BOSTON TERRIERS.
ARE THEY THE RIGHT BREED FOR YOU?
Boston Terriers, nicknamed "The American Gentleman" come ready for anything already dressed in their own tux. The well bred boston is a good natured, intelligent dog, and has a wonderful sense of humour. The also embody a bit of spunk and spirit that makes them unique. They should be gentle, alert, and well-mannered. As with any terrier, they can be rambunctious and energetic, which makes them ideal for family life, as they enjoy activity. Their energy is easily redirected toward agility, flyball, and fetch.
Bostons are alert and will usually be watchful of the house, but are not known to be barkers. They are often almost too friendly toward strangers. They adore children and seniors and generally get along well with other animals, especially if raised around them. They love to cuddle and as they are sensitive to the cold, enjoy curling up on a lap or under a blanket.
Boston terriers have a clown like personality that makes them a joy to be around. Their antics keep people laughing, but they can be a bit too busy for some people and other dogs. They do not have any personal space, and will often not communicate well with other dogs. They are born tail-less, and have a short coat, thus making inter-dog communication difficult. Boston Terriers will prefer to go through or over obstacles, rather than around things, typical of the bulldog type breeds. They are "in your face" dogs, and love licking. This can be trained out of them though, if an owner feels it is not acceptable. Being terriers, they can be a bit stubborn, so it is important to set firm ground rules and work to train them early. Those rules can always be relaxed later, but start out with high demands to ensure your boston respects you and your rules. Give an inch, and they will tend to take a foot.
Things to watch out for:
Bostons bred by unethical or inexperienced breeders may not exhibit stable demeanors. These bostons can show neurotic tendancies such as barking, hyperactivity, and occasionally, aggression. Choose a boston breeder that knows how to select for stable temperaments.
House-training can be a challenge for any breed, but the best way to ensure this goes smoothly is to start with a good breeder that begins early. Make sure the boston you choose is already getting used to a kennel by the time you take them home, and try to find a breeder that is dedicated to taking the time to start the puppies on paper, or better yet, outside on grass. In cold climates, bostons can be litter trained. This can make life much easier for puppies born in the fall or winter months.
Brachycephalics like bostons (short nosed) can have issues with snoring, and the eyes can be more easily injured with running through bushes or grass. They also need to be kept lean which helps to prevent breathing issues. They can have episodes of reverse sneezing, and also difficulty with heat tolerance, which is made worse if they are allowed to become overweight. Bostons typically LOVE food, and can be little gluttens. They will occasionally eat things that they should not, especially as puppies. They are very smart, and will get into trouble with tipping over garbage or getting into cupboards if it smells good. Despite the short nose, their sense of smell is like that of any other dog. VERY GOOD!
Health Issues that can affect Bostons:
Any health issue that can affect other brachycephalic breed can also affect the boston terrier. Elongated soft palates and stenotic nares are two things that can be seen. Most often, these issues do not require surgical intervention, but occasionally this will be necessary. Good breeding practices should be used to ensure puppies do not have issues with breathing, but occasionally even a reputable breeder will experience such issues.
Eye problems such as glaucoma in later life, juvenile cataracts, and cherry eye, can be seen. Again, a good breeder will work diligently to ensure these issues are not passed on, and many breeders have done testing to ensure the gene for hereditary juvenile cataracts are not in their breeding stock. Bostons can also have distichiasis, kerato-conjunctivitis sicca, or present with entropion. Corneal dystrophy is not common, but is more prevelent in bostons than many other breeds.
Other health issues that can be seen include patellar luxation, hemivertebrae, atopy or allergies (skin disease), conjenital deafness, and later in life, cushings syndrome. Again, sound breeding practices have ensured that these issues are becoming less prevalent in the breed, but it is important to do your research and find a breeder that works toward breeding healthy, well adjusted bostons.
Corprophagia, or stool eating, can be seen in many breeds, including boston terriers. We do not really know why they do this but there are many theories. It is important to keep the yard clean and watch for this behaviour in order to prevent it from occuring. There are remedies available, but for the most part it is harmless as long as your dog is dewormed on a regular basis. The good news is, it generally is seen in puppies and subsides as they get older.
Breeding bostons can be rewarding, but has its share of concerns. Bostons have smaller than normal pelvis bones, and puppies can have very large heads and upper bodies. This presents concerns for dystocia, or difficulty giving birth. Many bostons thus require c-sections or the help of a veterinarian to pass puppies. This can become very costly, and the mother dog can be at increased risk, as well as her puppies. If you are interested in breeding your boston, it is very important to take this into consideration. Going with a proven free-whelping line would be recommended, although there are no guarantees that delivery will go smoothly.
