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   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.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   
    Boston Terrier FAQ
    Pam Dupre, LUCY81354@aol.com
    
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