Florida Fur Babies > Dog Breeds > Boston Terrier
Boston Terrier Breed Information
They are friendly, and lively and make a great family pet. If you are looking for a puppy that loves to play, loves to snuggle, and fits any lifestyle, the Boston Terrier is perfect for you! The highly affectionate, loyal Boston Terrier is also very kid friendly. This pup enjoys belly rubs and cuddles from anyone in the family. Easy to train, they get along great with kids and other pets and make an excellent addition to any household.
BREED TYPE / MIX
Purebred
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Moderate
TRAINING
Determined
TEMPERAMENT
Affectionate, Friendly, Lively, Playful
ADULT WEIGHT
10-25 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
15-17 in
LIFE SPAN
10-14 yrs
Characteristics
- The Boston Terrier is spunkier, more fun, and more loveable than any other breed of terrier
- These highly affectionate and loyal dogs have playful personalities, making them the perfect companion for families, singles, seniors, and first-time owners
- They get along great with kids and other pets – they are a dog that can fit any lifestyle
- The Boston Terrier is a small, strong, compact, and muscular dog with a short coat
- They are a small breed that's perfect for apartments. They don't need much space or exercise to be happy
- These dogs are known for being easy to train and are eager to please
- The Boston Terrier is a friendly, lively, intelligent dog that is fun to live with
Appearance
The Boston Terrier is a small dog with a well-proportioned body. It has a short muzzle that is square-shaped and dark and large round eyes. The ears are erect, and the tail is short.
The Boston Terrier is a cute breed with a compact, muscular body that has been likened to an egg standing on end. They have large bat-like ears, big, beautiful eyes, and a kind, sweet expression that makes them very attractive pets. The muzzle is short but square-shaped and the tail is short as well. The coat is smooth, glossy, fine, and short with colors that include brindle, black, seal, or red.
The height of a mature male Boston Terrier ranges from 15 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder while females are slightly smaller at 14 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder. Their weight ranges between 10 to 25 pounds for males while females weigh between 7 to 22 pounds on average.
Temperament
Boston Terriers are a popular breed of dogs. They are great family pets and have many other qualities that make them an ideal pup for families with children.
Boston Terriers are very loyal, loving, and affectionate dogs. They love to cuddle and will follow their owners around the house, just to be close to them. These dogs also enjoy getting belly rubs and pampering from their owners. This makes them ideal for families where one person is home all day while the other works.
They are fun-loving dogs that enjoy playing with toys and other dogs. They love running in the snow, playing in the water, or jumping up on furniture to get your attention.
Boston Terriers love attention from their humans and are amusing when trying to get it!
Care
Grooming
The Boston Terrier is a sturdy, compact, short-haired breed with a smooth, glossy coat. They are very low maintenance and do not shed very much.
They have a short fine coat, usually black or brindle, with white markings. Their short coat is easy to groom, and they require only an occasional brushing once a week to keep their coat looking shiny and healthy.
Bathe when needed but always use a mild shampoo for dogs that does not contain conditioners or perfume so that you don't irritate their skin.
Clip their nails regularly to prevent them from getting too long which could cause discomfort when walking on hard surfaces such as concrete sidewalks or pavement.
Brush their teeth several times each week to prevent dental disease caused by plaque build-up at the gum line where food particles get stuck between teeth. Gum tissue can cause bad breath, bleeding gums, and a bad taste in the mouth.
Exercise Needs
Boston Terriers don’t have high exercise needs, but walks, games of fetch, and short hikes are all excellent activities for them. Boston Terriers loves canine games and sports. They can run around the yard with your other dog or play fetch with you.
Swims are also a great way to keep your Boston busy, as they love water, but should always be supervised, as they tend to get exhausted very easily. You can even enroll them in a doggie daycare if you work long hours or travel often. If you have time, take them on a walk twice a day for about 20 to 40 minutes each time.
Health
Boston Terriers are a relatively healthy breed. They experience few health problems and tend to live long lives. Although they are generally a healthy breed, they do experience some health problems. Some of these conditions can be managed with medication or regular vet checkups.
Some common health issues include allergies, ear infections, dental issues, and eye problems during old age.
Lifespan
Boston Terriers are long-lived dogs, with an average lifespan of 14 years. Though the oldest Boston Terrier lived to be 15 years old, the breed's median life span is 12.8 years, or 10 and 14 years.
Training
Boston Terriers are intelligent dogs that learn quickly. They are very playful, but they also need some exercise and mental stimulation in order to be happy.
They are usually easy to housebreak, especially if you start the process when they're young. You may want to invest in some dog diapers if you have an indoor Boston Terrier puppy that doesn't always let you know when he needs to go outside for a potty break!
Boston Terriers love activity, so getting them involved in obedience training or agility classes can be great ways to bond with them while giving them a chance to show off their smarts! Agility classes are also great because they help keep your dog fit while allowing them to expend some energy through playtime with other dogs.
History
The Boston Terrier is a small, compact and muscular dog. This breed originated in the USA and was developed by crossing the English Bulldog and the English White Terriers. In fact, this breed is also known as the American Bull and Terrier or simply as the Boston Bulldog.
The name of this breed was derived from its birthplace - Boston, Massachusetts. Like other bulldogs, this breed too was used for fighting bulls, bears, and other animals in sports. However, with changing times these blood sports were banned in England in 1835 by Parliament. Later on, their popularity declined rapidly due to various reasons including animal rights activism.
The Boston Terrier was imported into America between the 1860s to 1890s along with other bulldogs like Old Family Red Nose and White English Bulldogs as show dogs by William O'Brien. He later created a new strain which was further refined through selective breeding over generations resulting in a very popular pet dog that is known today as Boston Terrier.