What You Need To Know About The Boston Terrier Breed Standard
A breed standard is a breed organization’s blueprint of what the ideal dog should look and act like. This is what a show dog like a purebred Boston Terrier is judged against. Instead of being compared to the other dogs in the ring, the dog is compared to how well they fit the breed standard. This is usually what breeders strive to achieve in their breeding programs. A breed standard is the Holy Writ of the dog world.
The charming personality of the Boston Terrier is not only one reason why it is so popular, but also why they do so well outside of a show ring or a breeding kennel. The purpose of developing the breed was to make a good pet for people, unlike other breeds bred to hunt, fight or herd livestock. They are lively, kind, easy-going and good with kids and senior citizens as well as other animals.
Overall, a Boston Terrier is a toy-sized black and white dog with large ears, a level back and huge eyes. They look somewhat like a French Bulldog and a black and white cat. They usually have short hair and short noses, but not as short as a Pekingese’s. They are easily portable and weigh only about fifteen to twenty-five pounds. Oddly enough, the Boston Terrier is one of the very few breeds that often have naturally really short tails (although occasionally a long tail pops up).
The breed standard also emphasizes sturdiness. They are not to have physical weaknesses like swaybacks, spayed legs, very slow gait or look overly muscular. Their bodies should look sturdy but everything should be in proportion. And the tails are naturally very short, although occasionally a purebred is born with a long tail. The ears are perky and most of the time they are pointed (occasionally a floppy eared one comes along).
Knowing as much Boston Terrier information as you can absorb will help you not only get along with your Boston Terriers, but decide if the breed is right for you in the first place. The breed standard emphasizes a short, smooth coat, so that tells you that Boston Terriers are easy to groom and don’t need to be clipped.
The nickname for the breed is The American Gentleman.
The Boston Terrier breed standard not only tells you what to look for in a champion show dog, and how hard it is to find one, but also lists common physical faults of the breed. This can help you identity a dog in a shelter that you might want to adopt.
Boston Terriers are big dogs in little packages. They should exude strength and spirit but also give of an aura of friendliness.