Boston Terrier: breed description, colors, feeding and care

The Boston Terrier is a dog that has won the hearts of millions of dog lovers. Representatives of the breed are particularly quick-witted, teamwork and incredible devotion to their master.

The first work on the breeding of this breed began in 1861. Breeders from the United States of America tried to cross the English Terrier and the English Bulldog. It is worth noting that in those days, the bulldogs looked a little different - the body of the dog was quite strong and muscular, and its legs were short.

The first show of the Boston Terrier breed took place back in 1878 at the Boston Dog Show. The competition was attended by several representatives of this breed, which was then called the bullet head or the bull and terrier.

After some time, when the breeders have fully decided on the basic standards of the Boston Terrier, the breed was officially recognized. Now these dogs are very popular not only in England, but also in other countries.

This breed of dog, like the Boston Terrier, can be recognized by its unusual physique - a very muscular body with short legs. Such an interesting structure of the dog’s body does not prevent it from being extremely active and energetic.

It will not be difficult to distinguish a male dog from a female - they significantly differ from each other in size and weight. The height of an adult Boston Terrier is always equal to the length of the back, but the mass is divided into three types: small - not more than 7 kilograms, medium - from 7 to 9 kilograms and large - from 9 to 12 kilograms.

The main standards deduced by breeders are several characteristics.

• The shape and size of the head. The head of the Boston Terrier must be square in shape with skin covered and hanging nowhere. Such a dog, as a rule, has a very expressive forehead and cheekbones. The muzzle, like the head, has the shape of a square, but is shorter than the frontal part.

• Bite. Due to the fact that these dogs are not fighting dogs, their jaw is not as powerful as that of their close relative - the extinct English terrier. Small but strong teeth form a dense row. Dog bite is divided into two types - "ticks" and bulldog. The first case is characterized by a slight bending of the lower jaw up.

• Nose. The nose of the Boston Terriers is quite large and has pronounced nostrils, separated by an even groove.

• Eyes. The dog has very large, round and widely set black eyes. Look is very kind, smart and understanding.

• The ears. Compared to the head, the ears of the Boston Terrier are quite large and upright. Planted widely, have small curves at the end.

• Torso. The square body of the dog has a curved neck, neatly passing into the withers. The broad and voluminous chest is noticeably lowered to the level of the elbows.

• Paws The limbs of the dog are slightly elongated, but they are not without proportionality. The front ones are parallel to each other and right under the withers. The hind limbs are more curved.

• Tail. This part is low. The tail of this dog is shortened, but neat, slightly thickened at the beginning.

As for the wool color, the dog breeders divide it into several varieties, namely:

• black and white color;
• fur color (differs from the usual black and white with a reddish tint);
• tiger color.

One of the main distinguishing features of the breed is tuxedo on wool that is, the dog’s chest, as well as the muzzle and neck, are always covered with white hair.

Absolutely all owners of such an extraordinary breed as the Boston Terrier speak of this pet as an unusually cheerful and friendly companion. When buying this dog you must take into account its restless nature - the animal is able to do a lot of things. However, scolding the Boston Terrier is by no means possible, the animal is particularly sensitive and vulnerable, which can offend its owner for a long time.

It is best to have such a dog for families with children, because the animal is extremely active, loves to play with toys and run along the street. The dog gets along well with children, as well as with other animals (including cats). Surprising is the fact that this breed is able not only to get along well with other representatives of the fauna, but also to make good friends with them.

When walking this dog, you need to be extremely careful and watchful, because from the ancestors she got some pugnacity and sometimes even aggressiveness, which leads to small “skirmishes” with other Boston Terriers. However in relation to people the dog never shows aggression or anger, on the contrary, it can calmly leave even with strangers.

In order to raise a real fearless guard, you need to train your pet, teach him the basic commands.

Before you get such an interesting beast like the Boston Terrier, you need to familiarize yourself with all the pros and cons of this breed. You should start directly with the merits of the dog.

• An easygoing character. Representatives of this breed have a truly kind and loyal disposition. With proper upbringing, you can raise an excellent home guard.
• Long life expectancy and a small predisposition to various diseases.
• Due to its small size, the Boston Terrier does not require much space. And also the dog is very clean, so it’s easy to care for her.
• The Boston Terrier is very friendly not only towards people, but also towards other animals.

The breed is not limited to only pluses - there are some disadvantages.

