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Boston Terrier
photo by: Elf
FCI-Standard N° 140 / 20.04.1998
/ GB
ORIGIN : U.S.A.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD
: 02.02.1995.
UTILIZATION : Companion.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group
9 Companion and Toy Dogs.
Section 11 Small Molossian Dogs.
Without working trial.
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, Colour and White Markings
» should be given particular consideration
in determining the relative value of general appearance
to other points.
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.
In a comparison of specimens of each sex, the only
evident difference is a slight refinement in the
bitch’s conformation.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : 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.
BEHAVIOUR / 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.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Square, flat on top, free from wrinkles;
brow abrupt.
Stop : Well defined.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black and wide, with a well defined line
between the nostrils.
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.
Lips : The chops are of good depth, but not pendulous,
completely covering the teeth when the mouth is
closed.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws broad and square with short, regular
teeth. The bite is even or sufficiently undershot
to square the muzzle.
Cheeks : Flat.
Eyes : Wide apart, large, 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.
Expression : Alert and kind, indicating a high degree
of intelligence. This is a most important characteristic
of the breed.
Ears : 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.
NECK : The length of the 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.
BODY : The body should appear
short.
Top line : Level.
Back : Just short enough to square the body.
Croup : Curves slightly to the set-on of the tail.
Chest : Deep with good width; ribs well sprung and
carried well back to the loins.
TAIL : 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).
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs set
moderately wide apart and on a line with the upper
tip of the shoulder-blades; straight in bone.
Shoulders : Sloping and well laid back, which allows
for the Boston Terrier’s stylish movement.
Elbows : Stand neither in nor out.
Pasterns : Short, strong. The dewclaws may be removed.
Forefeet : Small, round and compact, turned neither
in nor out, with well arched toes and short nails.
HINDQUARTERS :
Thighs : Strong, well muscled, and set true.
Stifles : Well bent.
Hocks : Short to the feet, turning neither in nor
out, with a well defined hock joint.
Hind feet : Small and compact with short nails.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : 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.
COAT
HAIR : Short, smooth, bright
and fine in texture.
COLOR : 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).
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.
WEIGHT :
Weight is divided by classes as follows :
• under 15 pounds (6,8 kg),
• 15 pounds and under 20 pounds (6,8 to 9
kg),
• 20 pounds and not to exceed 25 pounds (9
to 11,35 kg).
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
Hindquarters 10
Feet 5
Colour, Coat & Markings 5
Gait 10
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TOTAL 100
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points
should be considered a fault and the seriousness
with which the fault should be regarded should be
in exact proportion to its degree.
• Blocky or chunky in appearance.
• Pinched or wide nostrils.
• Eyes showing too much white or haw.
• Size of ears out of proportion to size of
head.
• Gaily carried tail.
• Legs lacking in substance.
• Straight in stifle.
• Splay feet.
• Gait rolling, paddling or weaving; hackney
gait.
SERIOUS FAULTS :
• Wry mouth.
• Any showing of the tongue or teeth when
the mouth is closed.
• Roach back or sway back.
• Ribcage slab-sided.
• Gait : Any crossing movement, either front
or rear.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
• Aggresive or overly shy.
• Dudley nose.
• Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue.
• Docked tail.
• Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal
without required white markings.
• Grey or liver colors.
Any dog clearly showing physical
or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should
have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.
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