Boston Terriers:
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BOY OR GIRL? Both male and female Bostons are equally pleasant, charming and intelligent. Both sexes tend to get along well with other dogs and animals in the household however, like many breeds, opposite sexes tend to coexist more peacefully. There is no scientific evidence that supports the characteristics of males versus females. The decision about the gender of a Boston is essentially a matter of personal preference. COAT Bostons are easy keepers when it comes to the grooming department! They have a slick, short coat that is easily maintained. Bostons do shed, but the short hairs are not exceptionally noticeable nor does the coat collect burrs or dirt easily. A quick rubdown with a damp cloth is all it takes to clean up the Bostons of BelleIsle after a boggy hike. The only major drawback is that Bostons get cold easily (one of the reasons they must be kept as house pets). They are reluctant to go outdoors in harsh Newfoundland winter conditions and will need doggy outerwear for winter adventures. As well, house training is definitely more of a challenge during the winter months because of their reluctance to venture outside in cold conditions. FENCING Boston Terriers require good fences! Adventurous and outgoing, they have a tendency to wander. These dogs get along well with everyone - unfortunately even strangers. This is not always a good thing, as Bostons will happily go off with just about anyone. You must therefore ensure that you have a safe and secured area for your Boston to play in and always keep a watchful eye, so that he does not wander off alone. Bostons are also small, agile and very smart! This means that they can easily slip out of substandard fencing. Many can even climb a uncovered 6’ fence. Please keep in mind that a fenced yard is crucial to your Boston’s safety! NUTRITION Bostons do well on balanced, homemade diets. We use beef (organs included), chicken, rabbit, moose, vegetables/tripe, organic yoghurt and raw meaty bones to their diet. I feel that fresh foods provide many benefits that commercial foods cannot. There are some very healthy dogs fed a raw meat and bones diet. An occasional Boston with have diet allergies and will require home cooking or a similar special diet. If you plan on taking a holistic approach to feeding your dog, you will be responsible for the research and work involved in providing your dog with complete and balanced nutrition. Boston terriers have delicate digestive systems and are very prone to flatulence! They do best on a natural diet. Although more expensive, it is worth it! Be very careful when purchasing food. Many diets, even high priced versions, will boast "natural" or "hypo allergenic" ingredients, but careful scrutiny of the bags' contents will disclose cheaper and poor quality ingredients. Read the label! Please contact me for additional information on quality diets that are recommended for Bostons. BREATHING AND SNORING Boston Terriers are a brachycephalic breed, like bulldogs, shih tzus and pugs. They have wide, round heads with very short muzzles, causing small nostrils, long palates and narrow trachea. As a result, Bostons snore and can be a very noisy breed. Some people find it annoying, while others find it endearing or comical. For the same reason, Bostons are also prone to something called a reverse-sneeze. While it sounds like an asthma attack, it is merely the dog sucking air back through it’s nose. More seriously, Bostons with extremely short muzzles can have difficulty breathing and may be prone to wheezing. They may also be at greater risk during anesthetic procedures and intolerant to very warm temperatures. BOSTONS AND OTHER PETS Bostons are very social and adore company of any species! The Bostons of BelleIsle live with a Doberman, a German Shorthaired Pointer, our 3 cats and Clarence, a dwarf rabbit. They love to play and snuggle with one another. All coexist peacefully as it is clear to each of my dogs that I am the leader and will not tolerate aggression towards each other. Bostons fail to realize how small they are and often will not back down when challenged or warned by another dog. This, as well as possessiveness over toys, can lead to confrontation. It is therefore critical that Boston owners take the time to set clear rules and boundaries in their homes and always supervise interactions with other dogs especially during introductions. Bostons are fascinated by cats. Although they may befriend a cat, if the cat runs, Bostons may chase them due to their high prey drive. Please keep in mind that Bostons that chase cats are at risk of eye injuries from scratch wounds that can be very serious. |
