Boston Terriers
According to the American Kennel Club, Bostons should only be bred in three colors; seal, black, and brindle. Sometimes there are breeding mistakes, resulting in other fur colors, but Bostons should not be bred for these specific other colors. They are known as "rare" colors.
Bostons originate from the United States, specifically Boston, Massachusetts. They are the result from the selective breeding of the English Bulldog and the White English Terrier (now extinct). Their name used to be "round heads," but was later changed when the American Kennel Club made the Boston Terrier a member. Their name was changed to what they are known as today, the Boston Terrier, in honor of the city where they were first bred. They are also called the American Gentleman for their sweet and gentle disposition.
Dog Breed Group | Height | Weight | Life span | Exercise level | Affectionate | Maintenance/Grooming | Shedding | Training |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Companion Dogs | 15-17 inches to the shoulder | 13-25 lbs | 13-15 years | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★★ |
Boston Terriers have very strict requirements they must meet in order to be able to compete. Here are a few:
Along with being able to compete in the national competition ring, Bostons are able to do many other types of competitions. They are super agile and strong, allowing them to sail over jumps and race around the ring. You can find them in the obedience ring, agility trials, flyball, and even tracking events.
In this type of competition, dogs are tested on their ability to perform certain commands, such as walking on your left (heel) or to come when called.
As Bostons are very smart, they learn this quickly. They love to run, jump, climb, and race through the tunnels, making this an enjoyable competition for them to participate in.
This requires a dog to speed through a series of jumps to catch a ball in midair and then return to the start.
Tracking is where a dog is asked to track a scent. Although Bostons have smushed noses, they can still smell really well. They have even earned tracking titles.
Bostons have been in some films. One of the most famous was "Feast," which was Disney's animated short that appeared before their movie Big Hero 6 in 2014. It's about a Boston Terrier puppy named Winston, who loves food. Winston's owner, James, gives him his scraps from his meal. This make Winston so, so happy. One day James meets a special someone, and suddenly Winston is being fed vegetables and doesn't have a spot at the dinner table anymore. As James falls in love with the woman, Winston becomes sad and stops eating. James breaks up with the woman, and James and Winston return to normal. Except James is sad and misses the woman, and Winston realizes this. He escapes out the window of the house and James follows him all the way to the restaurant where the woman works, and there they make up. Later, they get married and she moves in, and because James is happy, Winston is happy. Click the film cover to watch the short.
Bostons have also had screentime in other movies, such as Hotel For Dogs and The Backup Plan.