Boston Terrier Day

Boston Terrier Day is coming up soon: it’s on February 19th! This lovable pooch, which is also the Massachusetts State Dog, is a very popular pup, and with good reason. A local vet discusses the breed below.

History

The Boston Terrier originated in 1875, with a pooch named Hooper’s Judge (or Judge, for short) who was of the bull and terrier breed. Judge was bred to Gyp, a white bulldog named who provided the blocky head that’s now characteristic of the breed. Though Boston Terriers were originally pit fighters, it didn’t take long for them to find their way into people’s homes and hearts. They are now the 21st most popular breed in the AKC registry. Speaking of the AKC, they added the Boston Terrier breed back in 1893, as the first US breed to officially be listed. Another fun fact about this smart pooch? He’s not actually a terrier, at least officially. Instead, they are in the non-sporting group.

Lifestyle

Boston Terriers are not just adorable: they are happy, friendly, lovable, and fiercely devoted. They are quite small, which makes them a great match for people who live in condos or apartments. They’re also pretty quiet, which is another reason they’re good for urbanites. Another great thing about these dogs? They are very trainable. Boston Terriers can be found in agility and strength contests, and sometimes work as therapy pups. They also excel at tracking and dock diving. And, as you may know, they’re the official mascot for Boston University, and also for Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.

Exercise

Fido does need regular activity to stay healthy. Take care not to overexert your furry friend! Because these pooches have such short noses, they get out of breath very easily. They also don’t do well with either extreme heat or extreme cold.

Grooming

One great thing about Boston Terriers is that they don’t need a whole lot of grooming. Just brush Fido once a week, and bathe him regularly. You’ll also need to keep up with his dental care and peticures.

Eyes

One of the Boston Terrier’s most prominent features are their big, expressive eyes. Those bug eyes are super cute! In fact, one of these pups, a dog named Bruschi, made the Guinness Book Of World Record for being the dog with the largest eyes. Boston Terriers sometimes get corneal ulcers and/or injuries from sand, dust, or other objects getting into their eyes. You’ll need to be careful to remove potential hazards, such as thorny plants, that are at Fido’s eye level. Contact us, your local animal clinic in Edison Park, FL!