As produced and adopted by the Boston Terrier
Club of America
Effective February 28, 1990
( Revisions to this standard are currently being considered by the
BTCA.
This page will be updated as soon as the revisions are approved by
the membership
and adopted by the American Kennel Club)
Drawings by Vickie Kwasny
Photos by Lisa Braunstein-LaMere and Cindy McIntosh
(Drawings and photos have been
re-formatted for Internet use)
Realizing that the Printed word is open to
individual interpretation, The Boston Terrier Club of America hopes
that this lastest effort will allow a clearer visual interpretation
of the accompanying written standard for the Boston Terrier.
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, 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.
Coat - The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine
in texture.
Color and Markings - 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 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 fore chest. Desired markings:
White muzzle band, even white blaze between the eyes and over the
head, white collar, white fore chest, 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
Expression
Head (Muzzle, Jaw, Bite, Skull & Stop)
Eyes
Ears
Neck, Topline, Body & Tail
Forequarters
Hindquarters
Feet
Color, Coat & Markings
Gait
Total |
10
10
15
5
5
15
10
10
5
5
10
100 |
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.
