Although the breed standard for the Boston Terrier is pretty strict on what they should look like, they are also strict on what the breed should act like. This attention to temperament has sadly been lacking in some other breed standards like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Even pet quality Boston Terriers who would be laughed out of a show ring will not be offended, as they will be happy for the chance to make anyone smile.

Consequentially, not many Boston Terriers come anywhere near matching the breed standard and are cut from breeding programs or abandoned because of their imperfections. If you find a cute little black and white dog in your local shelter and wonder what breed he or she could be, a look at the Boston Terrier breed standard can help. Identifying a shelter dog's breed can help let you know what you are getting yourself in for.

But the looks of a Boston Terrier is a winner, too. You might see a lot of solid colored Boston Terriers that are all black, all grey or all brindle. Or, perhaps their heads are all black. They are still purebred Boston Terriers, but they would be disqualified from the show ring. Only colored and white Boston Terriers, with a certain amount of white on the face as well as body, are allowed to show.

Boston Terriers look like they have docked tails, as they are very short. However, when you look at the breed standard, it says that docked tails are not allowed. This is one of the few breeds that naturally have tiny tails. Sadly, other breeds like Rottweilers, Boxers, Dobermans and Pembroke Welsh Corgis have to have docked tails in order to show. Another fault is being too big ? Boston Terriers are only supposed to be fifteen inches high at the shoulder and twenty-five pounds at the most.

Knowing as much Boston Terrier information as you can absorb will help you not only get along with your Boston Terriers, but decide if the breed is right for you in the first place. The breed standard emphasizes a short, smooth coat, so that tells you that Boston Terriers are easy to groom and don't need to be clipped.

But that also tells you that these dogs need to be kept indoors, as they lack any protection from the elements.

Boston Terriers often have pointed ears that are proportional to the size of the head. Sometimes, you'll see a purebred Boston with huge bat-ears ? that's not a show dog. They bounce when they walk, but they should not have a high-stepping walk like a Hackney horse or the incredibly slow shuffle of a Pekingese.

Although the dog might not match the physical description exactly, you'll know they have the temperament, which is the most important aspect of the Boston Terrier breed standard.