The Boston Terrier is a small and compactly built dog.
Their ears stand straight up (erect); they also have a short tail, and a short muzzle.
These dogs are typically 15 to 17 inches tall at the withers.
They typically weigh between 10 and 25 pounds.
These dogs have a short haired coat that is relatively smooth to the touch.
The color of these dogs includes the following:
black
brindle
seal
a combination of black, brindle, and seal
liver
brown
cream
red and white
Temperament
The breed is typically quite friendly.
Unlike most terriers, this breed is more affectionate and less independent.
For the most part, this small dog breed is gentle, alert, expressive, and well mannered.
At one point, these small dogs were bred to fight. Today however, they are bred as companion dogs and are good with children, the elderly, other dogs, and other family pets.
Living Standards
This small dog breed is fine living in an apartment.
Indoors they are typically calm and inactive.
Keep in mind that these small dogs do not fair well in extreme weather conditions.
Exercise
These small dogs require a daily walk.
In addition to a walk, be sure to spend a half an hour playing with this dog.
This breed also enjoys having bones to chew and dog toys to play with.
Litter Size
This breed will typially have 3 or 4 pups per litter.
Due to the size of this breed's head, caesarean births are rather common.
Health and Life Expectancy
Unfortunately, this small dog breed is subject to several health issues.
Due to certain bone defects of the skull, this small breed may suffer from an under-developed skull condition that can stunt brain growth and ultimately cause brain damage.
Also, because of their short-face these small dogs typically have breathing problems resulting from extreme heat or extreme cold.
They tend to snore and drool quite frequently.
The life expectancy of this breed is generally 15 years of age or longer.
Trainability and Obedience
This breed is intelligent and relatively easy to train.
You simply need to be patient when housebreaking them and consistent with obedience training.
This breed is eager to please and will quickly "pick up" on commands.
Keep in mind however, this is a terrier breed and they do not always like to be told what to do. The more time you put in, the easier the training will be.
Remember that any small dog breed can develop small dog syndrome if not properly trained.
Grooming
This breed is easy to groom due to their short haired coats. They are typically mild shedders.
Use a soft bristle brush or a comb.
Simply brush this dog once a week.
Bathe them whenever necessary.
On a daily basis, wipe their face with a damp cloth and gently wipe the eyes.
Inspect their ears and eyes for any debris.
Clip their nails when necessary.
History
This breed was developed around 1870 and originated in Massachusetts (Boston).
These dogs were traditionally bred as pit-fighting dogs and have relation to both the bull and terrier breeds.
The first true mix was between an English Bulldog and an English White Terrier.
Over the years, these dogs were bred down in size and interbred with the French Bulldog. This new breed became the basis of the modern day Boston Terrier.
By 1889, this breed had become quite popular. Thus, the "Boston Terrier" Club was formed.