• Extreme stubbornness and resentment. Such a dog reacts very sharply to curses and remarks, as a result of which it is often offended by its owner.
• The pet has a very thin coat, which often freezes in the winter.
• Despite the fact that the animal is considered extremely hardy and resistant to various diseases, there is still a great risk of congenital diseases. For example, a brain tumor or deafness.

Such an important factor as the life expectancy of the Boston Terrier should be said separately. With proper care and proper feeding, the dog is able to live 14-15 years.

In general, the animal is quite well developed physically, but such individual problems as eye or ear diseases are still present.

Due to the fact that the dog’s eyes are “bulging”, problems with them are not uncommon. Troubles arise when small debris or dust gets into them, after which inflammation occurs.

It often happens that during the period of active maturation, puppies develop juvenile cataracts. The disease can be recognized by the dog’s lost gaze and a slightly blurred lens. In such cases, the animal urgently needs professional veterinary care.

Colds in Boston Terriers are a common problem. Basically, these are ENT diseases, for example, otitis media, sinusitis, rhinitis and so on.

It’s also important to carefully monitor your pet in sunny weather - the dog is highly susceptible to sunshine.

In addition, due to the large head of the dog at the time of birth, it is best to have a cesarean section in order to avoid complications and deaths.

Many very often confuse two very similar breeds: the Boston Terrier and the French Bulldog. Indeed, there are obvious similarities between the breeds, but it is worth sorting out which ones and why.

The stories of the origin of the bulldog and the terrier are very similar - they begin in the 19th century in England and France. At that time, breeds with a flattened face and small size were very popular - keeping such a pet at home was considered a very prestigious occupation.

In the process of breeding, the largest result of crossbreeding was exactly the French bulldog. However, the aim of the experiment was to obtain a miniature dog with the characteristic features of a bulldog. Isolation of breeds in European countries negatively affected selection, as a result of which dogs developed their own traits.

The first thing to consider is the similarity of the rocks. These include several features.

• Both dogs belong to mastiff breeds, and also have one weight category - no more than 11 kilograms. Both the bulldog and the terrier have their ears set high and have the same shape.The upper jaw is much shorter than the lower, so the nose of each dog is slightly up. The tail is usually short and crooked.
• The second common feature of these pets is the price - about 7 thousand rubles without a pedigree and about 25 thousand rubles with a pedigree and all the necessary certificates and vaccinations.
• The color of the coat. Both representatives of these breeds have a tiger coat color.
• Another very interesting similarity is snoring. Many owners are touched by this phenomenon, while others annoy. However, both the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier make characteristic sounds in a dream.
• The nature both pets are very friendly and playful, sometimes they are stubborn and touchy.
• Simple care. Due to the small size and unpretentiousness of these dogs, it is very easy to care for them.

At first glance, it’s almost impossible to distinguish the French Bulldog from the Boston Terrier, because there are too many similar features. However, there are also differences between the breeds.

• Despite belonging to the same class of breeds, physical differences between pets still exist. For example, the height at the withers of both dogs is different, but the weight is the same.
• But there are also differences in the structure of the chest. In the French Bulldog, it is barrel-shaped, with elbows widely set from the body, but in the Boston Terrier, the chest is straight, with its legs set high.
• In addition to differences in the structure of the chest, there are also differences in the structure of the muzzle. The Frenchman's face is more wrinkled, with rounded ears, but in Boston it is almost perfectly smooth, with straight ears. The eyes are also different - the Frenchman is almond-shaped, and the terrier - round.
• Experienced breeders found their own characteristics in the character of the breeds - the Boston Terrier is much easier to train, and the French Bulldog is more spoiled and restless.

As mentioned earlier, caring for the Boston Terrier is not as difficult as it might seem. Dog hair is pretty short therefore, careful care does not require.

The pet rarely sheds, and a hard brush is suitable for combing wool. For shine and good appearance of the hair after combing, it is necessary to treat all places with a rubber mitten.

The small and neat face of the dog should be wiped daily with a damp cloth, removing all dirt and food debris.

It is rarely necessary to bathe an animal - only as necessary. The same applies to claw trimming - you need to do this when they grow very much.

Particular attention must be paid to the eyes of the pet - because this is his weakest point. You need to examine them every day, and at the slightest suspicion of an infection, immediately contact your veterinarian.

The Boston Terrier is not a working dog by nature, so she does not need strong physical activity. You should walk with him at least twice a day, and take him to special training grounds a couple of times a week.

