Boston Terrier dog breed

If you have a puppy, they should be fed three to four times a day, but as they get older decrease to two. Follow the guidelines on the packaging to work out how much food your dog needs a day. You can include dog treats in your dog’s diet, but make sure you don’t go overboard. Too many treats will cause your dog to become overweight – so resist those puppy eyes.

Boston Terriers have a short smooth coat that requires weekly grooming. You might think this means that they don’t need bathing often, but that’s not always the case. How often you bathe your dog will depend on how quickly they get dirty or smelly. If your dog starts to smell or itch, then it’s time for a bath. You can either bath your dog at home or take them to a professional dog groomer.

Generally, Boston Terriers need under an hour’s exercise a day. This can be split into two walks. They’re a lively breed that loves to run around off lead, just make sure your dog is in a safe area before letting them off.

Your dog will love to play games and should always have toys within reach. If they don’t have a toy, they are likely to chew on something else. They don’t mind if it’s a shoe or a table leg. They have strong jaws, so chew ropes and hard rubber toys suit them best.

Boston Terriers are intelligent, but they also have a stubborn personality. This can make training tricky. You’ll need to be patient with your dog and remember that repetition is key. Training classes are a great place to pick up tips for successful training and they give your dog the chance to socialise with other dogs.

House training is easier with a puppy than an adult dog. The sooner you start puppy toilet training, the quicker they will learn. To toilet train your dog, you’ll need to give your dog lots of chances to go to the toilet outside. Reward your dog when they successfully do their business outside.

This term refers to any difficulties in giving birth  - the cause could be fetal, maternal or a combination.

There is a large mismatch between the size of the pup and the birth canal of the mother, so a vet will need to assist with the delivery of the puppies – 92% of Boston Terrier pregnancies need to be caesarean.  

If your dog has a cataract, you’ll notice a cloudiness of their eye. The clouded lens causes vision loss and can affect one or both eyes. Your vet will carry out tests to determine the stage of development and what form of cataract it is. Surgery may be recommended to prevent complete blindness.

Luxating patella refers to the incorrect alignment of the kneecap. Where a normal kneecap slides into a groove, a luxating patella will jump out of the groove, causing pain and locking the leg in place. The affected dog will hop on one of the back legs, holding the affected leg up. If your dog has a luxating patella it will need surgery to realign the kneecap. This involves making the groove deeper so that the kneecap slides in easily. An untreated dog can become lame and will be in pain.

Cleft palate is an inherited condition, and most common in purebred puppies. It’s most seen in brachycephalic breeds – like bulldogs and Boston Terriers.

The palate is the roof of your dog’s mouth, and a cleft palate is an opening in the middle of the palate.

A cleft palate can usually be detected by looking at the puppy. Affected puppies may struggle with:

• Suckling and swallowing 
• Poor growth
• Facial deformity 
• Aspiration pneumonia

Most cases require surgical correction. 

There are health issues linked to short-nosed dogs and small dog breeds, and the Boston Terrier is no exception. They are considered generally healthy but there are some health problems that you should be aware of, like luxating patella and dystocia.

It’s difficult to know exactly how big your Boston Terrier will get, but they generally grow to be around 38 – 43 cm tall and should weigh 4.5 – 11.5 kg. They’ll reach their full height by the time they are 14 months. Their weight will depend on their diet and exercise. Make sure you weigh their food to stop them from being over or underweight.

Boston Terriers have a lifespan of 13 – 15 years. Your dog will have the best chance of meeting this life expectancy if they receive the correct health care. Diet, exercise, health check-ups and grooming all play an important part in your dog’s health.