Boston Terriers are a small, short-haired breed of dog with a square body and an apple-shaped head. They are sometimes referred to as “the clowns of the dog world” because of their expressive faces and lively behavior.
The dogs among this breed are known for their friendly personality, affectionate nature, and loyalty towards the owners. They are also known for being intelligent with an average IQ of 60 to 70 which makes them easy to train. Other elements that makes them easy to be recognized are: the short coat, black mask, white blaze between the eyes and distinctive white markings on their chest.
Lifespan, size and weight
The average life expectancy of this type of dog is about 12 to 15 years. However they can even live longer when properly cared and loved.
In order to find out how big does your Terrier get, check for its parents to see if your Boston Terrier puppy is a purebred or a mixed one. Also the size of its parents is important because of the genetics inheritance that impacts puppy’s size, shape and color. Despite of their compact body with a sturdy, muscular build the standard weight among this breed is between 9 and 17 pounds when fully grown. The tiniest Terriers could range from 8 to 12 inches in length, while the largest dogs among this breed could be anywhere between 22 and 30 inches long.
Their coat is smooth but has a soft undercoat that is thick and dense, which makes it easy to maintain. The entire grooming process for this type of dog takes a minimal effort, as they shed very little. Occasional baths and nail clipping as well as cleaning of the ears is all they require for grooming.
Breed colors and variations
You can find Boston Terriers in every color of the rainbow and every size and shape. This means that you have the opportunity to find a Boston Terrier that best suits your family and your lifestyle.
However, the most common coat color variation of this breed is the black and white Boston Terrier, mostly referred as The Black Boston Terrier.
Some colored Boston Terriers may have a complete coat of seal, black or brindle, with no white markings whatsoever. But there are other variations that are visible in the white and seal Boston Terrier, brindle and white Boston Terrier or the white and brown Boston Terrier. Apart from the common colors, you can see the dog breed colors on their own or as combinations. The shade of red is also possible, hence the Red Boston Terrier whose coat color resembles red.
A Chocolate Boston Terrier is also possible. This color variation can be light brown or completely dark with or without the specific white markings somewhere on their body.
You can also get a Lilac Boston Terrier which is quite rare due to the complicated genetic mutation of the dilution gene that should take place. A similar dilution of the black pigmentation in their coat could result in a Blue Boston Terrier. However there are slight differences between these color variations due to the lighter coat that looks lilac, blue or grey. Therefore the Blue Boston Terrier can be easily confused with the Grey Boston Terrier since both have similar mutations of the dilution gene. This explains the huge prices of a Blue Boston Terrier that could reach as much as $1000 – $1500 from a reputable breeder.
The changes that affects the dog coat color, usually influences their eyes color as well. Hence the most Boston Terriers with blue eyes tend to have lighter coats, or different variations from the standard black and white.
Even though it’s not always the case, dog owners should know that any color variation can reveal some risky health conditions. This is due to the genetic condition that causes the color, shape or any kind of variation. Therefore, always check and look after your dog’s health condition.
Breedings and mixes
Boston Terriers are a popular small dog breed that has been around since the early 1800s. Being part of the few dog breeds to originate in the United States, they were initially bred to hunt rats and mice in the city of Boston, Massachusetts hence the breed name. Boston Terriers have settled down their aggressive ways through the years of breeding for the human companionship instead. They’re not intended to be outdoors dogs because they are dependent on human friendship.
Few of the most popular Boston Terrier breed mixes:
- Boglen Terrier – the cross between the Boston Terrier and the Beagle which results in a one energetic, loving, smart and loyal 12-17 inches little dog.
- English Boston Bulldog – the mix between the Boston Terrier and the English Bulldog with an average life expectancy of 8 – 13 years and an estimated weight of 12 – 50 pounds. The Boston Terrier Bulldog mix is great in terms of grooming due to its smooth and short coat.
