BOSTON TERRIER BREED STANDARDS
1891 BOSTON TERRIER STANDARD
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND STYLE: The general appearance of the Boston Terrier is that of a smooth, short-coated, compactly-built dog of medium station. The head should indicate a high degree of intelligence and should be in proportion to the dog's size; the body rather short and well-knit, the limbs strong and finely turned, no feature being so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity. Style of a high order, and carriage easy and graceful.
SKULL: Broad and flat, without prominent cheeks, and forehead free from wrinkles.
STOP: Well defined, but indenture not too deep.
EYES: Wide apart, large and round, neither sunken nor too prominent, and in color dark and soft. The outside corner should be on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front.
MUZZLE: Short, square, wide and deep, without wrinkles. Nose black and wide, with a well defined straight line between nostrils. The jaws broad and square, with short, regular teeth. The chops wide and deep, not pendulous, completely covering the teeth when mouth is closed.
EARS: Small and thin, situated as near corners of skull as possible.
NECK: Of fair length, without throatiness and slightly arched.
BODY: Deep and broad of chest, well ribbed up. Back short, not roached. Loins and quarters strong.
ELBOWS: Standing neither in nor out.
FORELEGS: Wide apart, straight and well muscled.
HINDLEGS: Straight, quite long from stifle to hock (which should turn neither in nor out), short and straight from hock to pasterns. Thighs well muscled. Hocks not too prominent.
FEET: Small, nearly round, and turned neither in nor out. Toes compact and arched.
TAIL: Set-on low, short, fine and tapering, devoid of fringe or coarse hair, and not carried above the horizontal.
COLOR: Any color, brindle, evenly marked with white, strongly preferred.
MARKINGS: White muzzle, blaze on face, collar, chest and feet.
COAT: Fine in texture, short, bright and not too hard.
WEIGHT: Lightweight class, 12 and not to exceed 17 pounds; middleweight class, 17 and not to exceed 22 pounds; heavyweight class, 22 and not to exceed 28 pounds.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Docked tail and any artificial means used to deceive the judge.
1914 BOSTON TERRIER STANDARD
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The general appearance of the Boston terrier should be that of a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short headed, compactly built, short tailed, well balanced dog of medium station, of brindle color and evenly marked with white.
The head should indicate a high degree of intelligence and should be in proportion to the size of the dog; the body rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and neatly turned; tail short and no feature being so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog should convey an impression of determination, strength and activity, with style of a high order; carriage easy and graceful.
A proportionate combination of "Color" and "Ideal Markings" is a particularly distinctive feature of a representative specimen, and dogs with a preponderance of white on body, or without the proper proportion of brindle and white on head, should possess sufficient merit otherwise to counteract their deficiencies in these respects.
The ideal "Boston Terrier Expression" as indicating "a high degree of intelligence," is also an important characteristic of the breed.
"Color and Markings" and "Expression" should be given particular consideration in determining the relative value of "General Appearance" to other points.
SKULL: Square, flat on top, free from wrinkles; cheeks flat; brow abrupt, stop well defined.
EYES: Wide apart, large and round, dark in color, expression alert, but kind and intelligent; the eyes should set square across brow and the outside corners should be on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front.
MUZZLE: Short, square, wide and deep; free from wrinkles; shorter in length than in width and depth, and in proportion to skull; width and depth carried out well to end. Nose black and wide, with well defined line between nostrils. The jaws broad and square, with short regular teeth. The chops of good depth, but not pendulous, completely covering the teeth when mouth is closed. The muzzle should not exceed in approximate length one-third of length of skull.
EARS: Small and thin, situated as near corners of skull as possible.
HEAD FAULTS: Skull "domed" or inclined; furrowed by a medial line; skull too long for breadth, or vice versa; stop too shallow; brow and skull too slanting. Eyes small or sunken; too prominent; light color; showing too much white or haw. Muzzle wedge shaped or lacking depth; down faced; too much cut out below the eyes; pinched nostrils; protruding teeth; weak lower jaw; showing "turn up." Poorly carried ears or out of proportion.
NECK: Of fair length, slightly arched and carrying the head gracefully; setting neatly into shoulders.
