Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Boston Terrier 101: The Breed Standard

By Wendy Caples

Before you get any dog, you should look at their breed standard to let you know what they require in terms of exercise, grooming and training. You are probably looking for Boston Terrier information before you bring a dog or puppy home, and good for you. Getting the information now will save you a lot of heartbreak later. The Boston Terrier breed standard can help you determine if a Boston Terrier is right for you.

The charming personality of the Boston Terrier is not only one reason why it is so popular, but also why they do so well outside of a show ring or a breeding kennel. The purpose of developing the breed was to make a good pet for people, unlike other breeds bred to hunt, fight or herd livestock. They are lively, kind, easy-going and good with kids and senior citizens as well as other animals.

The breed standard also reveals another reason why the Boston Terrier is so popular. They are small, but not so small as to jeopardize their health. They are robust, but portable. Although you may find some Boston Terriers outside the lines, they are usually fifteen to twenty-five pounds and only about fifteen inches high at their shoulders. They are most famous in black and white, but also come in seal and white and brindle and white. The breed standard is quite strict on the distribution of white around the body, which disqualifies a lot of Boston Terriers from the ring.

The breed standard also emphasizes sturdiness. They are not to have physical weaknesses like swaybacks, spayed legs, very slow gait or look overly muscular. Their bodies should look sturdy but everything should be in proportion. And the tails are naturally very short, although occasionally a purebred is born with a long tail. The ears are perky and most of the time they are pointed (occasionally a floppy eared one comes along).

But part of the Boston Terrier breed standard that best helps you identify one of this breed is the temperament. Thankfully, the temperament in a Boston Terrier has always been considered just as important as their looks. Boston Terriers were bred purposefully to be companion animals. They are happy, trainable, lively and like to get along with others.

But that also tells you that these dogs need to be kept indoors, as they lack any protection from the elements.

Boston Terriers often have pointed ears that are proportional to the size of the head. Sometimes, you'll see a purebred Boston with huge bat-ears ? that's not a show dog. They bounce when they walk, but they should not have a high-stepping walk like a Hackney horse or the incredibly slow shuffle of a Pekingese.

Boston Terriers are usually abandoned through no fault of their own, but because they are so cute and small, as people often buy them on impulse.

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