About Boston Terriers
We, meaning "Boston Terriers, us guys, or Little Gentlemen," have our own unique mannerisms and characteristic ways. Since many of these characteristics are positively lovable, we feel we make wonderful pets and companions.
First of all (and I'm speaking in generalities, here) the Boston Terrier is inclined to be obedient, which is the most important requirement for ANY dog if he or she is to be a joy to his owner. To teach us what is expected of us is only a matter of time and patience, and, once we've learned, we will never forget. We are so receptive to affection and attention that it takes very little time for us to learn our manners.
Secondly, but equally important, are our clean habits. Our smooth, short coat is practically free from "doggy" odors. We are very particular about bedding, eating, and personal habits, which make us the ideal pet for a house or small apartment.
Another one of our fine qualities is our quiet manner; for the most part, we are not "yappers." We do not stand and bark, just for the sake of barking, but we WILL give the household warning if someone comes to the door. Still, we seem to have a wonderful understanding of people who are supposed to come to the house, such as friends or regular callers, and we will greet these people as if it were our duty. We don't recommend just anyone trying to walk into the house if they are not known to us, because we consider ourselves terrific watchdogs, and are not hesitant to take a nip out of persons believed by us to be intruders. We feel this is an admirable trait of ANY house pet.
We are a constant joy to our owners, because our antics and playfulness remain constant, even into advanced years. Another thing, here.....two Bostons are almost always better than one! We love to play, eat, and sleep together, and like nothing better than a good tug-a-war game. This activity can be traced back to our ancestors, the English Bulldog and the white English Terrier . We love to take toys and other objects, such as a sock, in our mouth, and shake it, exactly like we would if it were a rat. We have the tenacity of the Bulldog, when it comes to holding on to something! We also have the loyalty and calmness of the Bulldog, and love to be at the side of our owner, no matter what. We are great travelers, and love riding in the car! We do not like to be left alone....particularly in a hot car, during the summertime, and are prone to heat stroke, if left in a such a situation.
There are many wonderful websites available on the Boston Terrier. I hope you will take the time to research our breed carefully, and make sure we are the right dog for you and the lifestyle you lead (personally, we think we're the right dog for everybody, but that's just our opinion!).
Here are some great Boston Terrier websites for browsing:
1) http://www.bostonterrier.org/
2) http://www.bostonrescue.com
3) http://www.bostons.com
Tuffy's Tale
I'm the "old guy" of the bunch. Mom purchased me for $350.00 from an older couple who had never bred their Boston female before, and had no idea of the responsibility, let alone the work, of raising and weaning a litter of puppies. I was the last of a litter of three. One of my littermates, a little female, was born with a cleft-palate, and was euthenized at birth. Since the other female was spoken for, I was Mom's only choice. I was weaned way too early....at 5 weeks of age. The couple had removed me from my other mother, and had me on puppy chow, mixed with regular whole milk, a diet that was causing me to have extreme diarrhea. After getting me home, Mom put me on a regular milk formula obtained from a pet supply company, specifically targeted for weaning pups and other young animals. To this day, I still take a stuffed animal to bed with me and suck on it, just as I would if I were nursing. (If you tell anyone, though, I'll deny it.) Puppies of any breed should never be weaned before 6-8 weeks of age.
I'm growing older, and I'm now completely deaf. However, I know several hand signals, since I worked on these with Mom when I began to show signs of losing my hearing. I recognize sit, stay, lie down, and come. I know when food is being served because my nose still works just fine. I sometimes feel a little disoriented, and I'm not always exactly sure where I am....that happens sometimes with us old guys. I can't seem to remember where the doggie door is now and then, and Mom has to go out and let me see her, so I'll know it's time to come in. I've gained weight, so I'm eating low-fat dry dog food.I had extremely dry, flaky skin, was constantly itching and scratching, and was on steroids until a wonderful veterinarian, Dr. Ginna Woolverton (see Rescue Hope website) recommended Mom put me on sardines with soybean oil.
Mom gives us all one (1) sardine a day starting about three weeks ago, and we're as sleek and shiny as baby seals.....and there is no more itching and scratching! I may be going into old age, but I'm doing it with grace, dignity, and acceptance. I'm still playful and active, and I take one day at a time.
Most important of all, I am loved.