NECK FAULTS: Ewe-necked; throatiness; short and thick.
BODY: Deep with good width of chest; shoulders sloping; back short; ribs deep and well sprung, carried well back of loins; loins short and muscular; rump curving slightly to set-on of tail. Flank slightly cut up. The body should appear short, but not chunky.
BODY FAULTS: Flat sides; narrow chest; long or slack loins; roach back; sway back; too much cut up in flank.
ELBOWS: Standing neither in nor out.
FORELEGS: Set moderately wide apart and on a line with the points of the shoulders; straight in bone and well muscled; pasterns short and strong.
HINDLEGS: Set true; bent at stifles; short from hocks to feet; hocks turning neither in nor out; thighs strong and well muscled.
FEET: Round, small and compact, and turned neither in nor out; toes well arched.
LEG AND FEET FAULTS: Loose shoulders or elbows; hind legs too straight at stifles; hocks too prominent; long or weak pasterns; splay feet.
TAIL: Set-on low; short, fine and tapering; straight or screw; devoid of fringe or coarse hair, and not carried above horizontal.
TAIL FAULTS: A long or gaily carried tail; extremely gnarled or curled against body.
(Note: The preferred tail should not exceed in length approximately half the distance from set-on to hock.)
COLOR: Brindle with white markings.
IDEAL MARKINGS: White muzzle, even white blaze over head, collar, breast, part or whole of forelegs and hindlegs below hocks.
COLOR AND MARKINGS FAULTS: All white; absence of white markings; preponderance of white on body; without the proper proportion of brindle and white on head; or any variations detracting from the general appearance.
COAT FAULTS: Long or coarse; lacking lustre.
WEIGHTS: Not exceeding 27 pounds, divided as follows:
Lightweight: Under 17 pounds.
Middleweight: 17 and not exceeding 22 pounds.
Heavyweight: 22 and not exceeding 27 pounds.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Solid black, black and tan, liver and mouse colors. Docked tail and any artificial means used to deceive the judge.
CURRENT BOSTON TERRIER STANDARD
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 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 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 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 and incomparable companion.
***AS SET FORTH BY THE BOSTON TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA.
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND STYLE: The general appearance of the Boston Terrier is that of a smooth, short-coated, compactly-built dog of medium station. The head should indicate a high degree of intelligence and should be in proportion to the dog's size; the body rather short and well-knit, the limbs strong and finely turned, no feature being so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity. Style of a high order, and carriage easy and graceful.
SKULL: Broad and flat, without prominent cheeks, and forehead free from wrinkles.
STOP: Well defined, but indenture not too deep.
EYES: Wide apart, large and round, neither sunken nor too prominent, and in color dark and soft. The outside corner should be on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front.
MUZZLE: Short, square, wide and deep, without wrinkles. Nose black and wide, with a well defined straight line between nostrils. The jaws broad and square, with short, regular teeth. The chops wide and deep, not pendulous, completely covering the teeth when mouth is closed.
EARS: Small and thin, situated as near corners of skull as possible.
NECK: Of fair length, without throatiness and slightly arched.
BODY: Deep and broad of chest, well ribbed up. Back short, not roached. Loins and quarters strong.
ELBOWS: Standing neither in nor out.
FORELEGS: Wide apart, straight and well muscled.
HINDLEGS: Straight, quite long from stifle to hock (which should turn neither in nor out), short and straight from hock to pasterns. Thighs well muscled. Hocks not too prominent.
FEET: Small, nearly round, and turned neither in nor out. Toes compact and arched.
TAIL: Set-on low, short, fine and tapering, devoid of fringe or coarse hair, and not carried above the horizontal.
COLOR: Any color, brindle, evenly marked with white, strongly preferred.
MARKINGS: White muzzle, blaze on face, collar, chest and feet.
COAT: Fine in texture, short, bright and not too hard.
WEIGHT: Lightweight class, 12 and not to exceed 17 pounds; middleweight class, 17 and not to exceed 22 pounds; heavyweight class, 22 and not to exceed 28 pounds.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Docked tail and any artificial means used to deceive the judge.
