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Boston Terrier Breed Standard
 Boston Terrier 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 Boston Terrier head is in proportion to the size of the dog and the expression indicates a high degree of intelligence.
The Boston Terrier body is rather short and well knit, the Boston Terrier limbs strong and neatly turned, the tail Boston Terrier 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.
Boston Terrier Size, Proportion, Substance
Boston Terrier 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 Boston Terrier 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.
Boston Terrier Head
The Boston Terrier 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 Boston Terrier 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 Boston Terrier 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 Boston Terrier 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 Boston Terrier nose is black and wide, with a well defined line between the nostrils. Disqualify: Dudley nose.
The Boston Terrier 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.
Boston Terrier Neck, Topline and Body
The Boston Terrier 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 Boston Terrier back is just short enough to square the body. The Boston Terrier topline is level and the rump curves slightly to the set-on of the tail. The Boston Terrier chest is deep with good width, ribs well sprung and carried well back to the loins. The body should appear short. The Boston Terrier 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.
Boston Terrier Forequarters
The Boston Terrier shoulders are sloping and well laid back, which allows for the Boston Terrier's stylish movement. The Boston Terrier elbows stand neither in nor out. The Boston Terrier 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: Boston Terrier legs lacking in substance; splay feet.
Boston Terrier Hindquarters
The Boston Terrier thighs are strong and well muscled, bent at the stifles and set true. The Boston Terrier hocks are short to the feet, turning neither in nor out, with a well defined hock joint. The Boston Terrier feet are small and compact with short nails. Fault: Boston Terrier straight in stifle.
Boston Terrier Gait
The Boston Terrier 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.
Boston Terrier Coat
The Boston Terrier coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.
Boston Terrier 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. Gray or liver colors.
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.
Boston Terrier Temperament
The Boston Terrier is a friendly and lively dog. The Boston Terrier breed has an excellent disposition and a high degree of intelligence, which makes the Boston Terrier an incomparable companion.
Boston Terrier Summary
The Boston Terrier 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.
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
15
5
5
15
10
10
5
5
10
100 |
Boston Terrier 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.
Gray or liver colors.
Boston Terrier Approved January 9, 1990
Boston Terrier Effective February 28, 1990
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