OFFICIAL STANDARD FOR THE 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 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 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 short, 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
the 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, carring 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 to the set-on of the tail. The chest is deep with good width, ribs
well sprung and carried well 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 setting 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.
Faults: Straight in stifle.
Gait - The gait of the Boston Terrier is that of a sure footed, straight gaited
dog, frelegs 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
prefered ONLY if all other qualities are equal. (Note: SEAL DEFINED. Seal
appears black except it has a red cast when viewed in 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 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
foreleg and hind legs below the hock. (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 posess suffivient 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 and 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 10
Expression 10
Head (Muzzle, Jaw, Bite, Skull & Stop) 15
Eyes 5
Ears 5
Neck, Topline, Body & Tail 15
Forequarters10
Hindquarters 10
Feet 5
Color, Coat & Markings 5
Gait 10
Total10
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.
This page was last updated: January 13, 2010
