Boston Terrier

A little lively companion, known for the distinctive markings on its coat that make him look like wearing a tuxedo, the Boston Terrier is the Gentleman of American dogs.

According to American Kennel Club (AKC), the breed comes in black and white, black brindle and white, brindle and white, seal and white and seal brindle and white coats. However, AKC does not register a blue Boston Terrier.

Gentle in behavior, affectionate in companionship, kind to all the members of its human family and loyal to its owner – Boston Terrier is impeccable in its manners.

This article is about blue Boston Terriers and other lesser known colors found in this breed such as Lilac Boston Terrier, Blue and White Boston Terrier and Merle Boston Terrier.

What is a Blue Boston Terrier?

The blue Boston Terrier is the result of a dilute gene affecting a traditional black Boston terrier. The outcome is a Blue Boston with a blue, silver or grey appearance instead of the usual black Boston Terrier.

Blue Boston Terrier Details

All the Boston Terriers have originated from one dog named Judge that came from Liverpool, England. It was owned by a Boston man named Hooper and the dog has become famous with an alias Hooper’s Judge.

Hooper’s Judge was bred to a female dog named Gyp and their offspring is the all famous Boston Terrier. All the purebred Bostons can trace their roots to them.

Unfortunately, an all Blue Boston Terrier isn’t a purebred dog. The blue color is the result of poor breeding practices.

The blue color occurred because of the mutation in the chromosome pool. Hence, instead of having a natural color, the mutated dog is blue, silver or grey in color.

American Kennel Club Specification of Colors in Boston Terriers

American Kennel Club (AKC) believes in the ideal representation of every breed and registers only those dogs that display a certain specific and peculiar criteria related to colors. A purebred Boston Terrier always has a coat of white mixed with any other color. The other color usually is black or seal. However, in sunlight the seal color also appears black.

The most frequent occurrence of Boston Terriers is in black and white. This black and white Terrier appears to be wearing a tuxedo and it has helped the Boston earn the nickname of American Gentleman. The American Gentleman usually comes with a splash of white on the chest, a white muzzle and a white blaze between the eyes.

AKC also recognizes brindle and white, and seal and white to be the colors of purebred Boston Terriers. However, it does not recognize other colors such as solid black, tan and black and liver (red) and mouse (blue). Even an all white coat is not recognized to be purebred by AKC.

The case of the blue Boston Terrier is peculiar. It descends from a line of dogs that can be traced back to Hooper’s Judge and Gyp. However, there has been sufficient mutation making its coat blue in color.

It is not recognized by the AKC. However, it is a Boston Terrier by all counts and though it may not be purebred, many dog loving folks happily own a Blue Boston Terrier.

Blue Boston Terrier Traits and Characteristics

Weight and Size

Blue Bostons come in three weight classes.

• Under 15 pounds
• Between 15 to 19 pounds
• Between 20 to 25 pounds

They can grow from 12 to 17 inches high. The height of the female terrier is smaller than the male terrier. The life expectancy of the Boston Terrier is between 13 to 15 years.

Physical Appearance

The blue Boston is a medium sized non-sporting dog. It usually has a blaze between the eyes with a muzzle that adds to its beauty. With eyes brown in color and nose black,  the blue Boston Terrier has erect ears and a short tail. Its compact size makes it a perfect fit for small apartments.

Personality and Temperament

A Blue Boston Terrier is known for its lively and playful nature. It does not like to be left alone for it always prefers company. This trait makes it the best family dog. Not only is it friendly with adults, this dog is very kind to children also. Even it tolerates the presence of other dogs.

With shedding levels below minimum, fortnightly coat grooming requirements and drooling close to zero, the blue Boston Terrier is one of the cleanest breeds among many.

The blue Boston Terrier wants non-stop fun. It wants to stay with family and wants to actively participate in the chores. Another desirable characteristic that puts it ahead of others is its inclination to not bark. It barks only to alert its owner. It stays calm otherwise.

Coat Types and Colors

As it is evident from its name, A blue Boston Terrier has a blue coat with occasional white markings. Some dogs even have a blue nose as well as blue eyes. Other Blue Boston Terriers are not blue but grey or silver and give a shiny silver hue when seen in sunlight.

