FCI-Standard No 140
BOSTON TERRIER
American Kennel Club Standard dated
28/2/90
F.C.I. Standard No. 140
Adopted in Australia 1/1/94
Country of Origin - United States of America
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 colour 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 "Colour 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.
Proportions, Substance: 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.
CHARACTERISTICS - 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.
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 AND SKULL - 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 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. Fault: Pinched or wide nostrils.
EYES - The eyes are wide apart, large and
round and dark in colour. 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 colour or any trace of blue.
Fault: Eyes showing too much white or haw.
EARS - The ears are small, carried erect,
and situated as near to the corners of the skull as
possible.
Fault: Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head.
MOUTH - 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 Faults: Wry mouth; any showing of the tongue or teeth
when the mouth is closed.
NECK - 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.
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.
Fault: Legs lacking in substance.
BODY - 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
loins. The body should appear short.
Serious Faults: Roach back, sway back, slab-sided.
HINDQUARTERS - The thighs are strong and
well muscled, bent in the stifles and set true. The hocks
are short to the feet, turning neither in nor out, with a well
defined hock joint.
Fault: Straight in stifle.
FEET - Front feet are small, round and
compact, turned neither in nor out, with well arched toes and
short nails.
Hind feet are small and compact with short nails.
Fault: Splay feet.
TAIL - 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. Fault: Gaily carried tail.
GAIT/MOVEMENT - The gait of the Boston
Terrier is that of a sure footed, straight gaited dog, forelegs
and hindlegs moving straight ahead in line with perfect rhythm,
each step indicating grace and power.
Faults: There will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving when
gaited. Hackney gait.
Serious Faults: Any crossing movement, either front or rear.
COAT - The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.
COLOUR - 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. Grey or liver colours.
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 hindlegs below the hocks.
(Note: A representative specimen should not be penalised 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.
SIZE - Weight is divided by classes as
follows:
Under 6.8 kg (15 lbs);
6.8 kg (15 lbs) and under 9.1 kg (20 lbs)
9.1 kg (20 lbs) and not to exceed 11.4 kg (25 lbs).
FAULTS
Disqualifying:
Eyes blue in colour or any trace of blue.
Dudley nose.
Docked tail.
Solid black, solid brindle, or solid seal without required
markings.
Grey or liver colours.
Serious Faults:
Any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth is closed.
Wry mouth.
Roach back, sway back, slab-sided.
Any crossing movement, either front or rear.
Faults:
Eyes showing too much white or haw.
Pinched or wide nostrils.
Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head.
Legs lacking in substance; splay feet.
Straight in stifle.
Gaily carried tail.
There will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving when gaited.
Hackney gait.
Scale of Points (For Interest Only):
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
Total 100