1914 BOSTON TERRIER STANDARD
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The general appearance of the Boston terrier should be that of a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short headed, compactly built, short tailed, well balanced dog of medium station, of brindle color and evenly marked with white.
The head should indicate a high degree of intelligence and should be in proportion to the size of the dog; the body rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and neatly turned; tail short and no feature being so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog should convey an impression of determination, strength and activity, with style of a high order; carriage easy and graceful.
A proportionate combination of "Color" and "Ideal Markings" is a particularly distinctive feature of a representative specimen, and dogs with a preponderance of white on body, or without the proper proportion of brindle and white on head, should possess sufficient merit otherwise to counteract their deficiencies in these respects.
The ideal "Boston Terrier Expression" as indicating "a high degree of intelligence," is also an important characteristic of the breed.
"Color and Markings" and "Expression" should be given particular consideration in determining the relative value of "General Appearance" to other points.
SKULL: Square, flat on top, free from wrinkles; cheeks flat; brow abrupt, stop well defined.
EYES: Wide apart, large and round, dark in color, expression alert, but kind and intelligent; the eyes should set square across brow and the outside corners should be on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front.
MUZZLE: Short, square, wide and deep; free from wrinkles; shorter in length than in width and depth, and in proportion to skull; width and depth carried out well to end. Nose black and wide, with well defined line between nostrils. The jaws broad and square, with short regular teeth. The chops of good depth, but not pendulous, completely covering the teeth when mouth is closed. The muzzle should not exceed in approximate length one-third of length of skull.
EARS: Small and thin, situated as near corners of skull as possible.
HEAD FAULTS: Skull "domed" or inclined; furrowed by a medial line; skull too long for breadth, or vice versa; stop too shallow; brow and skull too slanting. Eyes small or sunken; too prominent; light color; showing too much white or haw. Muzzle wedge shaped or lacking depth; down faced; too much cut out below the eyes; pinched nostrils; protruding teeth; weak lower jaw; showing "turn up." Poorly carried ears or out of proportion.
NECK: Of fair length, slightly arched and carrying the head gracefully; setting neatly into shoulders.
NECK FAULTS: Ewe-necked; throatiness; short and thick.
BODY: Deep with good width of chest; shoulders sloping; back short; ribs deep and well sprung, carried well back of loins; loins short and muscular; rump curving slightly to set-on of tail. Flank slightly cut up. The body should appear short, but not chunky.
BODY FAULTS: Flat sides; narrow chest; long or slack loins; roach back; sway back; too much cut up in flank.
ELBOWS: Standing neither in nor out.
FORELEGS: Set moderately wide apart and on a line with the points of the shoulders; straight in bone and well muscled; pasterns short and strong.
HINDLEGS: Set true; bent at stifles; short from hocks to feet; hocks turning neither in nor out; thighs strong and well muscled.
FEET: Round, small and compact, and turned neither in nor out; toes well arched.
LEG AND FEET FAULTS: Loose shoulders or elbows; hind legs too straight at stifles; hocks too prominent; long or weak pasterns; splay feet.
TAIL: Set-on low; short, fine and tapering; straight or screw; devoid of fringe or coarse hair, and not carried above horizontal.
TAIL FAULTS: A long or gaily carried tail; extremely gnarled or curled against body.
(Note: The preferred tail should not exceed in length approximately half the distance from set-on to hock.)
COLOR: Brindle with white markings.
IDEAL MARKINGS: White muzzle, even white blaze over head, collar, breast, part or whole of forelegs and hindlegs below hocks.
COLOR AND MARKINGS FAULTS: All white; absence of white markings; preponderance of white on body; without the proper proportion of brindle and white on head; or any variations detracting from the general appearance.
COAT FAULTS: Long or coarse; lacking lustre.
WEIGHTS: Not exceeding 27 pounds, divided as follows:
Lightweight: Under 17 pounds.
Middleweight: 17 and not exceeding 22 pounds.
Heavyweight: 22 and not exceeding 27 pounds.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Solid black, black and tan, liver and mouse colors. Docked tail and any artificial means used to deceive the judge.
CURRENT BOSTON TERRIER STANDARD
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 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 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 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 and incomparable companion.
***AS SET FORTH BY THE BOSTON TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA.