r/BostonTerrier Sep 26 '17

Education A Guide to Finding a Responsible Boston Terrier Breeder

60 Upvotes

u/ZZBC and I noticed a lot of folks on this sub looking for recommendations or suggestions of where to find a breeder for Bostons, so we thought it might be useful to make a post on the subject so folks can reference it when they come to this sub! This post will address finding responsible breeders specifically - if you are looking to adopt a dog, which is awesome, please check out your local breed-specific rescue!

Where do people go to look for good breeders?

The first stop for anyone looking for a Boston from a breeder should be the Boston Terrier Club of America (www.bostonterrierclubofamerica.org). You can also look for your regional breed club - an example of this is the Minuteman Boston Terrier Club, which covers New England. The BTCA has a referral service for breeders who are members of the club.

Why is it important for breeders to be members of their breed club? It shows that they are dedicated to the breed. It’s important to note, though, that while all responsible breeders are members of their breed club, not every member of a breed club is breeding responsibly. Because of this, it’s important that you have a conversation with the breeder about their goals for breeding and to do your due diligence. Trust, but verify - a dog is a long term commitment, and you deserve to have a pet that has the best chance at living a long, healthy life.

What kind of breeding is responsible?

There are a couple major points to look for when checking out Boston breeders (or any dog, really!). The first is to find out why the breeder is breeding dogs, and the second is to explore their breeding practices in depth.

Ideally, when you ask a breeder why they are breeding dogs, it should primarily be for conformation (dog shows), work, or sports. Since Bostons aren’t a working breed, you are looking for someone who is producing dogs with the aim of doing well in the show world, someone who is breeding to produce puppies that will grow up to excel in sports (agility, barn hunt, flyball, rally, and obedience are examples of sports you’ll find BTs competing in), or (ideally) someone who is doing both! The best way to verify this is if the breeder has other dogs that are titled in sports, conformation, or in both arenas. Sometimes, you run across breeders claiming things like “champion bloodlines” - be very wary of those people. That usually means that their dogs have one dog in their pedigree that has a title very, very far back, but they personally have never titled a dog in anything.

I just want a pet, not a show dog or a sports dog. Why should I be looking for breeders who participate in conformation or sports?

Sports and conformation dog shows are much, much more than just a “beauty contest” - judges at dog shows are looking at the dog’s structure, temperament, and fitness for breeding, and a championship conformation title means an impartial third party (not just the breeder or their friends or family) has judged that dog to be a structurally sound example of the breed. It is to make sure that the dog is not only a good dog, it is a good example of a Boston Terrier and has all of the traits that make the Boston Terrier the dog we know and love. Dog sports, on the other hand, prove that a dog is more than just physically sound - it demonstrates that 1.) the breeder wants to demonstrate that their Boston Terriers are versatile, and 2.) that their dogs are capable of successfully competing in dog sports beyond conformation. For a breed like Bostons that is traditionally known as a “pet” breed, this really shows that the breeder is dedicated to demonstrating the full range of abilities that this amazing breed has. That doesn’t mean that breeders who don’t compete in both sports and conformation are bad - dual sport/conformation BT breeders are fairly rare, and finding one is definitely icing on the cake!

Lastly, it’s important to avoid is folks breeding dogs for reasons like “I wanted my dog to experience being a mother”; “she has the sweetest personality”; “I wanted another dog just like [insert name of parents here]”. While those reasons definitely matter to the breeder, they are also short sighted and self centered because they aren’t breeding with the dog’s best interests in mind or with the aim of producing healthy, sound, consistent companions.

The Importance of Health Testing

This is probably the most important piece of looking for a BT breeder. Boston terriers are prone to a number of health issues, including eye problems, allergies, cardiac issues, luxating patella, and congenital deafness. For that reason, it is extremely important that you look for a breeder that has appropriate health certifications and that those certifications are registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (www.offa.org). A vet check or a promise from the breeder that their dogs are healthy is not a sufficient substitute for OFA exams. A dog may appear healthy and may not even show health issues itself, but this does not mean that it will not produce offspring with a genetic disorder such as juvenile cataracts. You want to make sure you’re bringing home a family member that have the best chance at having a long, happy, healthy life and health testing is the best way to do so.

