Boston Terrier

Sadness...

2006-09-05T21:25:00.000-04:00

So it's been decided that even $200 is a bit steep for a recent college grad and a college student to afford to get a dog, so no Boston Terriers for now. I'll keep looking around online for any less expensive places to adopt a terrier, so we'll see what happens... wish us luck!

Boston Terrier Breed Characteristics and Compatibility

2006-09-04T17:24:00.000-04:00

Hm, so I recently came across an article that has an interesting point - would a Boston Terrier choose me as its owner if the tables were turned? Basically, the question posed is: would I be a good owner for the breed?

Based on the description below though, I think it's a wonderful fit. I didn't know Boston terriers were so children friendly.

The Boston Terrier has been called the ultimate family dog. Many owners say that your family is not complete until you have a Boston Terrier or two. And it's easy to see why owners give glowing reports of the interactions between their Boston Terriers and their children. Not only will your children benefit from this playful and cuddly furry playmate - they will have a loyal friend for life.
Boston Terriers are intelligent, friendly and outgoing. They love to be around people and will benefit from a loving family "pack". Typically eager to please these dogs are so lovable you won't want to consider another breed. If you have young children and intend on buying or already own a Boston Terrier, here are some rules about making the relationship between the children and the dog as trouble free as possible.
1. Good socialization means a good family dog.
Boston Terriers are easy to socialize. Take your puppy with you in the car or out on errands whenever you can. The puppy should get used to being around people and other dogs. Although it is not recommended that you take your puppy into public places before they have received all their vaccines - you can take your puppy in the car with you when you fetch the children from school.
2. The dogs may not be treated aggressively
Children need to be taught not to tease or bother the dog while eating. Any dog gets aggressive if disturbed while eating and this has resulted in many tragic bites. Letting your children feed the dog is a great way to get them involved in caring for your dog. If your dog does growl you should discourage him by saying "No" and making it clear that growling is unacceptable behavior.
3. A few sessions with a dog trainer are a good idea
Even if your Boston Terrier is well behaved; a dog trainer can reassure you all that your dog is aware of the boundaries in your family.
4. The puppy may not bite the children - even playfully.
Teething puppies are no problem; their gentle little bites don't hurt now - but they will when your dog gets teeth! Rather encourage a policy of "no bite". Offer toys and other appropriate outlets for the play bites.
5. Make the boundaries clear
As with any dog - boundaries are the key. Your puppy should not be allowed to roam the house freely until he is properly housetrained. This is a fun process in which you can involve the children. The puppy will need to be taken out every time he needs to go and the children will benefit from taking them outside and waiting until they have done their business.
Following these tips should assure you of a family friendly Boston Terrier.
Having a dog in the house, particularly a Boston Terrier - can be a wonderful positive experience for your children too. Your children will learn many valuable life skills from their dog. They benefit by learning the value of respect. They learn responsibility (children should be encouraged to take part in caring for the dog too). In addition they will learn patience, kindness and compassion. Your dog will develop a special relationship with your children. Boston Terriers are generally content to be played with. If socialized correctly they are tolerant and will even allow the kids to play dress up with them.
The positive effect a dog can have on your family is amazing. Boston Terriers are intelligent and child friendly. Proper training and teaching children to respect and love the dog will ensure your Boston Terrier becomes a valued part of your family.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzus and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide.

Now this has got me thinking about training though... I'll look into that next time.

Random Facts about Boston Terriers

2006-09-03T15:05:00.000-04:00

So while waiting for a response, I dug up some random facts about Boston Terriers:
They're an American breed, a result of a bulldog and a White English Terrier named Judge and Gyp. Originally bred for fighting, they are now bred for companionship and are friendly and intelligent, rarely barking. They don't tolerate heat well due to their shortened muzzles (so they're aptly named) and live around 12 years on average.

There's more info on www.doggiepedia.com about Boston Terriers, take a look.

Good to know!

Yay! Adoption Agency in Northeast States

2006-09-03T11:01:00.000-04:00

Yay! So finally I've discovered a Boston Terrier adoption agency in Massachusetts, aptly called the Boston Terrier Tea Party Rescue. The fee is a minimum of $200 to cover spaying/neutering and other vet/administrative costs, but it's still far less than the average $450 required for a purchase, and the contribution to the dog's life is immeasurable in monetary terms.

I'll post more details as they arrive.

Websites for Animal Adoption Shelters

2006-09-02T14:37:00.000-04:00

I found some websites for animal adoption shelters such as Pets 911, Petfinder, and 1-800- SAVE-A-PET. They all have Find a Shelter links, with listings of animals that are in the local shelters - there aren't as many as I had thought, which is a good sign, but maybe they don't have the time or ability to list all of their animals. Anyways, there wasn't a Boston Terrier present in any of the listings, so we'll bide our time for now.

Adoption Site for Boston Terriers (Midwest States)

2006-09-02T01:49:00.000-04:00

I was ecstatic when I discovered a website for the adoption of Boston Terriers, but heartbroken when I found out that it only serves the states of Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

However, if you live in that area, I'm sure this will be an excellent resource for you:
www.adoptaboston.com

And hopefully it'll be more useful to you than it was to me (since I'm located in Boston).

Adoption - a good choice

2006-09-01T11:59:00.000-04:00

Um, so after encountering some difficulty in getting a Boston Terrier from adoption, I decided to poke around the web to find out how to buy one, you know, just in case. Well, it ain't easy - first of all, the price is quite steep, averaging around $400 dollars. Apparently shipping is required, too, since the breeders may not be nearby.

I don't know if I'm a fan of that, I don't think little puppies should be shipped, but I guess it's the only way to get a dog to its owner. The web certainly makes a global economy easier, but I don't always believe it makes it better. Anyways, I'm glad I chose adoption first, and it certainly seems to be the better choice.

I do understand that adopting probably won't land me a cute puppy, but I figure it's better to save a poor grown-up dog from euthanization than to get a puppy. Besides, maybe it'll be housebroken and trained already.

If you're still interested in purchasing a Boston Terrier puppy, there are some websites out there that showcase breeders that have pups to sell. Here's one with pictures and prices:
www.puppyfind.com. Good luck!

Adopting a Boston Terrier

2006-09-01T09:31:00.000-04:00

So, being good citizens and all, the first thing my girlfriend and I wanted to know was whether we can get a Boston terrier through adoption from the Humane Society or not, since there are many pets out there who need a good home. Apparently there are purebred rescue groups around the country that specialize in certain breeds, and there's a number from the website: 202-452-1100. It says to ask for the Companion Animals section and mention that you're looking for a breed-rescue group in your local area.

Additionally, according to the Humane Society, purebreds account for 25% - 30% of an animal shelter's population, so it looks like our chances are much better than we thought, especially since we live in the Boston area.

We'll first give the phone number a shot and tell you how that turns out... maybe we'll grab a nationwide list so you guys won't have to call.

Boston Terriers

2006-08-31T20:28:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this blog about Boston terriers! My girlfriend and I want a Boston terrier puppy, so I figured I'd poke around the web and find out information on this adorable breed and post any findings here as a journal for ourselves and for others who might be interested in getting a Boston terrier. Hope you enjoy it, as I'm sure we'll have lots of fun creating this blog!