The Boston Terrier treads down the paths of the world with great gentleness. These dogs are friendly to you and your family alike. Their tuxedo coat wears a beautiful look.
Initially, the Boston Terrier was a warrior in the dog pits. But the then ferocity has now been replaced with affection and an even temperament. He meets and greets just anyone. His humility and tuxedo coat has adorned him with a nickname ‘the American gentleman’.
Boston Terrier personality:
The Boston Terrier is full of life all the time. They have an affectionate personality. Excellent physical structure gives them an edge in accompanying you. His enthusiastic verve is a gift from the fighter ancestors.
Sometimes, they can become a little too active than a situation demands. But this is rather a rare case. However, this good nature does not allow trespassing in any way.
Such an incidence gives rise to his terrier stuff. Sporty Boston is always a fair competitor in dog shows. Short muzzle and round eyes are sure to set your heart in motion.
This dog is actively pursuing your attention and few things can be more pleasing to him besides interested public eyes. He will act as your personal clown for free. He is an excellent family pet and the best playmate for your kids. The Boston Terriers are ever watchful of their surroundings and will ring an alarm if someone approaches.
Measure Boston Terrier smartness:
They score average and are more of an average intelligent dog breed. The Boston Terrier sits at the 54th position in the dog intelligence list thanks to Professor Stanley Coren.
Nowadays, his job is mainly limited to giving you company. They frankly excel at this task. So, overall dog smartness tells little about his capacity.
Mostly, they respond well to a training program. Consistency is the ultimate weapon to get him on the right track. His stubbornness is however a barrier to handling him smoothly in some occasions.
Not to forget his standard etiquette, he can superbly make up for his other limitations in a social situation. His smooth gait and alertness to his circumstances are the best gifts of dog smartness. They are eager to learn because of their tendency to please you.
What & how to feed:
Provide 1-1.5 cups of high quality dog food to a grown up Boston Terrier. You have to supply this food in 2-3 meals.
Usually, two meals are just fine for an adult. There is no strict rule for how much you should feed him. This is more of a general outline of his requirements.
His nutritional needs really depend on his age, sex, health, activities and metabolic conditions. You are going to learn about his feeding necessities as you continue your life with the dog.
Indiscriminate food provision or treat disbursement will lead to overweight as a Boston tends to become obese in absence of a proper lifestyle. They are kind of greedy when it comes to meals.
So, watch your steps in this aspect. A 20 pound Boston will demand 660 calories per day as has been suggested by the National Research Council of the National Academies. This dog can accustom itself to both small and medium sized dog food.
Protein and fat should be the pillar of his meals. Fish, beef, chicken and other meats will supply the dog with a lot of energy to remain active. Animal protein is more effective for him than that of plant protein such as peas or lentils. Fish oil and flaxseed oil are excellent fat sources. Bostons should have access to enough fresh and clean water.
Escape a few health issues:
All dogs are not going to suffer from all these diseases. But a little awareness on the part of the owner can save the dog in due time. Breed specific diseases will be focused here in order to protect your puppy with proper actions.
You can greatly benefit from health clearances provided by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animal (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF).
Additionally, a Boston Terrier will require the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test to evaluate his auditory capabilities. These tests are going to take you to a safer zone if not completely secured.
Cataracts create a cloudy shape on his eye lenses. It causes blinding effects or partial blinding. Eye care is vital for this dog. A lot of dirt is going to gather into the eyes because of its large size and protruding position.
So, cleaning those eyes is going to be an everyday task. Cherry eye and red eye are two other concerns. As a brachycephalic dog breed, they are subject to snoring and breathing difficulties.
It often takes a surgery to fix these conditions. Their spine often ends up abruptly without being developed properly. It leads to constrained movement. Patellar luxation is a slipped up kneecap problem. Dislocated patella might end up in arthritis. His mobility is greatly disturbed in this disease.
Insightful care program:
Short and smooth Boston Terrier coat does not demand too much of your grooming attention. However, he is a fair shedder. His mixed color coat will make sure that the shedding elements appear well on your furniture.
So, a weekly brush with a rubber hound mitt and firm bristle brush is considered enough for this dog. They should not be bathed too often. It will spoil his coat and skin oils. You can do it once every 2-3 months or if you notice any bad smell or dirt on the coat.
You have to keep a careful notice of his eyes while bathing him. It is going to soak in a lot of soap water and unintended things if you go about it carelessly. Trimming his nails and cleaning the ears are also prominent. Brush his teeth daily as opposed to many other dog breeds. Their teeth are notorious for catching tartar and smelling bad.
Moreover, your dog possesses medium strength and needs a fenced yard for his protection. You have to put him on a leash while going out as well. Look out for any redness or rash on his skin. This dog can greatly benefit from a yearly full health check-up.
Proper exercise method:
As a brachycephalic dog breed, the Boston Terrier should not be exercised too vigorously. But he needs a fair share of physical and mental stimulation.
If you leave exercise on his whims by letting him loose in the backyard, he will probably sit the time out. They are jolly minded and can go well with the tide. But remember that he is not a hyperactive dog.
About 20 minutes of exercise will be fine for him. Give him a break during a hot day. Short muzzled Bostons will perform poorly in such a weather. He will suffer from breathing difficulties. You have to remove his body heat timely by giving him fresh and cool drinking water.
Walking is the best exercise medium for him. But he is capable of running too. Get the dog into an interactive game session such as frisbee or flyball. You can throw a ball for him to fetch.
Most importantly, give him an aim to accomplish.
Boston Terrier training cues:
Training the Boston Terriers asks for much patience on your side. This dog is actually a friendly companion of yours and they are certainly good learners.
But repetition is often the key to unlocking his brain faculties which sometimes might prove to be a test of your perseverance.
At the very beginning, you have to deal with their socialization. He has a fighting past and requires much pruning on the edges of his behavior. Take him to places for meeting people and pets at its puppy age. It will teach him the rudimentary lessons necessary for a successful house pet life.
Bostons negatively react to your rude voice or sharp rebukes. So, positive reinforcement is the only way to handle him tactfully.
Impart the basic dog commands such as ‘sit’, ‘come’, ‘stay’, etc as soon as possible. It will work as the foundation for future complex training programs. Treats will shape his desire to act on your commands.
House training is somewhat difficult with this terrier dog. You have to begin with the crate from the start and make its inner side as comfy as possible with treats and toys. It will help you get him into a habit of timely breaks.
Dealing with separation anxiety will be much easier if you go for the crate. But keeping your dog confined inside for too long can bring forth some ill effects too.
Boston Terrier origin:
Boston Terrier history goes straight to a dog named Judge. He was bred in Liverpool, England and was a cross between the Bulldog and the English Terrier.
All of this was taking place in the middle of the 19th century. Judge stepped into America in the 1960’s and is considered to be the forefather of this breed in general. He was raised by a Bostonian named Robert C. Hooper.
So, the breed as a whole came to be known as Boston Terrier. Judge was a robust dog weighing about 32 pounds. This dog was acclaimed as a distinct breed by the AKC in 1893. Nowadays, the Boston Terrier enjoys much popularity in America as they capture the 21st spot on the AKC breed popularity list.