ARE THEY THE RIGHT BREED FOR YOU?
Boston Terriers, nicknamed "The American Gentleman" come ready for anything already dressed in their own tux. The well bred boston is a good natured, intelligent dog, and has a wonderful sense of humour. The also embody a bit of spunk and spirit that makes them unique. They should be gentle, alert, and well-mannered. As with any terrier, they can be rambunctious and energetic, which makes them ideal for family life, as they enjoy activity. Their energy is easily redirected toward agility, flyball, and fetch.
Bostons are alert and will usually be watchful of the house, but are not known to be barkers. They are often almost too friendly toward strangers. They adore children and seniors and generally get along well with other animals, especially if raised around them. They love to cuddle and as they are sensitive to the cold, enjoy curling up on a lap or under a blanket.
Boston terriers have a clown like personality that makes them a joy to be around. Their antics keep people laughing, but they can be a bit too busy for some people and other dogs. They do not have any personal space, and will often not communicate well with other dogs. They are born tail-less, and have a short coat, thus making inter-dog communication difficult. Boston Terriers will prefer to go through or over obstacles, rather than around things, typical of the bulldog type breeds. They are "in your face" dogs, and love licking. This can be trained out of them though, if an owner feels it is not acceptable. Being terriers, they can be a bit stubborn, so it is important to set firm ground rules and work to train them early. Those rules can always be relaxed later, but start out with high demands to ensure your boston respects you and your rules. Give an inch, and they will tend to take a foot.
Things to watch out for:
Bostons bred by unethical or inexperienced breeders may not exhibit stable demeanors. These bostons can show neurotic tendancies such as barking, hyperactivity, and occasionally, aggression. Choose a boston breeder that knows how to select for stable temperaments.
House-training can be a challenge for any breed, but the best way to ensure this goes smoothly is to start with a good breeder that begins early. Make sure the boston you choose is already getting used to a kennel by the time you take them home, and try to find a breeder that is dedicated to taking the time to start the puppies on paper, or better yet, outside on grass. In cold climates, bostons can be litter trained. This can make life much easier for puppies born in the fall or winter months.
Brachycephalics like bostons (short nosed) can have issues with snoring, and the eyes can be more easily injured with running through bushes or grass. They also need to be kept lean which helps to prevent breathing issues. They can have episodes of reverse sneezing, and also difficulty with heat tolerance, which is made worse if they are allowed to become overweight. Bostons typically LOVE food, and can be little gluttens. They will occasionally eat things that they should not, especially as puppies. They are very smart, and will get into trouble with tipping over garbage or getting into cupboards if it smells good. Despite the short nose, their sense of smell is like that of any other dog. VERY GOOD!
Health Issues that can affect Bostons:
Any health issue that can affect other brachycephalic breed can also affect the boston terrier. Elongated soft palates and stenotic nares are two things that can be seen. Most often, these issues do not require surgical intervention, but occasionally this will be necessary. Good breeding practices should be used to ensure puppies do not have issues with breathing, but occasionally even a reputable breeder will experience such issues.
Eye problems such as glaucoma in later life, juvenile cataracts, and cherry eye, can be seen. Again, a good breeder will work diligently to ensure these issues are not passed on, and many breeders have done testing to ensure the gene for hereditary juvenile cataracts are not in their breeding stock. Bostons can also have distichiasis, kerato-conjunctivitis sicca, or present with entropion. Corneal dystrophy is not common, but is more prevelent in bostons than many other breeds.
Other health issues that can be seen include patellar luxation, hemivertebrae, atopy or allergies (skin disease), conjenital deafness, and later in life, cushings syndrome. Again, sound breeding practices have ensured that these issues are becoming less prevalent in the breed, but it is important to do your research and find a breeder that works toward breeding healthy, well adjusted bostons.
Corprophagia, or stool eating, can be seen in many breeds, including boston terriers. We do not really know why they do this but there are many theories. It is important to keep the yard clean and watch for this behaviour in order to prevent it from occuring. There are remedies available, but for the most part it is harmless as long as your dog is dewormed on a regular basis. The good news is, it generally is seen in puppies and subsides as they get older.
Breeding bostons can be rewarding, but has its share of concerns. Bostons have smaller than normal pelvis bones, and puppies can have very large heads and upper bodies. This presents concerns for dystocia, or difficulty giving birth. Many bostons thus require c-sections or the help of a veterinarian to pass puppies. This can become very costly, and the mother dog can be at increased risk, as well as her puppies. If you are interested in breeding your boston, it is very important to take this into consideration. Going with a proven free-whelping line would be recommended, although there are no guarantees that delivery will go smoothly.