Boston Terrier

Coat and looks how to spot one

short and smooth

The coat is short, fine and glossy, lying close over a compact, square-built body. The head is short and square with large, round, widely set eyes and upright ears, and the whole dog gives an impression of neat balance with a sporty, well-dressed look thanks to its crisp white markings.347

Personality what they are like

A cheerful, lively little dog with a polite streak that earned it the nickname 'American Gentleman'. Bostons are sociable and playful, usually get along with other pets and tend to be patient with children. They are clever and alert but not known as big barkers, generally only speaking up when there is a reason to.7524

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moderate. Hill's suggests about 20-40 minutes of activity a day and The Royal Kennel Club up to an hour. Several short walks and games of fetch suit the breed better than long, strenuous outings.56

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low maintenance. A weekly brush or rub-down with a grooming mitt keeps the short coat shiny, with an occasional bath. The coat does shed. Regular nail trims and tooth brushing are part of normal care.65

Home where they are happiest

Adapts well to flats and apartments; a small to medium garden is plenty. With its short coat and short face, a Boston is best kept as an indoor companion and exercised in the cooler parts of hot days.62

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A complete, good-quality dog food portioned for a small breed and its activity level. Some Bostons are fussy eaters, so once a food that suits the dog is found, sticking with it keeps feeding simple.5

Company who they like around

A people-focused companion that enjoys being part of family life and generally mixes well with other pets and with children.53

The story where it all began

The breed traces back to around 1870, when Robert C. Hooper of Boston bought a bull-and-terrier type dog called Judge from William O'Brien. Judge, who weighed about 32 lb, was mated to Gyp (also recorded as Kate), a blocky-headed bulldog-type female of about 20 lb owned by Edward Burnett of Southboro, Massachusetts, and the AKC regards Hooper's Judge as the forefather of nearly all modern Boston Terriers. Early dogs, sometimes called Old Boston Bulldogs, could weigh up to 44 lb, and breeders gradually brought the size down. The UKC notes that bull-and-terrier types, bulldogs and French Bulldogs are among the breeds thought to have played a part. Fanciers founded the Boston Terrier Club in 1891, and the AKC accepted the breed in 1893, making it one of the few breeds developed in the United States. Colour and markings mattered little at first, but by the 20th century the distinctive 'tuxedo' pattern had become an essential part of the standard. The UKC recognised the breed in 1914, and the FCI gave it definitive acceptance in 1955.241

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 140, Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 11 (Small Molossian type dogs); definitive acceptance 29 Jan 1955; current standard published 28 Jan 20131

AKC

Non-Sporting Group; recognised 1893, two years after the Boston Terrier Club was founded in 18912

UKC

Companion Dog Group; recognised 19144

The Royal Kennel Club

Utility Group6

Popularity No. 23 in AKC registrations for 2025 (a position it has held since 2023)11