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| General Appearance |
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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.
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| Size, Proportion, Substance |
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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.
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| 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.
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| Neck, Topline and Body
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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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Coat |
| The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine
in texture. |
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| Color and Markings
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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. |
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| Temperament |
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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.
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| 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. |
Breed information taken from
AKC
Boston
Terrier Breed Standard
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