American Boston Terrier breed - differences from the French bulldog

Story

Let's study the history of the breed. The “progenitors” of modern Boston Terriers appeared in the 60s of the 19th century in the USA, as is obvious from the name, in the city of Boston. Breeders used such breeds as the bull terrier, Old English bulldog, pit bull, English and French terriers, and boxer.

The first Boston Terrier was established in the United States in 1891, and two years later this dog breed was recognized by dog handlers of the American Club as an independent unit. Previously, at all exhibitions, Boston Terriers acted as American Bull Terriers, which was erroneous, because they are not externally or internally similar. Despite the fact that when creating the breed, breeders used fighting dogs, this did not affect the character of the Boston Terriers.

Today, this breed is among the top 20 most popular and sought-after dogs in the United States.

Excursion into history

The Boston Terrier, whose history goes back just over a hundred years, owes its appearance to the activities of American breeders. The birthplace of the breed is the American city of Boston, Massachusetts. It was here in 1870 that an ordinary Boston resident, Robert Hooper, purchased from the sailor Edward Barnett a handsome brindle-colored dog with white opalines, later named Judge. Judge Hooper, who arrived by ship from the shores of distant Great Britain, had English terriers and bulldogs among his ancestors. It is this dog that is recognized as the founder of the new breed.

The repeated crossings that followed the acquisition of the Judge with females of other breeds ultimately led to the formation of a certain exterior, which was fixed and has remained virtually unchanged since then. Thus, through crossbreeding (interbreeding), a completely new dog was obtained. Initially, the descendants of the Judge were called Boston mixed breeds, round-headed bulldogs, and also American bull terriers. But already in 1878, representatives of the new breed appeared at a dog show in the United States under the laconic sign of the Boston Terrier.

The Boston Terrier was created by crossing an English Bulldog with a White English Terrier.

Interesting to know! A significant number of different dog breeds took part in the creation of the Bostonians. Modern "American gentlemen" are related to Old English terriers, English and French bulldogs, boxers and pit bulls.

After their first appearance in front of the public, the unusual dogs began to be of great interest to dog lovers, first in their home state, and then throughout North America. The year 1890 was marked by the emergence of a club for lovers of the new breed. The initiator of the creation of the club was Charles Leland. In 1893, Bostonians received official recognition from the AKC (American Kennel Club). In 1901, representatives of the attractive breed came to Europe, where, although they did not become as popular as the French bulldog, they still acquired their own army of admirers.

A new breed of dogs has become a real asset and pride of American Boston. In 1979, the cute babies even became a symbol of Massachusetts. Until now, in their native country they are included in the list of the most popular representatives of four-legged animals.

In 1979, Boston Terriers became the symbol of Massachusetts.

Description of the breed standard with photo

The Boston Terrier is a dog whose body resembles a terrier and whose head resembles a bulldog.

Color

Boston Terriers come in different colors:

The most common are pets with a color that resembles brindle or seal with white splashes in the collar area, on the muzzle, front and hind legs (on the joints).

Pied or brindle

Boston Terriers can also be found in brown and white, black and white, and black with white undercoat on the tips.

Black with white markings

Fur seal or seal

The variegated color perfectly emphasizes the correct structure of the dog, but at the same time the presence of defects is clearly demonstrated.

There are also original Boston colors. They are not allowed for breeding, but many careless breeders sell them under the guise of “exclusive” at a high price:

Red or red

Liver or chocolate

Pale yellow

Grey

White (albino)

Piebald

According to the standard, Boston Terrier dogs must have:

a square-shaped head with a convex but flat forehead, no folds and emphasized brow ridges;
a short muzzle with a wide nose, strictly proportional to the skull;
pronounced square jaws, deep and non-sagging lips;
fairly small teeth, with the lower jaw incisors located on the same line, “wrong” bite - the upper jaw completely covers the teeth when the mouth is closed;
miniature, erect or cropped ears that are set wide and high;
rather large eyes, wide open and distant from each other, with a round shape, as well as dry, tight-fitting eyelids, framed by a black border;
a neck proportional to the entire structure, set high, which allows you to proudly carry your head in front of you;
emphasized withers, turning into a straight line of the top, muscular and long shoulder blades, tightly fitting to the back;
a short, strong and straight back, as well as a muscular, slightly convex lower back, slightly sloping croup;
a deep and wide chest, prominent ribs and a toned stomach;
straight, parallel, strong forelimbs and no less prominent hind limbs, paws of small size, round in shape with short claws;
short, rather thin and low-set tail, gracefully tapering towards the end.

This breed moves freely and smoothly, with impeccable rhythm, demonstrating grace, straightforwardness and strength with every step.

Dimensions

Representatives of the Boston Terrier breed are small in stature, ranging from 38 to 43 cm, and weight ranges from 4.5 to 11.5 kg. The height at the withers is usually the same as the length of the body. A large pet at the age of 5 months can weigh about 4.5 kg. The fur is smooth and short. There are no long-haired representatives of the breed.

Barking

Boston Terriers are not barking dogs. They can only speak up if they sense some kind of danger. Despite all the good nature, representatives of this dog breed can show character and, if necessary, scare away an ill-wisher.

Life expectancy: how long do they live?

Typically life expectancy is approximately 15 years. Let's see how many years the oldest dog lived:

Interesting! The longest-living record holder is a representative of the Boston Terrier breed named Blue. The dog spent his entire life with his owner Lev Ball in the Australian town of Rochester. The pet actively helped the shepherds and lived to the age of 28 years and 11 months.

Peculiarities

Pets of the Boston Terrier breed are quite active and inquisitive even after reaching a respectable age. However, these dogs may experience a number of health problems.

