AKC registered the first dog of the breed.

From his emergence until he was recognized by the AKC, this breed has grown in popularity over time. The Boston Terrier has been the pride of his homeland and the official mascot of Boston University for almost 100 years. In 1979, the state legislature declared this meaningful dog the official dog of Massachusetts and named it the "American Gentleman". The fighter's identity from his past has now disappeared, and he has become an American Gentleman.

The cute, cheerful, and handsome Boston Terrier continues to gain popularity all over the world today, with his developments from the early to mid-1900s. Each day, he has become one of our best friends, loved and cared for by everyone, from young to old.

Personality & Character Traits

The Boston Terrier is an intelligent, kind, and cheerful dog with brown, dark silver, and black fur. This breed has a proportional and robust body structure. Initially, the Boston Terrier breed was bred to fight, fight. However, today, they have been stripped of these features completely and they have become famous for their affectionate nature. He is a good-natured breed, they approach their owners with warmth and love towards pets.

 Boston Terriers care about their family. He tries to fulfill their wishes, and it is seen that they understand the mood they are in. His loyalty and devotion to his owner are high, but he is prone to spoiling if he gets the opportunity. He can also show his stubborn side from time to time. In such situations, you need to maintain authority over your dog. The Boston Terrier wants a good leader; otherwise, he may try to take over the leadership qualities. Therefore, approach your dog in a gentle, consistent, and patient manner in situations and behaviors you do not approve of, and never be harsh. Don't let your dog think he is the pack leader. Do not give up your action until he gives up his unwanted behavior and does what you say. You will see that the Boston dog, who believes that he has a strong leader, does not go beyond the rules set by his master and obeys his word.

 He gets along well with adults, children, and the elderly. He is tolerant of children and the elderly. His friendly feature makes him approachable even to strangers with his playful side. Therefore, we can say that he does not take a harsh and aggressive approach toward people. It also gets along very well with pets and dogs. With the education and socialization opportunity you will provide at an early age, you can enable them to establish their relationships even better.

The Boston Terrier breed does not have a habit of barking too much. When necessary, they can bark as a good watchdog when their loved ones are in danger, but they do not bark too much. Being a part of a family with its affectionate and warm nature is precious for the Boston Terrier.

Boston Terriers can live in harmony in an apartment. A house with a garden is not a must for this breed. It has non-sporting racial characteristics and is not very active in the house. It is the owner's job to activate him from time to time. It is necessary to exercise during the day to throw off their energy. A short, brisk walk, ball games, and jogging in a well-protected yard will provide Boston's daily exercise needs. If you don't meet your dog's mental and physical exercise needs, he may become restless and exhibit negative behaviors.

Boston Terriers should receive good training. Training processes are not difficult, but in the case of stubbornness, it is necessary to be patient and determined in training. They have an interest in learning new things, and it is up to the trainer to direct this interest to the right place. A good leader and training are necessary for your dog to have better character traits and smooth communication with people and animals.

The training begins with obedience, space protection, toilet, etc. It starts as your dog's ability and is then shaped according to your wishes. However, if this training is not taken and socialized with dogs, people, and other pets at an early age, it is possible that the dog will have a dominant character and become a fighting dog. On the other hand, if you teach your dog the right and wrong behaviors with the commands you give, you will have a good adult Boston Terrier.  

Physical Attributes

Body

Boston Terriers are compact, muscular, and strong dogs with short square bodies and short legs. Although his appearance is small, his body structure is quite muscular and robust. He is a confident stance with his broad chest structure, slightly arched/curved neck, and wide straight legs. His body is harmonious and proportional to himself. You can always see them wandering in the middle with rhythmic movements and steps in their curious, mischievous ways. 

Head

The Boston Terrier has a square-shaped head. The top of his head is straight. His wide, deep, and short muzzle is proportional to his head structure. He has a flattened black nose that smells very well. He has a unique beauty with her flat face without wrinkles, big eyes, and drooping cheeks. He has a very strong jaw, teeth and bite. Head structure is generally proportional to the rest of the body.

Ears

The Boston Terrier has large, erect ears that sit on either side of its head. There are two versions of their ears, either cropped or left natural. It is triangular in structure and dark in color. It has a catchy appearance with the dark color of its ears and a white transition from its forehead.

Eyes

The Boston Terrier has rounded, large and prominent eyes. Their eyes are hazel, brown, or amber. He has good vision with wide-set, round, large eyes in a flattened face structure.

Legs and Feet

The Boston Terrier's short and muscular legs are quite strong. It has straight and muscular limbs that are upright on the ground. With its wide legs, it stands firmly on the ground and is seen to have a rhythmic gait.

Tail

The Boston Terrier breed has a short tail. The tapered tail is low set and straight or screw-shaped, not clamped.

Fur

He has smooth, short, fine hairs and a tightly textured coat with a hard, shiny coat. He shed moderately, and weekly combing and brushing will be sufficient for him. The need for shaving and bathing is not very frequent. However, the face and eye area need washing, wiping, and regular care.

