LIVING WITH THE BOSTON TERRIER
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By Sue Herber
he Boston Terrier: A kind, fun, compact, ath- letic, personality-plus dog that adores human interaction... truly an American Gentleman.
Bathing requires a mild shampoo, condi- tioner and toweled dry. Th ey are very sensitive to extreme heat, humidity and cold due to their shortened faces and short, dark coats. Excessive expo- sure to the extreme elements can quickly cause death. Th eir coats are short, smooth shin- ing black and white, brindle and white or black, brindle and white. Th e classic white markings should be a white muzzle band, an even white blaze between the eyes (which may go over the head to the collar). Th e forechest should be white and there may be white on part or the whole of the forelegs. Hind legs may have white below the hock. Th e white minimally should appear on the front feet, chest, muzzle and a blaze between their eyes. Th e full white col- lar around the neck, white forelegs, white chest and wide white blaze between the eyes connecting to the muzzle are desirable and very flashy. Too much white or other colors are not truly what keeps the breed looking sporty giving it that classic tuxedo appear- ance that is desired by the breed standard. Structure is defined as a dog’s skeletal frame work that supports the muscles and vital organs. Structure comes from what DNA dictates through breeding choices. Anytime a dog is bred for such devia- tions as a wide, short muzzle, short back and square head there will be potential for structural deviations that are not sound for the dog. Structure will play a big role in how your dog performs in the ring and how long it can live. Structure will a ff ect how much energy and ability your dog will need to expend to navigate through any event in life. A Boston Terrier should not have structural defects that compromise its zest for living. Spines should be strong, patella’s sound and necks should long enough to be flexible. Jaws should be able
Created by breeding Bulldogs and the now extinct White English Terriers, and with some inbreeding that followed, the breed originated in the 1870s. Hooper’s Judge (owned by Mr. Robert C. Hooper) was the first known ancestor of the pres- ent day Boston Terrier. Th rough the breed’s forefathers tenacity, the Boston Terrier Club of America was created in 1891. Th e Boston Terrier became known as a specific breed in 1891 and received AKC status in 1893. Th is breed is the best dressed breed sporting its sleek tuxedo coat for every occasion. Boston Terriers are round-eyed, lively and highly intelligent dogs. Th ey are loving, interactive, attention-seeking fam- ily members that should reside inside the house. Th ey are NOT outdoor dogs with passive personalities. Th is breed comes with a sense of humor that will fill life with laughter and love. Boston Terriers have large, fun and opinionated personalities. Th ey are extremely expressive with their large, dark brown eyes, upright ears, square head and short, wide muzzle. Th ey have their own personal repertoire of snorts, grunts, sighs and assorted noises that they use as a means communication. Th eir compact size (generally 12-25 pounds) and easy maintenance are very attractive traits for busy lifestyles and limited spaces. Weekly nail trims, ear cleaning and routine toothbrushing are basic grooming needs for a Boston Ter- rier. Boston Terriers can have more dental needs due to their jaw shape and regular brushing helps greatly. Bathing is done on an as-needed basis only. Boston Terriers should not smell fowl nor appear dingy.
to close while being su ffi ciently undershot to not allow the tongue to protrude. Good balanced structure along with good conditioning, will give the dog a more comfortable and longer life. Exercise needs are minimal for Boston Terriers. Th ey benefit greatly from a good daily walk, weather permitting. Playing fetch indoors works well on the days they can’t spend much time outdoors. Th ey love a fenced yard to play in if it is avail- able. Th is can be enough exercise to keep muscles well-toned. Because they are easy to keep, the sport of sofa surfing and couch potato coaching suits them quite well. Th ey do need some activity to keep them healthy mentally and physically. Obesity will bring on other health problems and should be avoided. Th ey thrive on being engaged with interactive activities and will be just as happy playing, walking, doing tricks or any activity involving you as a partner. Feeding them copious amounts of treats, left-overs, and inappropriate foods is sentencing them to an early, avoidable death. A sporty, physi- cally fit physique looks much better in a tux- edo than a flabby, fat one! 4 )08 4 *()5 . "(";*/& / 07&.#&3 t
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