|
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 a 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 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 Eyes
Wide apart, large and round and dark in color, 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
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 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, carrying the head
gracefully and setting neatly into the shoulders. 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. 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. Body Faults: Gaily carried
tail. Serious Body Faults: Roach back, sway back,
slab-sided.
Neck,
Topline and Body
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. 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. The tail is set on low, short, fine and tapering,
straight or screw and must not be carried above the
horizontal.
Disqualify: Docked tail. Body Faults: Gaily carried
tail. Serious Body Faults: Roach back, sway back,
slab-sided.
Note: The preferred tail does not exceed in length
more than one-quarter the distance from set-on to hock.
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, Gait
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.
Fault: Straight in stifle.
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 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. Gray or
liver colors.
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 hind legs below the hocks.
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 an
incomparable companion.
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.
Disqualifications
Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue;
Dudley nose;
Docked tail;
Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal without
required white markings;
Gray or liver colors.
Approved January 9, 1990
Effective February 28, 1990
Source: Akc.org
|
|