At minimum, Bostons who are being bred need:

  • An OFA eye exam to check for eye problems that comes back clear. This used to be called a CERF exam.
  • An OFA cardiac exam to check for heart murmurs.
  • An OFA orthopedic exam to check for a condition called luxating patella, where the knee slips out of place. This is extremely common in small breed dogs like Bostons, so dogs being bred should have normal knees.
  • A BAER hearing test to make sure they have good hearing.
  • A genetic test for the gene for Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts (JHC), a disease which causes Bostons to go blind early in life due to cataracts. This can either be through a certified genetic testing service like Embark or Paw Print Genetics, or the breeder should be able to prove the dog is JHC clear through parentage (neither dog’s parents were carriers).

These tests cannot be completed before the dog is two years old, so you should not buy a dog from someone breeding animals younger than two. To verify the results of these tests, click here and type in the breeder’s kennel name. The results on all their dogs should ideally pop up and be reviewable.

Warning Signs of Irresponsible Breeders

In addition to knowing what a good breeder looks like, it’s important to be aware of things that might be a red flag and could mean the breeder is not responsible. A breeder is not inherently irresponsible if they are doing something on this list - however, if a breeder is doing something on this list, it’s important to ask more questions about it.

Breeding more than 1-2 types of dogs: most reputable breeders focus on 1-2 breeds. It’s challenging to do more than that and still title and health test their dogs, though, so a lot of folks who are breeding more than 1-2 different breeds are cutting corners in other places (such as not titling or health testing all their dogs).

Intentionally breeding dogs that are disqualified from conformation: the Boston Terrier breed standard states that Bostons should be either brindle and white, black and white, or seal (black with a red cast in direct sunlight) and white. While off-standard colors like lavender, red, brown, slate, etc. can sometimes occur by chance in a litter, the much more likely scenario is the breeder is breeding for them intentionally. Does the color matter for long term health? Nope! But it’s important to question why a breeder might be producing dogs that are ineligible to compete in dog shows. Oftentimes, breeders who are producing off-color dogs are doing so because those colors are popular with puppy buyers. Breeding for color instead of temperament, health, or structure is not responsible. Additionally, these breeders are usually not doing the appropriate health testing on their breeding dogs and registering the results with OFA or doing anything with their dogs besides breeding them (we've never seen a BT kennel intentionally producing colored dogs that compete in dog sports, for instance, or are certified therapy dogs).

Not allowing you to meet the puppies’ mother or see where the litter was kept: while it’s totally normal for the father of a litter not to be on-site, you should be able to meet the mother (dam) of the litter when you pick up or visit your puppy. If the breeder doesn’t have the mother on site, or if they insist on meeting you somewhere like a parking lot instead of at their home, you should question why that is and if there is something going on at their house that they don’t want you to see. Note: It is quite possible that the father may not be on the property for you to see. A responsible breeder will want to choose a male that best complements her female and that often means using a male from a different kennel.

Allowing puppies to be taken home before 8 weeks: 8 weeks is the absolute youngest a puppy should be separated from its litter - this is especially important for small dogs like Bostons, who may be extremely fragile prior to this age due to their size. A breeder that allows puppies to go home before 8 weeks is depriving the puppy of critical socialization time with their littermates, which can have negative effects on the dog’s behavior as they grow up.

Overbreeding dogs: female dogs should not be bred before they are two years old, and they should not be bred an excessive number of times. How many times is too many depends heavily on the specific dog, but generally if all the females owned by a breeder are consistently having multiple litters a year for several years, that is too many and can have adverse health effects for the females.

Overall, finding a good breeder can be challenging, and many not-so-good ones are unfortunately very good at “talking the talk” to make their dogs sound better. Looking for a breeder doing things responsibly is more challenging at the beginning and it may take longer to get a puppy, but the payoff is well worth it: a dog that is more likely to be healthy, well-tempered, and structurally sound, and a lifetime of support from your breeder and their community of puppy owners.

About the Contributors: u/drophie has a two year old female Boston Terrier that runs in agility and flyball - she has also dabbled in barnhunt. u/ZZBC has a three year old male Boston Terrier that participates in barnhunt.


r/BostonTerrier Dec 14 '13

Helping Boston's In Need (PLEASE READ!)

