THE BOSTON TERRIER
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: The United States of America
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 2nd of February 1995
Utilization: Companion dog
F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION:
Group 9 — Companion and Toy Dogs
Section 11 — Small Molossian Dogs
No performance test
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Boston Terrier is a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short-headed, compactly built, short-tailed, well balanced dog. Its brindle is black or seal in colour (seal is defined as appearing black except it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or bright light) and evenly marked with white. The head is in proportion to the size of the dog. The expression indicates a high degree of intelligence. The body is rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and well formed, and the tail is short. No feature is so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity, with style of elegance; carriage is easy and graceful. A proportionate combination of colour and white markings is a particularly distinctive feature of a good representative specimen.
Balance, expression, colour and white markings should be given particular consideration in determining the relative value of the general appearance to other points.
The clean-cut short backed body of the Boston Terrier coupled with the unique characteristics of its square head and jaw, and its striking markings have resulted in a most dapper and charming American original: The Boston Terrier.
In a comparison of specimens of each sex, the only evident difference is a slight refinement in the bitch’s conformation.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: 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 the dog’s weight and structure.
NATURE / 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.
HEAD:
CRANIUM:
The skull: square, flat on top, free from wrinkles, brow abrupt.
The stop: well defined.
FACIAL FEATURES:
The nose: The nose is black and wide, with a well defined line between the nostrils. Well open nostrils.
The muzzle: short, square, wide and deep and in proportion to the skull. It’s 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 chops: The chops are of good depth, but not pendulous. Completely cover the teeth when the mouth is closed.
The jaw/teeth: The jaw is broad and square with short regular teeth. The bite is even or sufficiently undershot to square the muzzle.
Cheeks: Flat.
Eyes: wide apart, large and round and dark in colour. Set square in the skull and the outside corners are on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front.
The expression: alert and kind, indicating a high degree of intelligence. The expression is the most important attribute of the breed.
The ears: 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.
NECK: The length of neck must underline the overall balance to the dog’s body. It is slightly arched, carrying the head gracefully and setting neatly into the shoulders.
BODY: The body should appear short.
The topline: level.
The back: just short enough to square the body.
The rump: curves slightly to the set-on of the tail.
The chest: deep with good width. Ribs well sprung and carried well back to the loins.
TAIL: set on low, short, fine and tapering, straight or screw. 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.)
LIMBS:
THE FORELEGS The forelegs are set relatively wide apart and on a line with the upper tip of the shoulder blades; straight in bone.
The shoulders: sloping and well laid back, which allows for the Boston Terrier’s characteristic movement.
The elbows: stand neither in nor out.
Pasterns: short and strong. The dewclaws may be removed.
The forefeet: small, round and compact, turned neither in nor out. With well arched toes and short nails.
THE HIND LEGS:
The thighs: strong and well muscled, set true.
Stifles: well bent.
The hocks: short, turning neither in nor out, with a well defined hock joint. Hind feet: small and compact, with short nails.
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.
COAT:
COAT: The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.
COLOUR: brindle, black or seal (seal is defined as appearing black except it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or bright light), with white markings. Brindle is preferred only if all other qualities are equal.
Required Markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes, white fore chest.
Desired Markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes and over the head, white collar, white fore chest, 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.
WEIGHT:
Weight is divided by classes as follows:
— Under 15 pounds (6.8 kg);
— 15 pounds and under 20 pounds (6.8 to 9 kg);
— 20 pounds and not exceeding 25 pounds (9 to 11.35 kg).
SCALE OF POINTS
General appearance 10
Expression 10
Head (Muzzle, Jaw, Bite, Skull & Stop) 15
Eyes 5
Ears 5
Neck, Topline, Body and Tail 15
Forelegs 10
Hind legs 10
Feet 5
Colour, Coat and Markings 5
Gait 10
——————
Total 100
FAULTS: Any divergence from the above characteristics should be considered a fault and its seriousness established in proportion to its degree.
— stout or chunky in appearance
— pinched or wide nostrils
— eyes showing too much white or haw
— size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head
— gaily carried tail
— legs lacking in substance
— steep angle in thigh
— crooked legs
— swaying, paddling, or weaving when gaited; Hackney gait
SERIOUS FAULTS:
— cross bite
— any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth is closed
— roached or sway back
— slab-sided
— any crossing movement, either front or rear
DISQUALIFICATIONS:
— truculence or undue timidity
— brown, meat-coloured or spotted nose
— eyes blue in colour or any trace of blue
— docked tail
— self-coloured, solid black, solid brindle or solid seal, without required white markings
— grey or reddish-brown colour
Dogs showing obvious physical abnormalities or abnormal qualities in character should be disqualified.
(Note: Dogs (male animals) must have two visibly well developed testicles, fully descended in the scrotum.