The main diseases that occur in most pets include the following problems:

gastrointestinal tract – pylorospasm, flatulence;
vision – eye injuries, cataracts;
musculoskeletal system – joint dislocations;
skin – allergic reactions, demodicosis, atopy;
oncological diseases – mastocytoma, melanoma;
hearing – congenital deafness is possible.

Childbirth

During childbirth, bitches require assistance in the form of surgery (caesarean section). This is due to the fact that the puppy's head is large enough for the pelvis of a miniature mother. The number of puppies in a litter varies from 2 to 4.

French Bulldog

A small but very muscular four-legged friend. The height at the withers reaches, as a rule, 25-35 cm. Weight in adulthood varies from 8 to 12 kg. The pet gains its final weight by the second year of life. From two to three his muscle mass increases significantly.

Muzzle

Rounded, cheeks slightly hanging down. The eyes can be called huge, they are round in shape. The lips are plump, the edges are black.

The ears are small and erect. The brow ridges are clearly visible. This dog has tremendous grip strength. Powerful and wide jaws help the animal to hold the desired thing very firmly in its teeth.

Body

It's short, but pretty pumped up. The tail is very short, ending upward. He is broken by nature.

Colors

They are extremely diverse. These favorites come in both dark and light shades ( but not completely white and black! ). The most common are the following:

Brindle.
Spotted.
Pale yellow.

There are also several colors prohibited by the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) such as:

Blue.
Tricolor.
Chocolate.
Mixed colors containing chocolate and blue.

Bulldog character

These are living, mobile, cheerful creatures. They love friendly company and appreciate the kindness and care of their owner. Most individuals easily find a common language with small children.

Unfortunately, these animals are not so easy to train , but with the right approach, it is quite possible to teach your pet something.

If an individual is melancholic in its mental makeup, then it is necessary to conduct training in a playful way. If the dog, on the contrary, is cheerful and energetic, then it is necessary to require strict adherence to discipline while training is taking place.

Health

Sometimes Frenchies have breathing problems due to the structure of their skull. Individuals are often born with diseases of the bones and heart.

They also have some disadvantages:

The front legs move simultaneously, and the dog “drums” loudly when walking and running.
Even with the lips closed, the tongue and incisors can be seen.

Where is the best place to buy a puppy: the most famous nurseries

It is best to buy Boston Terrier puppies from specialized nurseries. This is where you can choose a dog that fully meets your requirements. You can purchase a Boston Terrier not only from cynological centers, but also from private kennels. The main thing at the beginning is to make sure of the reliability and integrity of the breeder.

Among the most popular kennels breeding and selling Boston Terriers in large cities of Russia are:

Moscow – “From the Kuntsevsky Yard”, “Moskovskiy Sharm Boston”, “Tirina’s Planets”, “From the Heart of Caesar”, “Golden Rosses”;
St. Petersburg - “Avesta Viva”, “From the Land of Wolves”, “From the St. Petersburg Beau Monde”, “Reuka Life”, “Bon Fo Show”;
Ekaterinburg – “Vento Solare”;
Novosibirsk – “Habibi Boston”, “Bostons of Novosibirsk”;
Togliatti – “Gallery Chic”, “Elite Boston”;
Krasnodar – “Boston Beauty”;
Saratov – “Chanson Pizhon”, “Kite Classic”.

Listed are the most famous kennels in Russia that offer Boston Terrier puppies of various classes.

How to choose a puppy: important tips for a future dog owner. Everyone needs to know this!

The cost depends on a number of factors:

pedigree of father and mother;
puppy age;
compliance with standards;
presence of breed defects;
level of eliteness of the nursery.

Buying a puppy

Despite the fact that in terms of distribution, Boston Terriers are inferior to dogs that are very similar to them - French bulldogs, the breed is not rare. There are monokennels in Russia, and many breeders are also breeding Bostons.

There are 2 nurseries in Moscow where you can purchase purebred puppies:

Golden Rosses https://www.zrossy.ru/kont.html;
Boston Style https://www.bostonterrier.ru/ru/history/history_ru.html.

Buying a puppy from random sellers is highly not recommended, since representatives of this breed are prone to diseases, even with a competent approach to breeding, let alone the results of random matings, without culling.

A pet will not be cheap, a baby for the soul costs about 30,000 rubles, but for a high-class puppy - a future champion, you will have to pay about 80,000-100,000 rubles.

Boston Terriers make excellent companions - loyal, active, capable of lifting your spirits with just their appearance. Such a bundle of energy brings joy, positivity, and a lot of positive emotions into the home. It is not surprising that owners forgive their charming pets for minor pranks, but how could it be otherwise?

Owner reviews: positive and negative

As they say: “There are no comrades according to taste and color...”. That's how it is with the Boston Terrier. Some people are delighted with this breed, while others are not attracted to it. That is why reviews from owners about the Boston Terrier breed are quite varied.

“The most friendly and positive breed of dog. Very energetic, is a wonderful companion for both single people and families with children.”

“The Boston Terrier is a dog that is ready to go with its owner anywhere, jump, run. Have fun yourself and please those around you, just don’t stay in one place. Great for active people."

Main characteristics: pros and cons of the breed

Boston Terriers become very attached to their owners and are sad in their absence. Therefore, they cannot be alone. Suitable for absolutely any family, including those with small children.

Character

These dogs quickly find a common language with any person and get along well with other dogs and even cats. Oddly enough, this particular breed of dog can choose a cat as its best friend and actively play with it.

Behavior

Boston Terriers are one of the most active dogs that can have fun with other pets, but they themselves are never bored. Despite their small size, pets are very devoted to their owners and are ready to try to protect them from the slightest threat. It is at such moments that the Boston Terrier may bark. In normal life they are quite quiet. Very obedient and good-natured.

Boston Terrier hunting for a toy