| A breed standard is a breed organization's blueprint of | | | | not so small as to jeopardize their health. They are |
| what the ideal dog should look and act like. This is | | | | robust, but portable. Although you may find some |
| what a show dog like a purebred Boston Terrier is | | | | Boston Terriers outside the lines, they are usually |
| judged against. Instead of being compared to the other | | | | fifteen to twenty-five pounds and only about fifteen |
| dogs in the ring, the dog is compared to how well they | | | | inches high at their shoulders. They are most famous in |
| fit the breed standard. This is usually what breeders | | | | black and white, but also come in seal and white and |
| strive to achieve in their breeding programs. A breed | | | | brindle and white. The breed standard is quite strict on |
| standard is the Holy Writ of the dog world. | | | | the distribution of white around the body, which |
| Consequentially, not many Boston Terriers come | | | | disqualifies a lot of Boston Terriers from the ring. |
| anywhere near matching the breed standard and are | | | | The breed standard also emphasizes sturdiness. They |
| cut from breeding programs or abandoned because of | | | | are not to have physical weaknesses like swaybacks, |
| their imperfections. If you find a cute little black and | | | | spayed legs, very slow gait or look overly muscular. |
| white dog in your local shelter and wonder what breed | | | | Their bodies should look sturdy but everything should |
| he or she could be, a look at the Boston Terrier breed | | | | be in proportion. And the tails are naturally very short, |
| standard can help. Identifying a shelter dog's breed can | | | | although occasionally a purebred is born with a long tail. |
| help let you know what you are getting yourself in for. | | | | The ears are perky and most of the time they are |
| The breed standard also reveals another reason why | | | | pointed (occasionally a floppy eared one comes along). |
| the Boston Terrier is so popular. They are small, but | | | | |