Boston Terrier dog

History of origin

Unlike many other breeds, Boston Terriers were purposefully bred by American cynologists. The breed was formed in the second half of the XNUMXth century and owes its appearance to a resident of the city of Boston, Massachusetts, Robert Hooper, who was so fascinated by his pet, a mestizo of an English terrier and an English bulldog, that he decided to start breeding such dogs.

The cynologist managed to get several generations of funny dogs with a round head, huge ears and large expressive eyes, but then difficulties began with the registration of a new breed. Hooper called her American Bull Terriers, but the breeders of English Bull Terriers were utterly outraged by this fact – it seemed that in this way their dogs would be confused with the “Massachusetts Métis”, as these dogs were dubbed in the Old World. Of course, English dog handlers, not alien to snobbery, looked down on the upstart Yankees and did not want to recognize the new breed.

But Hooper and his followers did not give up. They continued to improve the exterior of their pets, paying special attention to fixing the sign of roundness, and in the end they won – in 1893 the breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Federation.

But the name could not be decided for a long time. The “American Bull Terrier” was replaced by the “Roundhead Bully”, then the “American Bully”, and only then the dogs received the name by which we know them to this day – Boston Terriers or Boston Terriers.

Funny dogs were very fond of the Americans (and even became the official symbol of the state of Massachusetts), and soon conquered Europe, because they turned out to be a convenient compact size, cute, smart and kind – you can’t imagine better for an urban family.

Boston Terriers appeared in our country not so long ago, and they were often confused with French bulldogs, or even with Japanese chins, or they were mistaken for “wrong” pugs, but today the breed is quite well-known and is rapidly gaining popularity.

Breed description

Very cute dogs, harmoniously combining the external features of both bulldogs and terriers. Their height ranges from 30 to 45 cm, and their weight is from 6 to 11 kg, that is, everyone can choose a dog of the size that he likes. The head is round, without the folds on the muzzle characteristic of bulldogs, the eyes are large, widely spaced, the expression is cheerful and attentive. Lips are not saggy, so Bostons never salivate. The ears are very large and erect. The physique is strong, but not massive and stocky, like a bulldog, the outline fits into a square. The tail is thin, often curled in a corkscrew.

The coat is short and smooth. The color is black, brown, dark brown, brindle with obligatory white spots on the head (on the nose and a wide strip between the eyes), on the chest in the form of a bib and socks on the paws.

Photos

Character

The Boston Terrier’s heart is filled to the brim with love for the world around him. He is very emotional, constantly in contact with the owners, but at the same time unobtrusive. This funny dog ​​is happy with everyone who comes to the house, moreover, he often has a habit of jumping up to reach the person. However, with its modest dimensions, this is not scary. Boston has no idea what aggression is, except that he can chase a cat (after all, he is a terrier, whose ancestors were hunters), but only to play, and once he gets rebuffed, he will draw conclusions and will not repeat his mistakes again.

Boston’s large expressive eyes always show what’s on his mind, and his facial expressions are so developed that it’s time to use his portraits instead of emoticons: resentment, joy, chagrin, a question, etc.

In children, these dogs do not have a soul and take part in their games and pranks with pleasure. For all their sociability, Boston Terriers tolerate loneliness well, making them ideal dogs for working city dwellers.

Care and maintenance

Boston Terriers are undemanding to care for. They are small, short-haired and rarely shed, which means that there will be no tufts of wool lying around the house, and you will not have to constantly trip over a dog blocking the corridor. Bostons will be happy to sleep both in the bed with the owners and on their own bedding – the main thing is that there are no drafts that they are afraid of. And, of course, they are not suitable for life in the yard.

These dogs are very mobile, so they need long walks and outdoor games. It is very good if it is possible to let your pet run without a leash.

For winter weather, it is worth getting a jacket so that this short-haired dog does not freeze. Also, you should not take it out on a sultry summer afternoon – this is especially true for residents of the southern regions of our country. Bostons have a very short nose, so the hot air they breathe (and it is even hotter near hot asphalt) does not have time to cool down, and dogs can get overheated.

Education and training

Although Boston Terriers are family pets, this does not mean that they do not need to be trained. It is worth remembering that no matter how the dog looks and no matter what size it is, it still remains a dog with all its inherent instincts. And if you start treating your snub-nosed friend like a service dog, your dog will grow up to be manageable and calm, and if you start pampering and treating him like a toy, you will end up with a capricious and spiteful creature that will not put your dog in a penny. opinion and grab under the table by the legs.

To begin with, teach your dog the basic rules of behavior in the house, pay special attention to the “come to me” command, otherwise you risk losing him during a walk. It also doesn’t hurt to take at least a general obedience course with your dog.

Health and disease

Due to the structural features of the body, Boston Terriers are prone to certain diseases. In particular, these are glaucoma and other eye diseases, they also have a pronounced predisposition to colds, so you should not let the dog get cold. As mentioned above, overheating is also dangerous for them, so it is better not to walk with Bostons in extreme heat.

The owners of these dogs should pay attention to their diet and in no case overfeed, following the lead of their touching and begging looks. From the abundance of high-calorie food, Boston Terriers quickly gain weight, which is not the best way for their health.

Also, it is often difficult for bitches to give birth, especially the first ones, and sometimes you have to resort to a caesarean section.

Otherwise, this is a much healthier breed than its bulldog ancestors.

Word to the breeder

Natalya Kidyaeva from Tolyatti, owner of the Elit Boston kennel: “The Boston Terrier is a rather rare breed of dog in our time, they are rarely seen on the streets. Boston Terriers are first and foremost companion dogs, they always want to be with you, no matter what you do, wherever you go, and their compact size makes it easy to take them with you on a trip. They are distinguished by amazing intelligence and boundless love for their family, while absolute fearlessness and tirelessness. Boston Terrier conquers hearts from the first minutes of acquaintance and stays there forever.

Ekaterina Fedorova from the city of Pskov, the happy owner of a six-month-old Boston Terrier named Gala Premier Aventura, to Gabby’s pets: “The breed is very interesting. This is a small dog, bold, cheerful and a little harmful. And it’s definitely a terrier! Practically does not bark, does not spoil anything at home, is well trained.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about keeping Boston Terriers with zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.