Color

The smooth, hard, short, and fine fur of the Boston Terrier dog breed are in different colors. He generally consists of the dark and white duo. Usually, white hairs appear on the neck, chest, mouth, and part of the face. This color gives the Boston dog's fur a tuxedo look. There may also be spots on the dog's belly area. His stylish fur can have colors in white, black, brindle, seal (dark brown), and red-black tones. These colors form certain combinations, such as brindle and white, black and white, and brown and white. These are indicated as the standard colors of this dog breed. It is stated that the quality of the dog with other colors will be below.

Care

The Boston Terrier has smooth, sleek, fine fur and short coats. In general, they shed less than many breeds and need care. You can brush and comb with a soft bristle brush, rubber grooming glove/tool ​​, or a greyhound glove 1-2 times a week. Removing loose and dead hair will reduce shedding, stimulate new hair growth and put your dog at ease. After scanning, you can wipe your body with a damp powdered cloth.

The Boston Terrier does not need to be washed as often as it does not get dirty. Just an occasional wash 1-2 times a year will be enough for them. You should cut their nails regularly according to their growth time and breakage. Cutting it at least 1-2 times a month is ideal. Long nails can prevent him from moving freely and running. Teeth should be brushed 2-3 times a week, bad odor and bacterial growth should be prevented.

The Boston Terrier is a heat-sensitive breed. It is not resistant to very hot and freezing weather. That's why you should protect your dog in these weather conditions. You should try to take it outside more in warm and cool weather.

His large and large eyes should be kept clean, and his face should be washed or wiped daily. In addition, ear, mouth, teeth, nose, and paw care are also critical. If you see differences in weekly checks, consult your veterinarian and get information.

Exercise

The Boston Terrier needs minimal exercise. Although this need varies from dog to dog, energy and exercise needs are at different levels. Sixty minutes of activity or walking 1.5-2 kilometers will meet the exercise needs of Boston during the day. Some will find this period longer, while others will find it sufficient.

Since the activity level is low in the home environment, the owner may need to activate it from time to time. He will be more docile and adaptable when taken outside and exercised adequately daily. He should live at home with his family, as he is sensitive to heat and cold. In addition, it will be best for their health not to be exposed to excessive heat and cold weather while playing games, walking, and walking activities.

It will be wrong to leave your dog alone to walk or play in the garden in a safe environment. Boston, where you go alone in the park to play, will not leave the house door. They generally prefer to do activities with their owner and do not like to be alone. If you leave him alone often, he will get upset and may start exhibiting negative behaviors. A ball, biting toys, etc., to play with your dog. You can buy things. These are toys that allow him to drain his energy while playing games with you and play on his own whenever he wants. Obedience, agility, and other canine sports are ways your dog can get their energy out and exercise.

Best Products for The Boston Terrier

Training

The Boston Terrier breed enters a training process that will begin when he is a puppy. Due to his smart and easy-to-learn structure, he will not give you many difficulties in the education process. Participating in puppy training and socialization are his initial steps. For Boston to be a good-natured adult dog, he must be socialized and interacted with different people and animals in different environments.

During the training process, you should approach the gentle and fragile Boston Terrier by considering his sensitive nature. From time to time, he can reveal the side that tries to lead its owner and wants to be dominant. This can make communication between you and your dog difficult. But do not give him the authority to lead and dominate. He must understand that you are always the leader; once a compromise is made, the intelligent Boston breed will strive to keep it. No matter how hard you are in this situation, be patient. Be consistent, and pay attention to your tone of voice. Do not act harshly on your dog in any way. Try to use positive reinforcement rather than punishment. Complement the learning process with a persuasive, caring tone of voice, praise, play, and reward.

The more positive and consistent your approach to your dog, the better your dog's practices will be. The communication between you will determine the short or long duration of the training. The intelligent Boston Terrier wants to please his owner, so remind your dog of this without backing down when things go wrong. Then we believe that this faithful friend will listen to you and complete his education.

Health

The Boston Terrier breed is generally healthy. However, due to their genetic structure, they tend to certain diseases. Knowing what these are and how they are diagnosed will help you detect and resolve potential changes in your dog early.

The Boston Terrier dog has a distinctive eye structure. Because of this feature, you should check every day whether your eyes are red and irritated. You can use saline eye drops to remove dust, debris, and dirt from your eyes. Responsible Boston breeders check their stock for conditions such as cataracts, corneal ulcers, eye problems such as dry eyes, entropion, distichiasis, glaucoma, deafness, allergies, patellar luxation, respiratory ailments, heart and skin tumors including mast cell tumors.

Among the flat-faced breeds, Boston may have difficulty breathing in extremely hot, humid, and cold weather. Not just air; Being stressed, exercising intensely, and being asked to walk quickly by being pulled from the leash can also disrupt breathing patterns. Snoring, which results from respiratory problems, can also occur from time to time. In general, it is seen that the Boston breed snores and drools due to its facial and nose structure. Because of the nose and facial structure of the Boston Terrier dog, which does not bark much, you can hear the loudest sound while snoring.

For a healthy and long life, you should regularly check your dog and go to the vet when necessary.

Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club: 

• Patella Evaluation
• BAER Test
• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• Heart Examination
• Hip Assessment
• Elbow Evaluation