Is a Boston Terrier a Good Fit for Your Family?

About five years ago, as my husband & I were considering adding a dog to our idiosyncratic family unit, we invested some time into conducting research to make sure the canine breed we chose seemed to be a good fit for our lifestyle. We both knew that we wanted a primarily indoor dog, so we weren't interested in large dogs. We also weren't interested in anything particularly princessy, fluffy, or yappy. Based on these initial informal guidelines, some of the breeds under our consideration were Pugs, Brussels Griffons, Affenpinschers, and Boston Terriers. As you might be able to detect, we had an aesthetic preference towards short-snouted, wide-mouthed dogs with something of a gargoyle-style appearance. However, even though all the dogs on that list fit such a description to an extent, I must admit that the Boston Terrier breed was at the end of our shortlist. I'm so very glad that the Boston Terrier breed ended up working its way to the forefront of our minds, hearts, and lives! For others who might be considering this breed, allow me to offer some firsthand feedback.

As I said, we conducted research on the various canine breeds we were considering, hoping to get a feel for general characteristics, disposition, and any special health concerns for these breeds. Of course, each dog is bound to have its own individual personality and you won't know for sure if a particular dog's dynamic is a good fit until you actually meet and interact with the dear creature. It's still a good idea to familiarize oneself with an overview of the breed, though. We found out, for example, that the Boston Terrier breed is quite sensitive to extremes of heat and cold (so this would not be an ideal breed for you if you live in an area with hot summers and cold winters and were planning to keep your dog outside a lot), that a certain level of extra care must be taken to protect this breed's slightly bulging eyes from thorns or other sharp outdoor obstacles, and that short-snouted breeds are more prone to breathing disorders.

We also discovered some interesting details about the history of Boston Terriers. They were originally bred to serve as rat dogs, more or less. However, it wasn't long before their appearance caught on with upper class families. Their distinctive black & white coloration was viewed as distinguished looking; some even thought it looked like they were wearing tuxedoes. They were nicknamed 'The American Gentleman' and if you research the breed, you can find numerous old-fashioned black & white or daguerreotype -style photos of noble-looking families posed with their pet Boston Terriers.

In more recent times, the Boston Terrier has become prized for its playful and charismatic personality, as well as that adorably animated face. The unique black & white coatis still a selling point, too. The technical term for that coloration, by the way, is piebald. But back to these dogs' winning personalities, I must point out that for potential pet owners who are seeking a relatively calm or docile or laid back pet, a Boston Terrier might not be your best bet. Boston Terriers are very playful, almost to the point of hyperactivity when they're young. They need plenty of attention and plenty of play time and plenty of interactivity-and such interactivity cannot simply consist of petting them. They're very active, energetic, and robust and relish in running and jumping. If you do not have the kind of lifestyle or living environment that would allow for an especially active dog, then a Boston Terrier might not be the best fit for you.

However, if you do have plenty of time and energy to devote to actively interacting with your new family member, then I think you may be very pleased with the results. I think this is a very intelligent and responsive breed, fairly easy to train and then taking pride in pleasing its owners. As is most likely the case with just about any puppy, the initial toilet training process can be a bit of an exasperating challenge, but once we got past that little hurdle, I was able to train our Boston Terrier to sit, shake, stay, lay down, and roll over in fairly short order and I think that he actually enjoys performing these tricks. Sometimes when we're playing with a toy, he will suddenly roll over as if this is a fun part of the game. He recognizes the names of his various toys, as well as his name, our names, and many other words, too. He likes all three of us to be together and all three of us to be involved in playtime simultaneously.

On top of his many other darling attributes, he emits the most adorable little sounds when he settles down for sleepytime. We call these his "old man sounds", as they sound like a cross between a contented sigh and a curmudgeonly grumble. He is loyal, playful, good-natured, and sweet-spirited. He is not much of a barker, but when he does bark, it is surprisingly loud for a dog of smallish stature. He also snores quite loudly, like some sort of large dragon is trapped inside his little piebald body. If these traits sound appealing to you, then perhaps you should look into acquiring your very own Boston Terrier. You might be incredibly pleased with the charming adorability, strong personality, and genuine joy that a Boston Terrier can bring into your life.