- Bojack – the cross between 2 Terriers (Boston and the Jack Russell Terrier) resulting in a fun little companion with a 11 – 16 years average lifespan and 12 – 25 pounds average weight
- Boston Boxer – the result of the Boston Terrier mixed with a Boxer dog breed. Also known as the Miniature Boxer or the Mini Boxer, this type of dog is friendly and playful making it a great companion as a family dog.
- Frenchton – the Boston Terrier mixed with the French Bulldog also called Frenchbo or Froston. Although it’s a show mix, these dogs are great family and travel companions. However, if you are away for the most part of the day, the Frenchton is not the right choice as they are greedy for love and affection.
- BoShih – the Boston Terrier mix Shih Tzu brings a playful Bo Shih that combines the lively nature from the Shih Tzu and the stubborn character associated with Boston Terriers. This crossbreed creates a delightful and affectionate pet that is amusing and faithful to his humans.
Are Boston Terriers born with tail?
If you have seen many Boston Terriers you probably noticed their short tail that actually looks like being cut off. Therefore you may wonder if Boston Terriers are born with tail and what size can that grow. The answer is yes, they are born with tails but not that ordinary long and thick type of dog tail.
Actually most of the Boston Terriers are born with bobbed tails which are naturally quite short. This type of dog tail is so inconspicuous that usually seems like being cut off.
Boston Terriers can also have long tails. However, due to their genetics they are most prone to grow a bobbed tail. Therefore the ordinary long and thick tail is quite rare in this dog breed. The long tails that a Boston Terrier might have, usually falls into straight or curved/corkscrew type, both being long enough that you can spot them easily from afar.
According to the American Kennel Club, the tail of a standard Boston Terrier should be no greater than one-quarter of the length from its setting location (tail base) to the hock. The hock is situated on the back of dog’s leg just above the knee.
Are Boston Terriers family dogs?
The dogs among this breed are known for being affective and playful with kids of all ages. Being a pet that requires minimal maintenance they are a great choice for busy families with dynamic lifestyle and young children. Actually, these dogs are a great choice for kids of all ages. Their companionship makes even the teenagers more responsible making this an excellent way to start the journey towards adulthood.
This tiny breed is easy to housetrain, discreet barker and gets along excellently with children of all ages, strangers and other pets. This makes it one of the most loved family pets. Their unique coloring provides them with the appearance of a noble dog. Their fun and gentle nature is suitable for teens and children of all age groups.
Boston Terrier puppies sale price
The price of a purebred Boston Terrier puppy may differ based on factors such as the location, the breeder’s credibility, and the puppy’s background. Typically, the cost can range from $800 to $2,500 or more but this may differ for other breed variations. It is crucial to find a trustworthy breeder who places the health and well-being of their dogs above all else, rather than just focusing on financial gain.
In conclusion Boston Terriers are great family dogs and affectionate companions for children of all ages. However, they might not bet a great choice for owners that can’t spend time with them as they are playful and greedy for affection.
In any case, never neglect the healthy lifestyle while keeping them away from chocolate and other harmful dog foods. Also, make sure to periodically check for risky health conditions to avoid the heart diseases, allergies, infections and all others.
Name suggestions
Here is a list of 10 name ideas if you are considering adopting or having a Boston Terrier as dog companion:
- Luna
- Beantown
- Bostie
- Terri
- Rhett
- Bostin
- Scarlett
- Fenway
- Liberty
- Winnie
A genuine dog lover should uphold the purebred Boston Terriers over show breeding. Unregulated breeding practices might end up with various health issues for dogs such as hair loss, allergies, deafness and many more. One example is the Merle Boston Terrier which have a faded skin coat and usually small eyes, suffering audio-visual impairment due to a genetic mutation.
There are plenty of adoption centers where all kind of puppies are seeking a new home. Hence you should always choose adoption over buying. Start searching Boston Terriers for adoption near your place and bring home your new companion. We can help you to choose a name for it.