About Boston Terriers: Overview
Welcome to the About Boston Terriers page! Here you will find information regarding the breeds history and official standard. These go hand in hand in guiding a breeding program AND helping individuals decide if a breed is the right fit for them! I know it may seem like a lot but I highly suggest at least reading the breeds history write up (which is very light reading!), skimming the breed standard, and studying the graphics/photos provided to demonstrate the standard. You may just find some very helpful information! If you decide you’d like to research further, I’ve provided imbedded links to both the AKC and BostonTerrier Club of America websites, both of which have endless amounts of information! If you have any questions, I’m always happy to discuss my breeds backgrounds!
A brief history
The question is often asked, “How did the Boston Terrier originate?” Briefly stated it may be said to have resulted from a breeding in the 1860’s between Hoopers Judge, a dark-brindle, white-blazed dog believed to be a cross between an English Bulldog and a White English Terrier, and Burnett’s Gyp, a short-faced, all-white diminutive bulldog. Followed by considerable inbreeding. This produced one puppy; Well’s Eph, who wasn’t said to be particularly attractive, but breeders did well not to judge this particular book by its cover: Eph’s much more handsome offspring became the early progenitors of the stylish breed that we today know as the Boston Terrier.
While the Bull Terrier in England was developed to be a gentleman’s companion, the Boston Terrier took a different fork in the road: A favorite of the ladies, it was bred for a smaller size, as well as a gentler expression produced by its full eyes and curved skull. The latter led to the dogs being referred to, rather inelegantly, as “roundheads.” While descriptive, that nickname wasn’t suitable as a formal breed name. Early attempts to call the breed the American Bull Terrier inevitably – and understandably – drew protests from Bull Terrier fanciers. In 1891, being a Boston bred dog the name was changed from the Round Heads, to the Boston Terrier and the Boston Terrier Club of America was organized.
In the year 1893 occurred the most momentous event in the history of the Boston Terrier. After two years of trying to have the breed recognized, The American Kennel club admitted the breed to recognition for registration in the Stud Book, and the Club as a member of the American Kennel Club — the first of only a handful of made-in-the-USA breeds – the name Boston Terrier had been settled on, reflecting the breed’s early roots among that city’s most well-heeled residents.
In the early 20th Century, Boston Terrier breeders arm-wrestled over what colors and markings should be permitted. (Differences in color, along with size and ear shape, also helped separate the Boston from the French Bulldog, which had been used in its development.) Eventually, Boston fanciers settled on the solid colors of black or seal (which is black with a red cast when viewed in the light), and the brindle pattern. Certain white markings were also made mandatory: a band on the muzzle, a blaze between the eyes, and a white forechest were non-negotiable. If a dog also had a white collar and white on all or parts of the legs, so much the better.
Much progress has been accomplished in the breed since the year 1900 in the developing of different strains by scientific breeding, and some inbreeding, that has produced some very fine dogs, with clean cut short heads, snow white markings, dark soft eyes and the happy medium body leaning more to the Terrier that the Bulldog.
In the 1910s the Boston Terrier became the country’s most popular breed. After losing some ground to the German Shepherd in the following decade, by the 1930s the “American Gentleman,” as the Boston had been dubbed, was again on top, and understandably so: In the unabashedly modern Art Deco period, with its fascination with bold outlines and geometric forms, the Boston Terrier’s clean lines, and contrasting markings matched the aesthetics of the day.
To this day, the Boston Terrier retains that dapper appearance and wonderfully unique disposition! Their kind and gentle disposition have won them the name of “The American Gentleman”, a name rightfully given, and as companions or house pets, they have few equals. Breeders must take great care in the selection of breeding stock, as the future of the breed lies in the careful breeding of our present generation.
*Thank you to the Boston Terrier Club of America and Denise Flame with the AKC for providing these excerpts and photos*
The Breed Standard
Summary:
The clean-cut short backed body of the Boston Terrier coupled with the unique characteristics of his square head and jaw, and his striking markings have resulted in a most dapper and charming American original: The Boston Terrier
Temperament:
The Boston Terrier is a friendly and lively dog. The breed has an excellent disposition and a high degree of intelligence, which makes the Boston Terrier an incomparable companion
General Appearance:
The Boston Terrier is a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short- headed, compactly built, short-tailed, well balanced dog, brindle, seal or black in color and evenly marked with white. The head is in proportion to the size of the dog and the expression indicates a high degree of intelligence.
