The Official Boston Terrier Standard, revised 1990

January, 2001: The Boston Terrier standard is up for revision at this time. I have made changes to the current 1990 standard below reflecting the newly proposed changes. Items that may be removed from the future standard are crossed out; items that may be newly added or that have been re-worded are shown in blue.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Boston Terrier is a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short headed, compactly built, short-tailed, well balanced dog [of medium station], brindle, seal or black in color and evenly [and cleanly] 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 [ideal] markings [as defined in this standard] 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 ideal weight for the Boston Terrier is 12 to 18 lbs. Disqualify: Any dog weighing over 25 lbs.] [The length of body from point of shoulder to buttocks should equal the height from withers to ground and the distance from the ground to elbow should equal or be slightly more than elbows to withers.] 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. [Body] Fault: Blocky or [C]hunky 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 square, flat on top, free from wrinkles, cheeks flat, brow abrupt and the stop well defined. [Skull Faults: Skull "domed" or inclined; furrowed by a medial line.] 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. [Eye Faults: Eyes light in color; wall-eyed showing too much white or haw; or eyes that are almond shaped.] 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. [Ear Fault: Size of ears out of proportion to size of head.]

The muzzle is short, square, wide and deep and in proportion to the skull. It is free from wrinkles, shorter in length than in depth; not exceeding in length approximately one-third of the length of the skull, [with width and depth carried well out to the end.] 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 [,liver or light milk chocolate colored] nose. [Faults: Butterfly nose (DEFINED as a spot or spots of pink or flesh color on the back leather of the nose); pinched or enlarged nostrils.] NOTE: The word "back" may be a typo on our copies, should it say "black"??

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, 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. [Neck Faults: Throatiness or short and thick neck.] 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 [point of the shoulders as viewed from the front.] 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 [n]or out, with well arched toes and short nails. [Forequarter] Faults: Legs lacking in substance; [loose shoulders; long or weak pasterns;] 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. [Hindquarter] Fault: Straight in stifle. [Serious Hindquarter Fault: Patellar Luxation.]

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 [or hackney gait.]

COAT

The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.

COLOR AND MARKINGS

[All shades of brindle including mahogany brindle;], seal[;] or black with white markings. Brindle is preferred ONLY if all other qualities are equal. (Note: [MAHOGANY defined. A deep brown coat with flecks of gold to reddish colored hairs evenly spread throughout the coat.] 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. solid white; or any color other than brindle, seal or black with white markings, including, but not limited to, gray, liver, fawn or red.]

REQUIRED MARKINGS: [The Boston Terrier must have a [w]White muzzle band, [a] white blaze between the eyes, [and a] white forechest. [Disqualify: Without required white markings.]

DESIRED [IDEAL] 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".) [In addition, the following markings are considered to be ideal: a white muzzle band, even white blaze between the eyes which may extend over the head, white collar, full white forechest, white on part or whole of the forelegs, and white on hind legs below the hocks. The markings should be evenly distributed and should not detract from the general appearance of the dog. A dog otherwise of at least equal or superior merit should not be penalized if it does not have the ideal markings described above.]

A dog with a preponderance of white on the head or body must possess sufficient 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 an 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

Head (Muzzle, Jaw, Bite, Skull and Stop)- 15
Neck, Topline, Body and Tail - 15
General Appearance - 10
Expression - 10
Forequarters - 10
Hindquarters - 10
Gait - 10
Eyes - 5
Ears - 5
Feet - 5
Color, Coat and Markings - 5
Total - 100

DISQUALIFICATIONS

  • [Any dog weighing more than 25 pounds.]
  • Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue
  • Dudley [,liver or light milk chocolate colored] nose.
  • Docked tail.
  • Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal without required white markings [; solid white; or any color other than brindle, seal or black with white markings, including, but not limited to, gray, liver, fawn or red.]
  • Gray or liver colors.
    • Background illustration ©Vickie Kwasny, from the Boston Terrier Pictorial and Illustrated Standard, produced by the Boston Terrier Club Of America for educational purposes.

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