The american gentalman (Boston Terrier)
The dog in the Tuxedo
Stats
The Boston is a small breed usually weighting no more then 25lbs.
They are brindle, seal or black with white markings. The White markings generally go around the neck down the face to the nose and cover the feet. They also have a short single coat, great if you don’t have time for a lot of grooming.
They are usually 15-17 inches tall. They also have a compact fit body, a large head, pointy ears and a very small tail.
They are expected to live around 13 years those some have lived closer to 20 years.
Health
As with all breeds the boston does have some health problems. Because of there short stubby face they can have respiratory problems and allergies. They are also prone to eye problems such as cherry eye and cataracts. They can not stand extreme temperatures and need to be an inside dog because of this.
Around the age of 7 many bostons start to have seizures. This can be very scary expecaly if you have never seen a dog have a seizure.
Temperament
Over all bostons are quite calm dogs. most bark only when they feel they must. Such as a knock on the door.
Many love to please but a few can be quite stubborn. They are very smart and learn very quickly witch makes training easy.
Over all they are very calm laid back dogs. They get very attached to there family and children are no problem as long as they are around children from an early age. As with any dog bring a baby into an old dogs home is not the best idea, the screams can hurt there ears and they are not use to the pulling and tugging that small children usually do.
They can be lazy or playful and adapt to your life style. On a farm or in an apartment they are fine. They do not need much exercise but love to play if you are willing and can go from sleeping on the couch for days to running and playing for hours.
History
We are unsure of what the first dog in this breeds line was, but we do know they mixed english bulldog, french bulldog, and then bred down with the use of american pittbull terriers. They once weight around 40 lbs and were used as a fighting dog. With tails that dont need to be cropped, smaller faces, ears that didnt flop and there tight compact bodys they made much better fighters then the pittbull. But over time they became nothing more then pets.
They are the true american dog, organting in boston. The boston terrier is also knowen as the anerican gentalman. In 1893 the boston terrier was accepted into the AKC in the none sporting group making it the first american breed to be accepted.
Personal
This breed has a place in my heart that no other breed will ever have. They are so smart and so sweet. They can express feelings with faceial expressions that are almost humman like.
Mine will smile and pout you can tell when he is excited just by looking in his eyes.
They do tend to pick one person they favor. Rocky, my boston, belonged to my husbands uncle untill he found me. As soon as he layed eyes on me he wouldnt leave me alone he decided he was my dog and no one could change his mind. After a few days hubbys uncle told me to just take him home, he had 3 other bostons and they had not planed on keeping rocky to start with. He has not left my side sence. If you call me at any time of the day and ask where he is unless im shoping or some other place i can not take him my reply will be next to me.
I have never seen a dog as smart as these guys. It takes me less then 5 mins to teach rocky tricks and he rembers them. I tought him to jump thru hoops one day, after 15 mins i got bored and then forgot about it for over a year. Then one day i pulled out the hoop and he was all over it. He also knows how to open doors, a tad annoying when i want to take a bath with out him watching me but ive learnt to live with it.
They can be very protective of family and have very powerfull jaws. Mine can distroy anything in few moments, but he wont unless i give it to him. If they think you are hurting family they will not hestate to jump in and do what is needed to stop it. When my youngest was a baby if she cryed he would be in her room sitting by her bed checking on her before I could get up. When my brother in law felt the need to pick up my oldest and she screamed he came running and niped his hand and stood by her side untill he went home.
Downs
This is not a breed for everyone. They snore, they fart, they snort, and drool. Many people also think they are quite ugly and just dont want to look at them. Snoring may not seem that bad but this breed will wake them self up snoring, if you are a light sleeper this is not the dog for you. Farting is not so bad but this one breed that can run them self out of a room, wake them self up from the stink, and startle them self from the sound. If you have a senctive sniffer or just think farting is beyond something you can handle this is not the dog for you. If you want an outside dog this is not the breed for you.
