- The Boston Terrier is a
lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short headed, compactly built,
short-tailed, well balanced dog, brindle, seal or black in colour 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 a
high order; carriage easy and graceful. A proportionate combination of "Colour
and White Markings" is a particularly distinctive feature of a representative
specimen.
"Balance,
Expression, Colour and White Markings" should be given particular consideration
in determining the relative value of
GENERAL
APPEARANCE to other points.
Proportions,
Substance: 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.
CHARACTERISTICS - 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.
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.
HEAD AND
SKULL - The skull is square, 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 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. 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 nose. Fault: Pinched or wide nostrils.
EYES - The
eyes are wide apart, large and round and dark in colour. 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 colour or any trace of
blue.
Fault: Eyes showing too much white or haw.
EARS - The
ears are small, carried erect, and situated as near to the corners of the skull
as possible.
Fault: Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head.
MOUTH - 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 Faults: Wry mouth; any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth
is closed.
NECK - 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.
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.
Fault: Legs lacking in substance.
BODY - 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.
Serious Faults: Roach back, sway back, slab-sided.
HINDQUARTERS
- The thighs are strong and well muscled, bent in the stifles and set true. The
hocks are short to the feet, turning neither in nor out, with a well defined
hock joint.
Fault: Straight in stifle.
FEET - Front
feet are small, round and compact, turned neither in nor out, with well arched
toes and short nails.
Hind feet are small and compact with short nails.
Fault: Splay feet.
TAIL - 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. Fault: Gaily carried tail.
GAIT/MOVEMENT - The gait of the Boston Terrier is that of a sure
footed, straight gaited dog, forelegs and hindlegs moving straight ahead in line
with perfect rhythm, each step indicating grace and power.
Faults: There
will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving when gaited. Hackney gait.
Serious
Faults: Any crossing movement, either front or rear.
COAT - The
coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.
COLOUR -
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 the sun or bright light.)
Disqualify: Solid
black, solid brindle or solid seal without required white markings. Grey or
liver colours.
Required Markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between the
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 forelegs and hindlegs below the hocks. (Note: A representative
specimen should not be penalised 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.
SIZE -
Weight is divided by classes as follows:
Under 6.8 kg (15 lbs);
6.8 kg
(15 lbs) and under 9.1 kg (20 lbs)
9.1 kg (20 lbs) and not to exceed 11.4 kg
(25 lbs).
FAULTS
Disqualifying:
Eyes blue in colour or any trace of blue.
Dudley
nose.
Docked tail.
Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal without
required markings.
Grey or liver colours.
Serious Faults:
Any
showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth is closed.
Wry mouth.
Roach back, sway back, slab-sided.
Any crossing movement, either front
or rear.
Faults:
Eyes showing too much white or haw.
Pinched or wide
nostrils.
Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head.
Legs
lacking in substance; splay feet.
Straight in stifle.
Gaily carried
tail.
There will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving when gaited.
Hackney
gait.
Scale of Points
(For Interest Only):
General Appearance 10
Expression 10
Head
(Muzzle, Jaw, Bite, Skull & Stop) 15
Eyes 5
Ears 5
Neck,
topline, Body & Tail 15
Forequarters 10
Hindquarters 10
Feet 5
Colour, Coat & Markings 5
Gait 10
Total 100