BOSTON TERRIER FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Pictures of Miniblack's boston terriers
1. Do you recommed to have bitch bostonterrier as a first pet instead of a male?
It´s usually said that a bitch is more suitable as a first pet, but this saying doesn´t add to bostonterriers.
Both sexes are easy to make out as long as the owner remembers that every bostonterrier is its own personality
and a very intelligent one: for example bitches may use their endearing personal ity and mislead the owner to
do what the pet wants! Males are maybe more prone to do what's expected once they learn the mores. But also
bitches may be "quote boyish" and even thick-headed and then again males may be "quote softies". Both bitches
and males may be very high-spirited and wild especially when playing. So if you want your pet to be basically
calm and placid, a bostonterrier may not be right choice for you: important element in bostonterriers temperament
is its whole-hearted excitement towards "quote everything swell"!
2. Are colour faults common in the breed?
Sometimes puppies with colour faults are born. The correct colour distribution for bo stonterrier is partially
very definite. Depending on the position of the fault even a very small patch of over-white is regarded as a fault:
for example 1 centimetre white over the eye is a fault, on the other hand visible white spreading from under the f lank
or thigh might not be even marked in a dog show if the dog is otherwise excellent. It is extremely rare that
a bostonterrier would lack white markings so much that it would be regarded as fault. Nevertheless a boston
with colour faults is still a full- blooded boston and always finds a loving home just like those with right
markings. Colour faults may even be quite fancy and fascinating: from white ear tip to whole-white coat with
only a patch of black here and there.
3. How many puppies there are usually in a litter?
On average there are 3 puppies per litter.
4. What is the life expectancy of a bostonterrier?
Bostonterrier is one of the breeds with longest lifespans: 14 years is not rare with our dogs.
5. Do bostonterriers have breedtypical illnesses?
It has not been scientifically proved that bostons would have illnesses typical to the breed. With good basic
care and nutrition bostonterrier is a generally healthy breed. Eye and patella examinations are recommended.
6. Does a bostonterrier get along with other dogs? How about males together?
Bostonterriers are open-minded and curious so they approach other dogs without aggression. Bostons like to make
friends with other dogs and get on extremely well with others. Bostonterriers aren't quote racists" either: any
breed specimen, big or small, will do as a pal. Even a bigger group of male bostonterriers are happy to play and
socialise together without those macho-traits. Actually most of the bostonterrier owners have two or more bostons.
And many bostons have a cat or even a rabbit as a companion!
7. Does a bostonterrier get along with children?
Bostonterriers love people, both grownups and children. Even if a bostonterrier has not been used to children since
puppyhood they get use to them as an adult if they are given time to familiarize. Bostonterriers love the attention
and affection given by small children!
8. Is there other activities than dog shows one can participate with bostonterriers?
Certainly yes! Bostonterriers do very well for example in Agility. Some have successfully tried obedience and even
rescue wor k! Bostonterriers are always ready for new things to do and they learn really fast. One can say that it
really is a multi-purpose breed.
9. How do you groom your bostonterrier before a dog show?
Bostonterriers are very easy to groom for a show: On top of normal tidiness only the whiskers are clipped. Bostonterriers'
basic care includes clean ears and eyes and clipped nails. Coat must be thoroughly clean at shows. Bostonterriers' coat
is shiny and smooth-haired so it's pretty easy to keep clean in normal circumstances. Sometimes the coat needs brushing,
especially when it sheds.Hair fringes in the ears can be trimmed for shows (we'll show you how!). A piece of chamois is
useful in the show: wipe the coat with it just before entering the ring.
10. Are bostonterriers sensitive to cold?
Bostonterriers don't have underside wool in their coat so the breed is sensitive to cold. For example wet snow rapidly
wets and chills the skin beneath the thin coat. In freezing winter weather the dogs feet get easily cold and that' s
something bostonterriers don't like! When the weather is fine a bostonterrier is tirelees friend even for a longer walk.
Sensitivenes to cold is also individual.
11. What do bostonterriers eat? Are they fussy about food?
We recommend high quality pet food sold by petstores. Most bostonterriers find pet food palatable and to boost taste and
aroma you can add a bit of home-made food to the serving. Before going to new homes our bostonpuppies will try many
different foods in addition to pet food: porridge, pasta, minced meat, fish, cheese, etc. New owners will be provided
with a list of foods tried and tested and naturally they' ll be informed if something has not been suitable.
Puppies will also get with them pet food they are used to: the change of environment for a little puppy will be so
huge that it's much more easier to cope if at least the food is familiar.
It's very easy to make a bostonpuppy fussy about food! A little puppy eats about four times a day and the owner is
easily misled if the puppy won' t eat: as the bostonpuppy is so small it must eat a little bit at a time but often.
One is prone to cook all kinds of gourmet-delicacies in vain! Anyway, the food must be proper and there's no doubt
you'll find something your puppy just can't resist.
12. Do bostonterriers have the habit to running away?
Bostonterriers don't have nose for hunting, so they may not be the breed most prone to run away. Bostonterriers are
happiest in their home with beloved people and toys. Because of their humaneness they like to stay with their owners
but on the other hand strange people in their vicinity might also attract In safe places away from roads bostonterriers
usually can be kept free without leash. Every pet owner must bear in mind that the safety of their pets is always the
owners responsibility: owners must make sure the pet's environment is secure!
13. Are bostonterriers tails or ears cropped?
No. Actually all kinds of docking and cropping of the pets is nowadays illegal in Finland (also in the most of the major kennel countries).
Bostonterriers are born stump-tailed. The tail is usually only a small quote button" on the rump, sometimes
a few centimetres long quote twist". Also the ears of the bostonterrier are completely natural: they really do stay
erect without any cropping. By the time of disposition to new home bostonterrier' s ears are usually correctly erect,
but this vary quite a lot individually. It may take long time before both of the ears are completely erect.
Also puppy's vaccinations may make the ears temporarily drop again. In the U.S.A bostonterriers' ears are sometimes
still cropped.
Read also the standard of the breed, pick a language you like..