The coat of the Boston Terrier is pretty smooth and fine. The fine coat is easy to brush and it should be brushed twice within one week to keep the coat healthy. Brushing removes any ticks, burrs and fleas that may infect the skin.

There are other unique colors of Boston Terriers such as Brown Boston Terrier and Merle Boston Terrier. The Merle Boston Terrier is also a unique dog that has a patchy coat and blue eyes. It can also have two different colored eyes such as one blue and the other black.

Training a Blue Boston Terrier

The blue Boston Terrier is an intelligent dog and that is why it is easy to train it. The training of these dogs works similar to any other dog and works on the principle of rewards and punishments.

A blue Boston loves to be respected. While training, it is extremely important that you should be calm and composed. Never train your dog when you are angry or you might scold it. Scolding a dog can lead to your dog becoming stubborn to your instructions.

Always use simple words or hand gestures to assign tasks for your dogs to accomplish. Do not use more than one word or gesture for a single task. That can confuse your dog and it can result in the failure of the training. Always reward your dog when it obeys your command and punish when it disobeys. However, don’t ever be harsh on your dog.

Grooming a Blue Boston 

The coat of the Blue Boston Terrier is smooth. It does not attract very much dirt. The grooming of the coat can wait up to a fortnight. However, it is good to brush the coat of your dog once or twice a week. Brushing the coat keeps the fleas, ticks and burrs away. Also, while brushing you can collect the loose hair and shedding.

You also need to arrange for a dog shower at least once a week if you want its coat to smell fragrant. However, a shower can wait up to as often as six weeks. Brushing the coat before showering can help in loosening the dirt. This way it is removed easily.

Colors of the Boston Terriers

Lilac Boston Terrier

A lilac Boston Terrier is a combination of a dilute black and brown coat. On official dog standards, it is referred to as the seal color. There can either be a lilac Boston Terrier or a lilac and white Boston Terrier.

A lilac Boston Terrier has a coat that displays a distinct purple or bluish hue that sometimes looks like a dusty red coat. The nose is not black but also displays a lilac hue as well. As they age, their coat also gets darker in color.

However, lilac Boston Terriers have unique eyes that are not at all lilac but bright blue in color. The blue color lasts for weeks until it changes to a crisp green color. However, after the puppy has grown into an adult dog, the eyes color changes finally to become amber.

Black and White Boston Terrier

A black and white Boston Terrier is the classic color in this breed. This is the one that resembles a tuxedo and is alternately referred to as the tuxedo dog.

A classic black and white Boston Terrier has a white blaze, a white muzzle and also a white forechest. The rest of the body is black. The forelegs, however, may be partially white.

A blue and white Boston Terrier is similar to the classic black and white. However, where the classic terrier has a black coat, blue and white terrier has a blue coat in place of black.

The Merle Boston Terrier

Merle is a coat color that is specific to only a few dog breeds and Boston Terrier is one of those diverse breeds.  The Merle Boston can never be purebred. A Merle Boston is always a mixed breed. Since AKC registers purebred dogs only, A Merle Boston Terrier is not recognized by the club.

Merle is sometimes also known as harlequin or dapple. There are several health risks attached to this dog. That is because the gene that produces Merle color is also responsible for eye and ear disorders in dogs.

Brindle and White Boston Terrier

Brindle is not a color but a pattern. This pattern occurs with a color. Brindle pattern can occur with black, dilute lilac and blue and brown coats. Brindles come in many shades from very light to extremely dark.

The standard brindle and white should be a black coat with a brindle pattern over the black color along with white markings. The white markings are found on, but are not restricted to, blaze between the eyes and the forechest.

Seal and White Boston Terrier

American Kennel Club describes the seal as a black color when viewed without sunlight and when viewed in sunlight a seal has a red cast. The red hue is not visible as it may look like a dark brown or a medium brown because of the red undertones.

AKC recognizes black seal Boston Terrier only. Liver, red or fawn seal Boston Terriers are not recognized by the AKC. A seal and white Boston Terrier has a seal-colored coat with the usual white markings on the blaze, muzzle and chest front. Purebred dogs have a black nose and brown eyes.