Bear's Tale
Bear was 3 months old when I first met him. He was the last of a litter of five Bostons.....and the biggest. Nobody wanted him. The rest of the litter were sold four weeks earlier, and he was left to fend for himself in a houseful of screaming, yelling kids, running through the house and throwing shoes and toys at him. When Mom entered the house where he had been advertised for sale, he was cringing in a corner of the living room, against the owners' couch, looking for all the world like a lost, lonely sailor on a sinking ship. After visiting with his owners a short time, she sat down in the middle of the living room floor, and quietly called him over to her. Acting tentative and frightened, he slowly and carefully half walked - half crawled over to where Mom was sitting. Gently, she placed her hand under his chin, and spoke calmly to him, letting him sniff her hand and arm. After looking up into her eyes, and carefully assessing the alternative of whether to stay back in the corner, away from the noisy kids, or crawling into a warm, snuggly lap, he climbed into her lap, laid his head on her leg, and, in no uncertain terms, said "Please take me home with you."
Today, Bear is 10 years old, and is still very playful, active, and happy. He loves to chase Frisbees, tennis balls, and beachballs, and likes nothing more than a good game of "fetch." He is a "kid's dog" and lives for when kids come to the house and play with him. He would rather play than eat. He is the largest of the four of us, weighing 24 lbs. (25 lbs. is the maximum weight for a Boston Terrier).
He is my buddy....and he is loved.
Mickey's Tale
Mickey....otherwise known in upper social classes as "Romancey's Magic Mickey Mouse" is the "brat" of the bunch! Mickey is now 8 years old. He's lucky he's survived this long.....such an ornery little bugger! Mickey was the runt of a litter of 4 Boston Terriers. He was, and is, what is called "show quality." His grandfather was a champion, and his pedigree is a mile long.....maybe that's why he's a bit of a "snob," as we would say. He was not socialized with people, during his puppyhood, and was not held, petted, or played with much at all. Mom purchased him for only $250.00, which is comparatively cheap in the world of pedigree Bostons ($350-$500.00 is usually the going rate for a registered pup).
Mickey has epilepsy, a condition which is genetic, and which was inherited from his other mother (Mom was not informed of this at the time of purchase, needless to say). Mickey was in a breeding program for two (2) years, until Mom became aware of his epilepsy, and made the decision to neuter him, so as not to pass this on to future generations of pups. His epilepsy is controlled with daily medication, and he has not had a seizure for almost five (5) years. He is active, playful, and gets along well with the rest of us.....although he usually remains somewhat distant with outsiders and children. Mickey had the misfortune of losing his left eye, this summer, due to an attack by a feral tomcat. Mom nursed the eye for several weeks, but finally had to make the difficult decision to have it removed due to inflammation and infection. He hasn't missed it at all, and has compensated for the loss in the one eye by increased hearing and better eyesight in his right eye. He's the "cuddle/lapdog" and sleeps under the covers with Mom at night. I'd resent that, but he's the only Boston in the bunch that doesn't SNORE!
He is my buddy anyway.....and he is loved.
Sammy's Tale
Sammy.....our Sammy. God blessed Mom when he brought this dog into her life. He is, most likely, now about 11 or 12 years old, and is what Mom calls her "old southern judge couch potato." Sammy, being a "rescue dog," is special to her in that he has no history, previous to her finding him and bringing him home. The short history she's been able to ascertain about him is that he was used as a "money-maker" for a young couple with twin babies, who never played or interacted with him, kept him in a small outdoor pen, both winter and summer, and made lots of money on the puppies he sired (they also had a female Boston Terrier, who was also later "rescued") Sammy was a "discard" from this couple's marriage breakup. He was left to wander the streets, eat garbage and waste from dumpsters and trash cans, and was flea-infested, filthy, and grease-covered, when Mom found him. We've had him with us for almost six years.....and he still does not, and will not, play. He lives to be hugged, petted, and talked to....not to mention eat. He also SNORES! Sammy is beginning to show signs of the aging process, like me. He has cataracts, and is slowly losing his eyesight. Mom's wish is to somehow immortalize him (and the rest of us guys) by dedicating this website to us. We're her friends,companions, and comfort. Sammy's webpage can be found at RESCUE HOPE (pg 2) Sammy is my buddy....and he is loved.
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