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TRAINING
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BOSTON HEALTH The Boston Terrier is a relatively healthy breed however, like all breeds, they are predisposed to particular health problems. Some of these are known to be hereditary while others are consequences of their anatomy. Choose your Boston carefully, ensuring that both parents have had health clearances to reduce the risk of having a puppy with health issues and educate yourself for problems that may occur down the road. EYES One of the most charming features of a Boston Terrier is it’s big, puppy-dog eyes. Due to their size, they can be very prone to injury. Bostons can also get corneal abrasions and ulcers that may be slow to heal or require surgery. Cat scratches can easily puncture the cornea and introduce bacteria into the eye. If left untreated vision or the entire eye may be lost! Bostons can also get juvenile cataracts, which is detectable by veterinary exam in puppies as young as 8 weeks old. It can lead to total blindness by two years of age. Other varieties of cataracts can appear later in a Boston’s life, either due to injury, diabetes or hereditary factors. Another common eye problem in Bostons is Cherry Eye, or a prolapse of the tear gland of the 3rd eyelid. This occurs when the tear gland in the middle corner of the eye slips out of it’s normal place, swells and turns red. The dog will look like there is a wad of red inflamed tissue sticking up from the inside corner of the eye. Cherry Eye is mainly cosmetic, but can potentially irritate the eye over time. There is no clear hereditary basis to the problem, although certain breeds like the Boston and the Cocker Spaniel seem predisposed. Surgery to replace and sew the tear gland back where it belongs can repair this condition. DIGESTIVE TRACT Bostons can be born with deformities of their mouths. Cleft Lip or Hair Lip is a defect where the lips have not properly fused in the uterus, leaving an obvious gap. This can be ignored or repaired with a simple surgery. More serious is the cleft palate. With cleft palate there is a hole or fissure in the roof of the mouth connecting the mouth and nasal cavities. Dogs with a cleft palate have trouble nursing as food and milk routinely enters their nose, causing sneezing and nasal discharge. These pups have to struggle to eat and are often undersized and weak. Cleft palate can be surgically repaired but with difficulty. There may be a hereditary component to both of these conditions, although many of these deformities in humans are due to mere congenital accidents, not genes. Excess vitamin A in the bitch’s diet may predispose puppies to these conditions. Many authorities feel that folic acid deficiency during pregnancy can cause cleft palates in dogs just as it causes Spina Bifida in humans. Bostons tend to have a delicate digestion especially when fed cheap, low quality dog foods. Consequently, I find they are really prone to gas, gagging and vomiting, especially if they get into strange food, the trash etc. Expect the occasional mess when you own a Boston, and don’t freak out at a little bit of spit-up. From time to time, a Boston’s digestive tract will respond to something unusual with diarrhea. Do not panic if you see this! A mild, brief case is often merely some irritant and is easily treated. If it persists, then you need to seek veterinary advice. ORTHOPEDICS The most common skeletal problem that Boston Terriers have is medially luxating patellas. This means that their kneecaps don’t stay in the proper place and tend to float towards the middle of the leg. In mild cases, affected dogs just show intermittent lameness in one or both rear legs. They may hold up a rear leg every now and then. In severe cases, the kneecaps are permanently displaced to the inside of the knee and never functions properly. Reconstructive surgery may be required in dogs with severe symptoms. REPRODUCTION If you are considering breeding your Boston, the first thing you should know is that they are often unable to deliver naturally and therefore require Caesareans. Bostons tend to have small litters of puppies with big blocky heads. It can be difficult to determine if your Boston is having difficulty with delivery. Some breeders just routinely schedule C-sections near the end of a bitch’s pregnancy rather than risk loosing any puppies from a prolonged delivery. We try to breed for individuals that “free-whelp” or have their puppies naturally. I would not recommend getting into breeding Bostons unless really experienced and prepared for the difficulties and expenses that may arise. |
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