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A Look at the Standard
Introduction
The Boston Terrier Standard was revised on February 28, 1990 to
clarify and adapt the language so that everyone -- novices, exhibitors,
breeders, judges, and potential judges -- would understand it. There are many
definitions for the words "standard", but when referring to the Boston Terrier
Standard, this one is preferred: "A degree or level of requirement, excellence
or attainment." When you read the breed Standard, the words paint a picture of
excellence. In any breed Standard, there is very little leeway for
interpretation. There is only one version. Not ours, not yours, but the right
one.
The Boston Terrier Standard is divided into 12 sections. Each is an
important part of the breed. Without excellence in all these parts, no Boston
Terrier can be an outstanding specimen of the breed, no matter how many ribbons
it wins.
Twelve Sections of the Boston Terrier Standard
APPEARANCE: describes a number of points. It gives us an outline of
the dog, shows us the character of the breed and artistically requires that the
dog not only be in balance, but must be well proportioned. It gives a synopsis
of the breed and tells us without actually using these words, that the perfect
Boston is a bright, sound, elegant, beautifully moving, typey dog, with
prescribed color and markings.
General appearance is especially affected by all parts of the dog.
For example, if the dog is faulted in hindquarters, it can not move with
determination and an easy and graceful carriage. Neither can a dog with too much
white showing in his eyes look intelligent.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE: The most important point about the
weight classification is that each size be in proportion in bone and muscle.
That does not mean that because a dog is 20 lbs, it should be coarse and bully.
Conversely, an under 15 pound dog must also be in proportion to its size. As
owners or breeders, we can have a size preference in the dogs we own or breed;
judges cannot. However, this section does state that the length of leg must
balance with the length in body to give the dog its striking "square"
appearance. You will see that when other parts of the dog's conformation are
correct, it will also help to make the dog appear square.
The influence of sex is really self-explanatory. It should not be
interpreted to mean that a slight refinement in the bitch's conformation allows
the muzzle to be snipy or the body long.
HEAD: It is difficult to imagine a square head on a dog, but when
the skull is square, it will be determined by the set of the ears and eyes. The
ears should be as close to the corners of the skull as possible, with the
outside corners of the eyes in line with the cheeks. The eye placement and the
muzzle should both form the lower square of the head. One would believe that the
correct Boston Terrier expression comes from the eyes. This is only partially
true. It also comes from his upright ears and that exceptional bearing that the
Boston has that says "I'm something special!" The eyes should be round and large
with a very minimum of white showing. The eyes should be as dark as the coat
color, otherwise they will appear even lighter by contrast.
Not only should the ears be set properly at the corners of the
skull, they must be in proportion to the size of the skull and the muscles that
hold the ear erect must be strong so that the ears are held as tightly as
possible. Ears like this make the dog appear alert and of course help square the
head. Ears that are set badly, are too large or too small, or without good
muscles are still apparent to the experienced eye, even if they are cropped.
While the muzzle should be short, square, wide and deep, it cannot
be correct unless the jaw is broad with an even or slightly undershot bite.
THE NECK, TOPLINE AND BODY should blend smoothly together, with the
length of the neck in balance with the body so that the head is carried
gracefully.
The chest should be deep, and as a rule, in line with the elbows.
Aside from aesthetics, the main reason for requiring a level back is that the
power generated in the hindquarters is delivered forward by thrust, through the
spinal column to the forequarters. A straight column of bones delivers thrust to
a better advantage than one that is curved.
When the ribs are carried well back, the loins will be short. If
you think of the loins as a bridge between the front and rear of the dog, you
can understand that a short bridge will be stronger than a long one. It will
also help to square the body.
The rump curves slightly to a low tail set. A too-flat rump usually
gives a dog a higher tail set and consequently, straighter stifles.
THE FOREQUARTERS or front assembly, help to give the Boston Terrier
its stylish movement. The shoulders are sloping and well laid back. This kind of
shoulder requires an angle of 90 degrees, which gives the dog the proper reach
in front. When the shoulders are well laid back, the neck will be the proper
length. A dog with straight shoulders will also have a neck that is too short,
with a shorter reach of the front legs. When the front legs are suspended, they
will drop perfectly straight without toeing in or out. While we do not call the
feet "cat's feet", they are cat-like; small round, and compact.
THE HINDQUARTERS provide the power that is needed to give a dog the
drive or push to propel the front. The stifle must be well angulated, with a
long upper and lower thigh and the hocks should be well let down, or short in
comparison, to give the dog endurance. When the hindquarters have the correct
length of bone and angulation, they will be well muscled.
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." The key words in this description
are "grace and power". From this, one can see that the Boston Terrier was not
meant to move with dysplastic hindquarters or like a wind up toy. If he does not
move correctly, he cannot convey an "impression of determination, strength, and
activity, with style of a high order, carriage easy and graceful.
COAT texture is often determined by the color of the coat. Brindle
coats are usually finer than darker colors. Fortunately, even though some coats
are not as fine as others, the quality of the coat is usually determined by the
condition of the dog.
COLOR AND MARKINGS are very important. They make a Boston look like
a Boston. Desired markings are icing on the cake. It gives that extra bit of
flashiness that sometimes is needed, However, it will not compensate for other
things that they may be lacking.
THE TEMPERAMENT of the Boston Terrier is a most important
requirement of the breed and one we must take care not to lose. Without their
friendly disposition and intelligence, they wouldn't be Boston Terriers.
THE SUMMARY is an abridged version of the Standard..."The Boston
Terrier in a Nutshell".
THE SCALE OF POINTS is a guide that can be used to determine the
relative importance of parts of the whole dog. If it is used to critique a dog,
remember that if the value of one area is lowered, it often affects another.
There is also one area that has not been assigned a point value, without which a
Boston would be without value and that is excellent temperament. Let us not
forget it.
Boston Terrier breeder Joseph Balmer said it beautifully for us,
many years ago... WE ARE THE HEIRS OF THE PAST AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE FUTURE.
The standard helps us to safeguard and improve the breed; it is our
responsibility to protect the Standard.
The 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 a 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 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.
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 are wide apart, large and round
and dark in color. 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
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 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.
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 lions. 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.
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
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.
GAIT
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
SCALE OF POINTS
General Appearance
10
Expression
10
Head (muzzle jaw bite skull stop)
15
Eyes
5
Ears
5
Neck, Topline, Body, Tail
15
Forequarters
10
Feet
5
Color, Coat, Markings
5
Gait
10
Total
100
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue.
Dudley nose.
Docked tail.
Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal without required
markings.
Gray or liver colors.
For more information on the breed standards check these two
http://www.akc.org/breeds/boston_terrier/index.cfm and
http://www.bostonterrierclubofamerica.org/Boston_Terrier_Breed_Standard.html
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