Boston Terrier : A Look At The American Gentelman

Boston terriers, also referred to as Boston Bulls and Boston Bull Terriers, are truly an all-American dog. They were bred and developed right here in the USA. They are the product of crossing an English Bulldog with the now extinct English White Terrier with a little French Bulldog thrown in the mix. They were originally bred to be a pit fighting dog weighing up to 44 lbs. They were eventually bred down in size to become the small companion dogs we have come to love.

Bostons are in the non-sporting group of dogs. They are small compact and well muscled. They have erect ears, an expressive face and a short tail that is either straight or screw shaped. They have a short fine coat ranging in the colors of black and white, brindle and white, seal (black with a red cast in the sunlight) and white and some are brown and white. However some “new” colors are beginning to come into the spot light such as blue, fawn, cream, chocolate and red. They range in height from 15-17 inches and weight between 10-25 lbs.

Bostons make great companion dogs as they are gentle, intelligent, alert, affectionate, enthusiastic and well-mannered. They can be a little rambunctious and high strung if not given the proper exercise, both physical and mental. Because they are highly intelligent they are easy to train and are very sensitive to the tone of your voice. They are quick to learn things and actually enjoy learning. If you do not make yourself pack leader they will fill the need to step up and tell you what to do. Their gentle, friendly and playful nature makes them great with children and the elderly. They are not shy when it comes to meeting strangers and they love to be part of the family. These little dogs can be rather stubborn when it comes to house breaking. With proper socialization they get along with other dogs and pets, as with any breed socialization is the key.

These dogs are not very tolerant of extremely hot or cold conditions and because they are a brachycephallic breed (meaning they have short noses) they can have breathing problems. Their prominent eyes can be prone to injury and their large heads can cause difficulty during whelping. These dogs tend to snort, snore and make a few strange noises. They do well in both city and country living. They need daily exercise to stay in shape. And their short coats are very east to maintain. With proper love and care these little dogs can live for 15+ years.