Boston terrier
The Boston terrier is one of the few breeds developed in the United States, bred in Boston in the 1870s from a bulldog and white English terrier cross.
It was originally a fighting dog and was rapidly refined into something much smaller and entirely companionable.
The striking feature is the markings — the tuxedo pattern of white blaze, chest and forelegs against black, brindle or seal — set on a compact square body with a short muzzle and large upright ears. Bostons are lively, funny and adaptable, and their size and moderate exercise needs make them one of the more practical small dogs for a flat.
- Origin
- Boston, United States, 1870s
- Size
- 5–11 kg, 38–43 cm at the shoulder
- Lifespan
- 11–13 years
- Coat
- Short, smooth and fine
- Temperament
- Lively, comic, friendly, adaptable
- Exercise
- Two half-hour walks daily
Related: Bulldog · Airedale terrier · American hairless terrier · American pit bull terrier · American Staffordshire terrier
3 boston terrier photos, newest first
Living with a boston terrier
Grooming is a weekly wipe over, plus keeping the facial wrinkle clean and dry.
The short muzzle brings the usual caveats — they overheat easily, snore, and should never be exercised hard in warm weather — though Bostons are generally less extreme in this than bulldogs or pugs.
The prominent eyes are vulnerable to scratches and ulcers, so watch for squinting. Luxating patellae, deafness in heavily white-marked dogs, and brachycephalic airway problems are the other common issues. Many are born by caesarean because of the head size.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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