524 Upvotes

I just wanted to let everyone know that here at /r/bostonterrier we are more than happy to help boston's in need. Please feel free to post those boston's here and ask for donations if necessary. I find that a lot of times these posts are reported or flagged. Please know that while other subreddits may discourage it, we here at /r/bostonterrier are glad to help.

Thanks, and I will add this to the sidebar as well.


r/BostonTerrier 1h ago

Cuteness My boyfriend and I rescued this gem 3 weeks ago, his name is Boss, we did not name him but his very generic name fits him very well, he is 4 years old and he's the sweetest boy ever. He came into our lives very unexpectedly, we never thought we would have a Boston but my word we are happy we do. Let

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r/BostonTerrier 8h ago

RIP Lost my buddy

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553 Upvotes

A few weeks ago, a woman in the art class I was taking suggested a book, Theo of Golden. My friend in the class had also read it. The next week, she brought me her copy.

I started reading a little and immediately wanted more, but my work schedule made it difficult, so I got the audiobook. I listened every day.

Yesterday, I took the train into the city and was listening. It was the point in the story where Theo dies. It comes so quickly that, standing in the middle of Grand Central, I cried. My eyes filled up. Then I spotted my friend, the one who had also read the book, and asked her, “What the hell were you thinking telling me to read this?” And then I laughed, because it was so good, but so sad.

Later that day, my dog Ben had a seizure. It came without warning—one moment he was beside me, breathing softly, and the next his body stiffened and trembled in a way that felt unnatural and terrifying. His legs jerked, his eyes unfocused, and there was a helplessness in his small frame that made my chest tighten. I remember the sound of my own voice calling his name, too loud, too desperate, as if I could pull him back just by saying it. Time stretched and collapsed all at once. I felt panic, fear, and a deep, aching sorrow rising together, knowing something was terribly wrong. I had to make a very hard decision, very quickly, to have him put down.

And in that moment, he was that old man.

Because he gave me so many gifts. So many little portraits of myself reflected back through his eyes. And the hard truth was that our burden was over in this world.

The next morning, as sad as I was, I listened to the final few chapters of the book. And the funeral service for Theo was, in fact, the funeral service for my Ben. It was his service I was hearing through the audiobook. It was healing, sad, and fitting.

Though Ben was not an old man from Portugal, he was an old man who gave me a gift every day. He was an artist who often slipped into the silent middle of my life to remind me of the important things.

And right there on my couch, I laid my Theo and my Ben to rest.

The final chapters calmed me and reminded me that, in the end, it’s all okay.

Sadness can make us bitter or wise. We get to choose.

Theo of Golden


r/BostonTerrier 5h ago

Cuteness Clementine says Happy September!

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231 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 1h ago

Cuteness Lenny is 8 months old!!

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He’s got the energy of the crack head outside of 7/11 (positive) and everyone we meet on a walk tells us how handsome he is. Such a gem of a guy, he’s my best buddy.


r/BostonTerrier 3h ago

Advice/Question Caesar’s Mast Cell Tumor

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60 Upvotes

Caesar’s Mast Cell Tumor

Hi! My 5 year old Boston Terrier Caesar had a FNA done 2 days ago and sadly mast cells were present. He is actually in surgery right now for removal. The thing is… it’s in a weird spot. It’s at the entrance to his ear. The doctor is going to first remove it with as wide margins as he can then if the margins aren’t clear then he wants to talk about removing the ear.

Has anyone else had a MCT in a similar area? If so how was your experience? If you had the ear removed what was the recovery like?

\*\*\* I’m not seeking medical advice, just curious if anyone has had a similar experience. This has all been a lot.


r/BostonTerrier 2h ago

Cuteness Billie and Kona are out here enjoying the lake

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27 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 21h ago

Cuteness I think I’m delinquent on cheese tax. Must do better.

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315 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

RIP Our sweet Bella just passed from an aggressive spleen cancer. I wanted to share her with everyone and process our grief.

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1.1k Upvotes

It happened all within the last 2 weeks, she just stopped eating as much and then last week her energy severely declined, the vet found she was anemic and we couldn't find a source, we started some steroids in hopes to encourage her diet. She bounced back and was doing better for a few days, but then she ended up having nausea and vomiting Friday night and the next morning had trouble breathing. That day we took her back to the vet and she was found to have a large spleen mass. He said it was likely a splenic hemangiosarcoma and that it likely has already metastasized to other parts of her body. I was not ready when he recommending that we let her go.. It was one of the hardest decisions we have had to make. I just did not wake up that day realizing we were going to lose such an important part of our family.