Red and White Boston Terrier

A red and white Boston Terrier comes in a red coat. The color variations may range from a copper color to a deeper red. The dog has usual white markings at the same spots. The white spots are found on the blaze between the eyes, at the muzzle and on the front chest. The eyes of these dogs are amber or hazel. The nose of these dogs is red.

Liver and White Boston Terrier

The coat color of liver and white Boston Terriers is darker than the red with usual white markings. The coat appears dark brown. The usual white spots are on the blaze, muzzle and front chest. The forelegs can also be partially white.

Fawn Boston Terrier

There are many shades of fawn. From a light fawn that looks like champagne color to a darker fawn that looks like red, the shade variations of fawn Boston Terriers are many. The coat color is fawn with occasional white markings. A distinctive feature is that their coat has a combination of fawn and black hair. This variation gives it a boxer-like appearance.

While the coats of Boston Terriers are found in a wide variety of colors, they are not found in tricolor. There is no Blue Belton Boston Terrier. However, there is a blue belton English Setter that is known as the Gentleman of the world.

Pros and Cons of owning a Blue Boston Terrier

Pros

1. Blue Boston Terrier is a family dog that makes it a great pet. They are kind to children and the elderly. Their attention seeking and playfulness makes them a perfect choice as a family dog.
2. They are quiet dogs and they never bark. They don’t disturb neighbors nor create a commotion at night for no reason. Bostons bark only to alert their owner.
3. The grooming requirements of a Blue Boston are below average. They have a smooth coat that needs brushing once in a fortnight. Their shedding level is below average. They also don’t drool.

Cons

1. The digestive system of a Blue Boston Terrier is weak and they are susceptible to digestive disorders. Once their stomach is upset, they pass wind a lot.
2. They have very big protruding eyes. Although their eyes look cute, they are vulnerable to risk or injury. Most dogs with large protruding eyes can end up with scratched cornea.
3. Sometimes these dogs become stubborn and they are difficult to handle.

All Blue Boston Terrier Conclusion

All Blue Boston Terriers are medium sized dogs that are known for their companionship. They are family dogs. All Blue Boston Terriers have a blue coat but they are not purebred and that is why they are not recognized by the AKC.

However, these dogs have a very unique color. Other unique coats that are found in the Boston Terrier breed include the lilac Boston Terrier, merle Boston Terrier and the blue and white Boston Terrier.

Copyright CaninePals.Com. All Rights Reserved.

References and Further Reading:

[1] American Kennel Club, Boston Terrier Information.

 

 

Small in size and affectionate in nature, Boston Terrier is a lively family companion. This article is all about Boston Terrier male vs female and their traits and characteristics.

Small, sturdy and muscular build with naturally large ears that stand erect; a broad flat nose and a face without wrinkles – you can easily recognize a Boston Terrier from a distance. A comparison between Boston Terrier male vs female would mark no physical difference as they apparently look alike.

Known for their sleek, shiny and straight coat that displays crisp white markings and makes it appear as if the dog is wearing a tuxedo. Because of this outstanding feature, the Boston Terrier is known as the American Gentleman.

History of the Boston Terrier

American Kennel Club (AKC) finds the origin of the Boston Terrier in 19th century England. In those days, blood sports were famous in England and people used to cross breed dogs to create fierce breeds that would help them earn a victory in the ring.

The Boston Terrier was developed as a fighting dog after the American Civil War. The ancestor of most Boston terriers was a “Hooper’s Judge” dog that was sold to a man in Boston in 1870. He’s a mixture of a white English Terrier and an English Bulldog.

Judge is explained by one dog historian in his writings as “strongly built, high stationed dog of about thirty two pounds weight. In color he was a dark brindle, with a white stripe in the face. His head was square and blocky, and he resembled the present Boston Terrier in that he had a nearly even mouth.”

Judge was brought to the United States and was owned by Robert C. Hooper who lived in Boston. This dog Judge is the common ancestor of all the Boston Terriers.