Since the pet’s coat is short and dense, it is difficult to tolerate heat and cold. In such periods, you need to choose the watch for a walk especially carefully.

Due to the small size of the dog, it can easily be kept at home or even in a small apartment. These animals are categorically not suitable for living on the street - they become too attached to their owners, and they can’t do without communication.

The place of the terrier should be warm and comfortable, not passing drafts. Well, if the bed will be located in a place where the pet will have a large field of view. It is also important to have toys with which the pet will play when no one is at home.

The terrier’s stomach is quite small, so it should not be fed more than twice a day. The optimal periods for eating are morning and evening, and in the morning hours there should be slightly more food in volume than in the evening.

Every Boston Terrier owner needs to know that:

• It is strictly forbidden to feed a pet immediately after a walk or active physical activity;
• at least half of the dog's diet should consist of natural meat and protein;
• it is imperative to prevent overeating or malnutrition in the pet.

Feeding the puppy should be 6 times a day. Servings should be small. Further, the number of meals should be reduced, being reduced to 2 meals a day.

The following products are part of natural feeding:

• boiled and boneless fish, best if it is river or sea;
• meat;
• low-fat cottage cheese (especially needed in the first years of a dog’s life);
• grated vegetables and greens added to the main food;
• boiled or raw eggs for adult dogs (not more than three times a week), for puppies only boiled yolk is recommended (not more than once a week).

Acute stomach problems can cause tubular bones, as well as products such as:

• flour, confectionery, chocolate;
• smoked, salted, pickled and fried foods;
• spicy spices;
• potatoes;
• legumes;
• barley porridge.

Do not forget about dry feed in the pet’s diet, however, they should be selected only with the help of a specialist. And there are also feeds designed specifically for this breed, for example, Brit Premium S and others.

Well, of course, the dog should always have clean water.

As mentioned earlier, Boston Terrier dogs are very friendly and obedient. When training, they perfectly absorb the resulting material, but it must be constantly repeated. The owner of the terrier must be very patient and competent when training this pet.

The animal should be trained only at a special site. This should not be done too often, but this is how the pet will be able to socialize faster and become more obedient.

When educating the Boston Terrier, one should not forget that the pet is very touchy and too emotional, therefore it is impossible to shout at it, much less beat it.

Most owners of such a wonderful dog, like the Boston Terrier, speak positively of the breed. The pet is really very playful and sociable. He likes to explore everything around and often destroy home furniture.

Mimicry of the Boston Terrier is a separate topic for discussion. They perfectly build all sorts of grimaces and expressions, be it regret or joy.

It is really very easy and simple to take care of him - the coat is short and unpretentious, which is why there is half as much grooming as other dogs. As for Boston's eye diseases, there are sometimes problems with this. The main thing is to notice and eliminate them in time.

The choice of a dog should be treated with all responsibility and maximum care.

When buying a puppy of the Boston Terrier, you need to consider some nuances.

1. Contact and make a purchase only with trusted people who have supporting documents and certificates. In no case can you believe the reviews left and the words of the sellers themselves.
2. On average, no more than four puppies appear per litter.
3. Since this breed has a great tendency to congenital deafness, blindness and many other diseases, the breeder should immediately test the puppies for their presence at his own expense. Believing in words to such people is strongly discouraged.
4. You should pay attention to the behavior of the puppy among his brothers. Anger and excessive pugnacity is a deviation from the norm of this breed.
5. Do not be afraid of small humps on the puppy's back - this birth defect is found in almost every newborn representative, which eventually disappears completely.
6. It is believed that a newborn puppy of the Boston Terrier must have a square body and huge eyes. Nevertheless, individuals with a rectangular body and small eyes are currently found.
7. The main task of any non-profit breeder is to leave the best puppies for further breeding and sale. Therefore, one should not believe much in the words of the seller - it is imperative to carefully consider and weigh everything before purchasing an animal.

The price of a breed is different in different regions of Russia and the world, but it is divided according to one principle - a puppy class. The average price of a dog with an excellent exterior is 50 thousand rubles. If a pet is purchased not for visiting exhibitions, but as a pet, then it is quite possible to find prices less than 30 thousand rubles.

The Boston Terrier is a truly awesome and fun dog. Like any other pet, it is able to bring real happiness to the house, but the owner still has a difficult task - to provide his pet with all the necessary conditions and proper care and love. A new member of the family is a serious and important step into the future.

About the features of the breed Boston Terrier, see the video below.