It's so hard, I keep expecting to see her greet me at the door, bringing me toys to throw for her, and passing the most stinkiest gas. I watched her pass with my own eyes hut it still hasn't become reality yet. She was always such a sweet girl and loved to curl up on my lap, nestling her jaw on my cheek. She loves playing Fetch and running and jumping to catch the ball in her mouth. Shed the biggest loving smile and always seemed like she was enjoying life.

Give your Boston an extra big hug and a couple of treats. I thought making this post would maybe help me process her passing. Appreciate your time and allowing me to share her love.

Love you Bella. RIP.


r/BostonTerrier 20h ago

Cuteness Lil Macha

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173 Upvotes

Macha getting some fresh sun 🌞


r/BostonTerrier 19h ago

Advice/Question Georgia, USA Boston looking for a home!

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123 Upvotes

I can’t tell if it’s a long lost missing Boston terrier or just a stray, but I might be fostering it soon. Wondering what advice you have for finding a home?… a little nervous bc I have a cat and I’m unsure if it’s friendly to other animals actually…


r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Happy 6th birthday to the sweetest girl ever!

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408 Upvotes

Princess Fiona didn't want to get out of bed this morning 😅 Happy birthday, sweet girl.


r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Hank!

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191 Upvotes

I thought I’d share photos of our foster from last year Hank who is half Boston half Pitbull. He was a sweet smiley boy! He is adopted now and has a happy home


r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Back on the boat again 🛥️

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344 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Katie Boston Terrier and Huckleberry English Mastiff playing together ❤️

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101 Upvotes

Every day. Katie 7 yrs and Huckleberry is 3 yrs old.


r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Just adopted this goodest boy

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801 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Good Morning from Remy!

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384 Upvotes

This little girl turns 10 months today ❤️


r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Mondays, am I right?

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117 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 15h ago

Advice/Question Shoulder/Spine Pain when waking up.

8 Upvotes

Our boy Augusts (13 years old) started having periodic quick yelps. We thought maybe a splinter, no palpating anywhere triggered it. This morning he woke up and started yelping loud for about a minute. His neck was pinned to the side. He finally stopped but was unable to stand and left side was still stiff and he had a head tilt. At first we thought it could be neurological, the vet said his vitals were good and he was up and active with a minor tilt still.

After coming home he laid down and seemed okay. He even no longer had the tilt. Then he woke up and it happened again. I was there this time (first time was my wife) and held him. The muscle tightness and behavior reminded me of muscle guarding. I’m very familiar with it as I just had spinal fusion due to vertebrae in my neck. We took him to the ER, Dr agreed with me, pain killers injected, he’s on gaba and metho (for muscle relaxers). He seems so agitated though, he’s not sleeping with his eyes closed, he’s had a few more yelps. The weird thing is. Once he’s up, he eats, drinks, on a small walk he even rolled in the grass just fine. I’m at such a loss and my anxiety has my head spinning. Anyone ever have a dog experience something like this. We’re in active communication with our vet but just wanted to get support and insights from the community


r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness Russman

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178 Upvotes

This lil stinker


r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness The Master of Sleeping with his Eyes Open 😂

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97 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness She wants my toast

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107 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 1d ago

Cuteness my buddy’s birthday was this weekend! swipe for 4 years of louie 🎂

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599 Upvotes

r/BostonTerrier 23h ago

Advice/Question Tail pocket infection?

7 Upvotes

I’m just curious if anyone else has dealt with a tail pocket infection with your Boston? My Boston is 6 months and we at first thought it was anal glands bothering her. The anal gland smell and leaking and scooting. We decided to take her into the vet and get them expressed. We came home and she still was scooting but now her behind has smelled really bad. I did some research and found out about tail pockets. She has a very very short tail and it’s very hard to even lift up as she doesn’t let us really. But we finally got to it and it is extremely red in the tail area inside and a red bump and it was bleeding. Is this a tail pocket infection? Is this something that will resolve on its own with cleaning or should I take her into the vet again. Otherwise, she is playing normally and eating normally and acting fine besides the scooting.