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GENERAL APPEARANCE
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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.
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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.protuberance.
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.
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| 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.
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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.
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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.
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).
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.
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| 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).
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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.
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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 |
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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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