In 1891, the Boston Terrier Club of America was formed. AKC registered the first dog in the year 1893. In 1891, the name was changed to the Boston Terrier, named for the city of origin. The Boston Terrier is considered as the pride of Boston. Honoring the breed, Boston University changed its official mascot to Boston Terrier and in 1979 State legislature of Massachusetts declared Boston Terrier the official dog of Massachusetts.

During the successive breeding, Boston Terrier underwent a transformation from the bulky fighter dog to a small, sweet and attractive dog of today.  The Boston is an intelligent, lively canine with a dapper appearance and is most suited to being a family pet.

A Boston Terrier is easy to train and prefers to stay by his owner’s side. He’s a short, dog who is coloured either seal, black or brindle and has white markings.

He can vary in weight from 10 – 25 pounds and is 15 – 17 inches high.

AKC Breed Specification of Boston Terrier

American Kennel Club offers a detailed breed specification of Boston Terriers. Following are the important pointers that are specific to these dogs.

General Appearance:

Boston Terrier has a smooth coat, short head and a compact body. With a short tail, it looks like a perfectly balanced dog. The size of the head is in the right proportion when compared to the size of the body. Boston Terrier is a highly intelligent dog as appeared from its expressions.

Head:

The skull is a square that is flat on top. Face is free from any wrinkles and cheeks are flat.

The eyes are dark, round and set wide apart from each other. There must not be any trace of blue on the body and in the eyes for a dog to be a purebred Boston Terrier. The ears are small and naturally erect. They are situated at the corners of the skull.

Neck, Topline and Body:

Neck is slightly arched. It displays an image of balance. The size of the neck is in the right proportion when seen along with the size of the head and the body. The neck sits perfectly in the middle of the two shoulders. The topline is level and the back is slightly curved to the tip of the tail. The tail is short and tapered.

Forequarters:

The shoulders are well supported and perfectly laid back. It allows the Boston Terrier to have a graceful walk. The forelegs are set moderately apart and match in a straight line to the upper tip of the shoulder blade. The feet are small, round and compact. They are designed beautifully and can take the weight of the body perfectly well.

Hindquarters:

Thighs in the hindquarters are muscular and strong that allow it to leap forward while running. Thighs are bent at stifles. The feet are small and compact with short nails.

Gait:

Boston Terrier has a graceful gait. The forelegs and hindlegs move in a straight line and in a perfect rhythm. Boston Terrier’s gait is that of a sure footed, straight gaited dog.

Coat:

The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine to touch.

Color and Markings:

Boston Terriers come in brindle, seal or black colors with white markings. The desired markings include white muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes, white blaze over the head, white collar, white fore chest, white on a part or whole of forelegs and hindlegs.

Temperament:

Boston Terrier is a lively and intelligent dog. It is a perfect human companion.

Boston Terrier Male vs Female

Boston Terrier is a small, muscular and a pretty looking dog. Affectionate and loving, Boston Terrier is really a family dog. Whenever it looks at you with its cute, round and black eyes, you immediately fall in love with this breed.

There are many traits and characteristics salient to this outstanding breed. However, there are marked differences when it comes to Boston Terrier Male vs Female. In this section, we are going to focus on the gender specific traits of Boston Terrier Male vs Female.

Boston Terrier Male vs Female Size

The Boston Terrier male dog has an average height of 15-17 inches. It weighs between 10lbs and 25lbs whereas a Boston Terrier girl weighs between 9lbs and 20lbs and reaches a height of about 9-15 inches.

Male dogs have more muscle mass and are much bulkier in comparison to the female dogs. A Boston Terrier girl is lean with less muscle mass.

Male Boston Terrier Temperament

A male Boston Terrier dog is friendly, bright and amusing. It takes more time to train a male dog in comparison to a female dog. However, it is a great family companion and loves to please its owner.

The Boston Terrier male loves to eat and food motivates it. It loves to be cuddled and played with and appreciates a belly rub and back scratches. A boy Boston Terrier is more playful and agile than a female Boston Terrier.

It gets aged physically fairly quickly whereas mentally it still remains a playful and agile dog.

A Boston Terrier male acts as the protector of the territory and the family. It allows no other dog to enter its territory or to harm its family in any way. Being a protector, it gets along well with all the members of the family and loves them.

