Boston Terrier
Temperament:
The Boston Terrier is an attentive, intelligent and friendly companion. In recent years, the Boston Terrier has developed into a popular companion dog. Many people quickly recognize him by his distinctive face. Despite its cute appearance, the Boston Terrier is a fully-fledged dog. A Boston Terrier goes through thick and thin with its family.
Characteristics
The Boston Terrier can be recognized at first glance by the shape of its head. The small dog has a large head and a short muzzle. Its large, dark eyes give it a cute appearance. Many people fall in love with him because of his charming appearance.
The large, protruding ears have also earned the Boston Terrier a real cult status. However, the Boston Terrier should not be reduced to its striking appearance. It is a fully-fledged dog that wants to be kept busy.
A distinction is made between three weight classes in breeding. The Boston Terrier can weigh between 6.8 kg and 11.3 kg. If you want a Boston Terrier, you should ask the breeder about the weight class of the parent animals. This will give you an idea of how big and heavy your dog will be.
The coat of the Boston Terrier has white markings on the face, chest and front legs. The rest of the coat can be brindle or solid black or black-brown. It is very soft and should have a silky sheen. The small dog has a short tail, which may not be docked in Germany for animal welfare reasons.
The small Boston Terrier is agile and muscular and therefore very eager to move. As a classic companion dog, he enjoys taking part in the lives of his people. His nature is friendly and open-minded. He is easy to lead and docile. Therefore, even inexperienced dog owners can't go far wrong when training them. Nevertheless, as with any dog, you should of course be consistent and patient.
This sensitive dog is very affectionate and should be trained lovingly and warm-heartedly. Due to its friendly nature, the Boston Terrier is a good family companion. It is considered to be very fond of children.
The small terriers are very agile and enjoy dog sports. The sport should of course be adapted to their small size. Many Boston Terriers are successful at agility. As the Boston Terrier is easy to motivate, it learns tricks quickly. They love to please their owners. You can keep your Boston Terrier busy with small intelligence games. Daily walks are a matter of course.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
The Boston Terrier has a very short jaw and a round skull. This physical peculiarity must be taken into account when feeding the dog.
The small dog may have problems chewing, which means that the teeth are not loaded evenly. This can have a negative effect on your dog's health in the long term. It can also lead to painful inflammation of the gums.
Your Boston Terrier should chew enough to keep his teeth clean. Dried scalp or rumen is a good choice. These chews contain no grain or sugar, which is good for your Boston Terrier's teeth.
When choosing food, you should make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients and is balanced.
You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food. Age, weight, activity and state of health are decisive.
Whether your Boston Terrier prefers fresh food, dry food or wet food depends on your and his preferences. Puppies should be fed a puppy food that contains sufficient nutrients for growth.
The food should always be given at the same time. Clean water should be available around the clock.
Health & Care
The Boston Terrier has a very fine and smooth coat with little undercoat. For daily grooming, it is sufficient to brush the Boston Terrier occasionally with a soft brush.
Brushes with soft rubber nubs massage the dog. If the Boston Terrier has become very dirty while playing, it should only be washed with water. Only in exceptional cases should dogs be washed with special dog shampoos. Shampooing too often can damage the natural protective layer of the skin and coat. This makes it easier for pathogens to penetrate.
The sensitive Boston Terrier is known to react sensitively to temperature fluctuations. Its thin coat hardly protects it from external influences.
You should take it easy on your Boston Terrier, especially in hot weather. On hot days, you should only take a short walk. Leave your dog in the shade. The Boston Terrier's short muzzle makes it difficult for it to pant in the heat and it overheats quickly.
Very low temperatures, cold rain and snow also affect the Boston Terrier. Boston Terriers are susceptible to colds. You can protect your Boston Terrier from the cold with a dog coat. Even in sub-zero temperatures, you should only take short walks.
As already described, some Boston Terriers have dental problems. Special toothbrushes and toothpaste for dogs can prevent tartar. You should get your Boston Terrier used to having its teeth brushed from an early age. With lots of praise and patience, most dogs will soon accept this ritual.
Suitable accessories
The Boston Terrier is an adaptable dog that does not need many accessories. The Border Terrier is a very affectionate dog who, like any dog, appreciates a soft bed. The lighter specimens in particular only need a light lead and a well-fitting harness. The short-snouted dogs often have breathing problems. They should therefore not pull on the collar. A collar is therefore only suitable for Boston Terriers that do not pull on the lead.
For very cold days, your Boston Terrier can be given a dog coat to protect him from hypothermia. The coat should fit snugly and not hinder the dog when running and playing.
The intelligent and playful Boston Terrier should be encouraged with toys. As already mentioned, he should be able to indulge his need to chew. There are many robust toys available for this purpose. Intelligence toys are also a good way to keep him occupied.
Origin & History
The Boston Terrier originated from the English Bulldog and the White English Terrier. The White English Terrier is now extinct, but has contributed to the development of several breeds. The French Bulldog was also crossed into the Boston Terrier. The relationship is still clearly recognizable today.
The Boston Terrier was originally called the American Bull Terrier. Until dog fighting was banned in America in 1900, the breed was bred for this purpose. Later, the small breed developed into a popular companion dog that captured the hearts of many Americans.
For this reason, the breed is still known as the national dog of America in many regions. At that time, not all dogs had prick ears. It was only later that this striking feature became a breeding goal.
The Boston Terrier was registered by the American Kennel Club as early as 1893. The dog breed owes its name to the city of the same name, where the breeding association for the Boston Terrier was founded. The dog was also shown there for the first time.
This cheerful companion dog has been known in Europe since 1927. For many decades, however, the breed was hardly widespread and there were only a few litters in Germany. In recent years, however, the breed has become increasingly popular. The number of puppies registered with the German Kennel Club (VDH) has tripled from 95 in 1998 to 322 in 2010.
A major problem with Boston Terriers is their flat nose and very round head. Many of these dogs are born by caesarean section. If you want to add a Boston Terrier to your family, you should contact a reputable breeder. This will prevent your dog from coming from an abusive breeding program.
