Boston Terrier Club Of Louisiana, Inc Founded in 1954
Boston Terrier Club Of Louisiana, Inc Founded in 1954

THE BOSTON TERRIER

                                 Boston Terrier Breed Standard         

Non-Sporting Group

General Appearance
          The Boston Terrier is a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated,  short-headed, compactly built, short-tailed, well balanced dog, brindle, seal  or black in color and evenly marked with white. The head is in proportion to  the size of the dog and the expression indicates a high degree of intelligence.

The body is rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and neatly turned, the  tail is short and no feature is so prominent that the dog appears badly  proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity,  with style of a high order; carriage easy and graceful. A proportionate  combination of "Color and White Markings" is a particularly  distinctive feature of a representative specimen.

"Balance, Expression, Color and White Markings" should be given  particular consideration in determining the relative value of GENERAL  APPEARANCE to other points.

Size, Proportion,  Substance
          Weight is divided by classes as follows: Under  15 pounds; 15 pounds and under 20 pounds; 20 pounds and not to exceed 25  pounds. The length of leg must balance with the length of body to give the  Boston Terrier its striking square appearance. The Boston Terrier is a sturdy  dog and must not appear to be either spindly or coarse. The bone and muscle  must be in proportion as well as an enhancement to the dog's weight and  structure. Fault:  Blocky or chunky in appearance. Influence  of Sex. In a comparison of specimens of each sex, the only evident difference is a  slight refinement in the bitch's conformation.

Head
          The skull is square, flat on top, free from wrinkles, cheeks flat, brow abrupt and the  stop well defined. The ideal Boston Terrier expression is alert and kind, indicating  a high degree of intelligence. This is a most important characteristic of the  breed. The eyes are wide apart, large and round and dark in color. The eyes are set square in  the skull and the outside corners are on a line with the cheeks as viewed from  the front.Disqualify: Eyes blue in color  or any trace of blue. The ears are small, carried erect, either natural or cropped to conform to the shape of  the head and situated as near to the corners of the skull as possible. The muzzle is short,  square, wide and deep and in proportion to the skull. It is free from wrinkles,  shorter in length than in width or depth; not exceeding in length approximately  one-third of the length of the skull. The muzzle from stop to end of the nose  is parallel to the top of the skull. The nose is black and wide, with a well defined line between the nostrils.Disqualify: Dudley nose. The jaw is broad and  square with short regular teeth. The bite is even or sufficiently undershot to  square the muzzle. The chops are of good depth, but not pendulous, completely  covering the teeth when the mouth is closed. Serious Fault: Wry mouth. Head Faults: Eyes showing too  much white or haw. Pinched or wide nostrils. Size of ears out of proportion to  the size of the head. Serious  Head Faults: Any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth is closed.

Neck, Topline and Body
          The length of neck must display an image of balance to  the total dog. It is slightly arched, carrying the head gracefully and setting  neatly into the shoulders. The back is just short enough to square the body. The topline is level and the rump curves  slightly to the set-on of the tail. The chest is deep with good width, ribs well sprung and carried well back to the loins.  The body should appear short. The tail is set on low, short, fine and tapering, straight or screw and must not be  carried above the horizontal. (Note: The preferred tail does not exceed in  length more than one-quarter the distance from set-on to hock.) Disqualify: Docked tail. Body Faults: Gaily carried tail.Serious Body Faults: Roach back, sway  back, slab-sided.

Forequarters
          The shoulders are sloping and well laid back, which allows for the Boston Terrier's stylish  movement. The elbows stand neither in nor out. The forelegs are set moderately wide apart and on a line with the upper tip of the shoulder  blades. The forelegs are straight in bone with short, strong pasterns. The  dewclaws may be removed. The feet are small, round and compact, turned neither in nor out, with well arched toes  and short nails. Faults: Legs lacking in  substance; splay feet.

Hindquarters
          The thighs are strong and well muscled, bent at the stifles and set true. The hocks are short to  the feet, turning neither in nor out, with a well defined hock joint. The feet are small and  compact with short nails. Fault: Straight in stifle.

Gait
          The gait of the Boston Terrier is that of a sure  footed, straight gaited dog, forelegs and hind legs moving straight ahead in  line with perfect rhythm, each step indicating grace and power.Gait Faults: There  will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving, when gaited. Hackney gait. Serious Gait Faults: Any crossing  movement, either front or rear.

Coat
            The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.         

Color and Markings
            Brindle, seal, or black with white markings.  Brindle is preferred ONLY if all other qualities are equal. (Note: SEAL  DEFINED. Seal appears black except it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or  bright light.)              Disqualify: Solid black, solid brindle  or solid seal without required white markings. Any color not described in the  standard.            Required  Markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes, white forechest.            Desired Markings: White muzzle band, even white blaze between the eyes and over the head, white  collar, white forechest, white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs below  the hocks. (Note: A representative specimen should not be penalized for not  possessing "Desired Markings.") A dog with a preponderance of white  on the head or body must possess sufficient merit otherwise to counteract its  deficiencies.

Temperament
            The Boston Terrier is a friendly and lively dog. The breed has an excellent  disposition and a high degree of intelligence, which makes the Boston Terrier  an incomparable companion.

Summary
            The clean-cut short backed body of the Boston Terrier coupled with the unique  characteristics of his square head and jaw, and his striking markings have  resulted in a most dapper and charming American original: The Boston Terrier.

Scale of Points

General    Appearance
                  Expression
                  Head (Muzzle, Jaw, Bite, Skull & Stop)
                  Eyes
                  Ears
                  Neck, Topline, Body & Tail
                  Forequarters
                  Hindquarters
                  Feet
                  Color, Coat & Markings
                  Gait
Total
               10   10
                10
                15
                  5
                  5
                15
                10
                10
                  5
                  5
                10
100

Disqualifications
Eyes blue in color or any  trace of blue.
Dudley nose.
Docked tail.
Solid black, solid brindle,  or solid seal without required white markings. Any color not described in the  standard.

Approved February 11,  2011
Effective March 30, 2011

 

 

Click on the link below to view the illustrated breed standard as produced and adopted by the

BOSTON TERRIER CLUB of AMERICA effective February 28, 1990

 

                                Illustrated  Breed Standard   

                

                                                      

                                                                                  
                                                                                              

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