It seeks its owner’s attention all the time. It is kind to strangers and gets along well with female dogs.

The disadvantage of a male Boston Terrier is that it is a messy dog and requires a lot of cleaning. It is very difficult to train a male dog to walk off a leash. In a crowd, they tend to go off track. Plus they are clumsy with children.

Female Boston Terrier Temperament

A female Boston Terrier learns fast and is easy to train. It is friendly, energetic and fun loving. Though it enjoys company, it has less desire to please its owner than a male terrier.

Like its male counterpart, a Boston Terrier girl gets motivated by food. The motivation for food dies down when it is pregnant. It is more independent, calmer and less passionate than a male terrier.

It is less playful than a male dog and reaches mental maturity pretty quickly whereas the physical maturity hits late. In this way, it is a total opposite of its male version. It is not protective of its territory at all and when it comes to protecting its family, it takes care only of its owner.

The female Boston Terrier is less attention seeking and does not always bother its owner. A female allows you to have your private time and respects it.

A girl Boston terrier often bonds well with only one person in the family – its owner. It gets along well with male dogs but it is not very welcoming when it comes to strangers and children.

Boston Terrier Traits and Characteristics

Behavior with family

Boston terrier is an affectionate family dog. It keeps you company and because of its playful nature, it would stay agile and active all day long. It is kind towards children and behaves well around them.

However, like with every other dog, the dog and children’s time should always be supervised by an adult. It is fairly good with other dogs and tolerates their presence when it is not threatening.

Physical Traits

The physical requirements of the Boston Terrier for grooming are minimum. Its shedding frequency is minimum. So, you would not have to clean around often. The coat grooming requirements are also minimum and you can take a fortnight to groom its coat that makes the job easy. The additional benefit of having a Boston Terrier is that it is less likely to drool.

General personality traits

The Boston Terrier is fairly easy to train. It is always full of energy and tries its best to please its owner. When it comes to the barking tendency of this dog, it does not bark at all. However, it barks only to alert its owner which makes this dog a great watchdog.

On a daily basis, it requires less exercise and outdoor time. A moderate activity would be enough for this dog. For the rest of the day, they would love to lounge.

Boston Terrier Male or Female?

If you love the Boston Terrier and you are in the process of owning one, you might wonder what is the best for you to own – Boston Terrier male or female?

 It is really a tough call between Boston Terrier male vs female. A male possesses certain specific qualities and so does the female dog.

There are subtle differences in owning a male or a female Boston Terrier. A male Boston Terrier is playful and agile. It would love to stay around all day long. Since it is good with children, it would keep them in good company.

However, a female dog is a loyal companion of its owner only. If you want to have a dog that always stays by your side  and puts you first than any of the other members of your family, you should go for a Boston Terrier female dog.

There are different advantages of owning a male over a female and vice versa. Let us look at the individual advantages of each.

Advantages of owning a male Boston Terrier

• Joyous and playful
• Agile and energetic
• It would play all day long with your children
• Protects all the members of the family
• A good watchdog
• Patient towards strangers and kind to children
• Does not bark but to alert

Advantages of owning a female Boston Terrier

• Less playful and more patient
• Respects the free time of the owner
• Loyal only to the owner and protects him to death
• Easier to train and easier to handle
• Excellent companion for adults
• Low maintenance dog

Now that you have gone through the advantages of male and female dogs, it is easier for you to make a decision which dog to own.

If there are children in your family, a male Boston Terrier might be a better choice for you. If you live alone and want company, a female Boston Terrier would serve great as a companion.

Conclusion

Boston Terrier is an agile, muscular, playful and an excellent family dog. Though it was crossed to get a dog for the love of blood sports, it has come far away from its wild ancestors. Today’s Boston Terrier is a cheerful and loving dog.

There are stark differences when it comes to Boston Terrier male vs female. The male dog is more playful, active and protective. The female dog is more calm, intelligent and a silent companion.

It depends on your personality whether you want to own a male Boston Terrier or a female one. Choose wisely.

Good luck.

Copyright CaninePals.Com. All Rights Reserved.

References and Further Reading:

[1] American Kennel Club, Boston Terrier Information.