The body is rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and neatly turned, the tail is short and no feature is so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity, with style of a high order; carriage easy and graceful. A proportionate combination of “Color and White Markings” is a particularly distinctive feature of a representative specimen.
“Balance, Expression, Color and White Markings” should be given particular consideration in determining the relative value of General Appearance to other points.
Size, Proportion, Substance:
Weight is divided by classes as follows: Under 15 pounds; 15 pounds and under 20 pounds; 20 pounds and not to exceed 25 pounds. The length of leg must balance with the length of body to give the Boston Terrier its striking square appearance. The Boston Terrier is a sturdy dog and must not appear to be either spindly or coarse. The bone and muscle must be in proportion as well as an enhancement to the dog’s weight and structure. Fault – Blocky or chunky in appearance. Influence of Sex. In a comparison of specimens of each sex, the only evident difference is a slight refinement in the bitch’s conformation.
Head:
The skull is square, flat on top, free from wrinkles, cheeks flat, brow abrupt and the stop well defined. The ideal Boston Terrier expression is alert and kind, indicating a high degree of intelligence. This is a most important characteristic of the breed. The eyes are wide apart, large and round and dark in color. The eyes are set square in the skull and the outside corners are on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front. Disqualify – Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue. The ears are small, carried erect, either natural or cropped to conform to the shape of the head and situated as near to the corners of the skull as possible.
The muzzle is short, square, wide and deep and in proportion to the skull. It is free from wrinkles, shorter in length than in width or depth; not exceeding in length approximately one-third of the length of the skull. The muzzle from stop to end of the nose is parallel to the top of the skull. The nose is black and wide, with a well defined line between the nostrils. Disqualify – Dudley nose. The jaw is broad and square with short regular teeth. The bite is even or sufficiently undershot to square the muzzle. The chops are of good depth, but not pendulous, completely covering the teeth when the mouth is closed. Serious Fault – Wry mouth. Head Faults – Eyes showing too much white or haw. Pinched or wide nostrils. Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head. Serious Head Faults – Any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth is closed.
Neck, Topline and Body:
The length of neck must display an image of balance to the total dog. It is slightly arched, carrying the head gracefully and setting neatly into the shoulders. The back is just short enough to square the body. The topline is level and the rump curves slightly to the set-on of the tail. The chest is deep with good width, ribs well sprung and carried well back to the loins. The body should appear short. The tail is set on low, short, fine and tapering, straight or screw and must not be carried above the horizontal. (Note: The preferred tail does not exceed in length more than one-quarter the distance from set-on to hock.) Disqualify – Docked tail. Body Faults – Gaily carried tail. Serious Body Faults – Roach back, sway back, slab-sided.
Forequarters:
The shoulders are sloping and well laid back, which allows for the Boston Terrier’s stylish movement. The elbows stand neither in nor out. The forelegs are set moderately wide apart and on a line with the upper tip of the shoulder blades. The forelegs are straight in bone with short, strong pasterns. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are small, round and compact, turned neither in nor out, with well arched toes and short nails. Faults – Legs lacking in substance; splay feet.
Hindquarters:
The thighs are strong and well muscled, bent at the stifles and set true. The hocks are short to the feet, turning neither in nor out, with a well defined hock joint. The feet are small and compact with short nails. Fault – Straight in stifle.
Gait:
The gait of the Boston Terrier is that of a sure-footed, straight gaited dog, forelegs and hind legs moving straight ahead in line with perfect rhythm, each step indicating grace and power. Gait Faults – There will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving, when gaited. Hackney gait. Serious Gait Faults – Any crossing movement, either front or rear.
Coat:
The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture. Color and Markings: Brindle, seal, or black with white markings. Brindle is preferred only if all other qualities are equal. (Note: Seal Defined. Seal appears black except it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or bright light.) Disqualify – Solid black, solid brindle or solid seal without required white markings. Any color not described in the standard. Required Markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes, white forechest. Desired Markings: White muzzle band, even white blaze between the eyes and over the head, white collar, white forechest, white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs below the hocks. (Note: A representative specimen should not be penalized for not possessing “Desired Markings.”) A dog with a preponderance of white on the head or body must possess sufficient merit otherwise to counteract its deficiencies.
Disqualifications:
Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue. Dudley nose. Docked tail. Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal without required white markings. Any color not described in the standard.