To compete with your Boston Terrier you will need to understand the requirements and procedures used for judging. The American Kennel Club releases breed standards for each breed of dog and the Boston Terriers specifications can be found here. You can also check more specialized clubs for the information about required standards for your Boston Terrier. The American Kennel club is currently revising these standards.

If you want your Boston Terrier to take part in dog shows then you will need to understand the standards and how they relate to your dog. If you already own or are thinking about owning a Boston Terrier and would like to compete (or show off your dog) here’s a guide to understanding breed specifications.

It’s important to note that these are descriptions of ideal Boston Terriers.

Competition ranking systems: Dogs are judged out of a total 100 score. When judging Boston Terriers this score comprises the following elements:

- General Appearance

- Size, Proportion, Substance

- Head - skull shape, characteristics of eyes, ears, muzzle, jaw shape.

- Neck, Topline and Body

- Forequarters

- Gait

- Coat

- Temperament

- Faults in the breed: can lead to instant disqualification

General Appearance

Boston Terriers are intelligent dogs. General appearance needs to be well-balanced; this means all limbs are in proportion. Boston Terriers have a smooth coat which is generally brindle, seal or black. The dog must have even white markings.
The body is short and the limbs are strong. The tail is short.

Size, Proportion, Substance

This refers to your dog’s weight. There are several official weight categories but the dog’s weight cannot exceed 25 pounds.

The Boston Terriers legs should be proportioned to give it its characteristic square appearance. The dog looks sturdy and muscular.

In general the only difference between the male and female is that the bitch generally has more refined features.

Head

The skull is short and flat on top. There should be no wrinkles. The cheeks are flat and the stop is well defined. Boston Terriers should have an alert _expression; reflecting their high intelligence. The eyes should be wide set and large. Boston Terriers with blue eyes - or any hint of blue in their eyes will be disqualified immediately. The ears should be small and stand upright.

The jaw is square and wide with short teeth. The bite is even.

Neck, Towline and Body

The neck should be slightly arched and carry the head gracefully. The neck of the ideal Boston terrier should display an image of balance.

Topline refers to the shape of the dogs back. The back should be shaped in such a way that it completes the square shape of the body.

The chest should be deep with a good width, ribs etc.

Forequarters

The shoulders should be laid back and should slope. IT is this shape which gives Boston Terriers their stylish movement. The elbows should be straight and not protrude in any way. The dewclaws may be removed.
Gait

This refers to the way in which your dog carries himself. The ideal Boston Terrier is sure-footed and straight gaited. The forelegs and hind legs should move in a straight line with perfect rhythm. Each step should be that of grace and power.

Coat

The coat should be short, smooth and fine in texture. Color must be brindle, seal or black with bright markings. The Boston Terrier must have a white muzzle band, white between the eyes and a white chest.

Temperament

The ideal Boston Terrier is friendly and lively. The dog is known for its high intelligence.
Faults in the breed (grounds for disqualification)

Any traces of blue or blue eyes - eyes must be dark

Dudley nose - This means a loss of pigmentation in the nose and it is pink or flesh colored, however when Boston’s are first born and up to 6 months their nose will be pink. It will change to the color black so don’t let this hinder you from buying a Boston with a pink nose.

Docked tail - This refers to the practice of cutting tails. It is an outdated practice and your dog will be disqualified.

Lack of required markings

Other serious faults

Wry mouth - one side of the mouth is longer than the other.

Any showing of the tongue/teeth when the mouth is closed

Other faults

Blocky or chunky appearance

Overshot bite/undershot bite - much like human ‘faults’ this just means an over or under bite.

The Boston Terriers make a great family pet. They are highly intelligent, loyal, great with children and very easy going. They are not considered fighters but definitely can hold their own. If you don’t plan to show your Boston then these qualifications don’t mean a thing. Boston Terriers are the perfect all around companion just the way they are.

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 Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at allmypuppiesonline.com All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, carpetsecrets.com Carpet Secrets and movingsecretsguide.com Moving Secrets Guide

Tags: dog breed, shih tzu, yorkshire terrier

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For your puppy play and exercise are inherently linked, because their idea of play involves jumping, romping, stretching, and any type of physical activity. And if you’re not careful it may get you in shape too!

Now as you begin training remember the value of play in the growth of your puppy, while using gentle but firm training and direction. Puppy hood is a challenging but charming time for you as an owner and before long it will be over. So enjoy the joie de vivre of play with your adorable little puppy as long as you can.

For your new puppy, training should start as soon as possible. Obviously your first concern when it comes to training your puppy is house training. The faster you can encourage the dog to go to outside the faster you’ll retain your sanity. This is your dog’s first experience with training, so you want to point out to your puppy what you want and hopefully they’ll try to accommodate and be rewarded for success.
Puppy Crazies

You’ve probably seen the occurrence in young dogs of “puppy crazies”, or in older dogs, “the mad minute”! This seems to happen more frequently when your dog has been cooped up in the house or in the car.

You open the door or take them off the leash and like a cork off a champagne bottle they’re off. Now as long as the situation is under your control, it’s hilarious to watch and safe for your dog.

When They’ve Had Enough

You should be able to judge when your new canine has had enough exercise. Once crazy time is over and the dog is calming down, perhaps panting, tongue hanging out, and coming back to your side – it’s to cool it down.

Don’t allow a puppy to overdo it, especially the large breeds, while bones and muscles are still developing. Over-exercise at this age causes joint problems in later life, so it’s just not worth it. Err on the side of caution.

Ah Yes, Toys

Your puppy should have its own toys. Making them aware what’s okay to play with - and what’s not - ensures your couch or shoes don’t get chewed. Plenty of chew toys means they get relief during their difficult teething period while avoiding mayhem and destruction.

When making judgments about how safe a toy is for your dog, look at its bite size. This way you can be reasonably confident nothing is small enough to be swallowed. Also, keep an eye on the chewed toys and make sure they haven’t disintegrating to the point they become dangerous. If it’s obvious the dog loves that toy, replace it with a new one just the same.

Be careful when it comes to small balls or children’s toys. Many dogs love toys they can tug of war with, so be very careful not to encourage your dog to become possessive about this type of toy. This can encourage bad habits like food guarding in later life, depending on your puppies temperament or breed.

How about Fetch?

It’s always good idea to play “fetch” with a young dog. You’ll see if the dog prefers a ball, Frisbee, or rubber ring. Some dogs chase anything thrown in the air, while others like things rolled along the ground.

Learning to play fetch is a great outlet for your dog because if you’re out in the park together it ensures they’re usually occupied with the game, and not getting into trouble elsewhere! On the other hand, fetch does to some degree encourage chasing behavior.

So keep an eye on that and don’t let it get out of hand. It’s cute to see a big dog chase a squirrel up a tree, but not when it decides a Yorkshire terrier is more interesting prey!

As with all things, incorporate training into play and make training fun. Enjoy your little pup and guide him right, and he will become a rewarding and lovely adult dog.

That’s because dog training is a must if you want an enjoyable 12-15 years together.

I’ve only been able to touch on a few ideas in this article, so if learning the fastest and healthiest training methods is important to you I recommend you check out some of the excellent dog training ebooks available today.

Discover more about dog training which can help your puppy mature into the well mannered dog you want here:
discoveringlabradoodles.com/ssfarticle.html Dog Training

ezinearticles.com/?So-You-Want-a-Hypoallergenic-Dog&id=449999 Hypoallergenic Dog

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Many owners of Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Miniature Pinschers and other small breed dogs have had to ask themselves this question. It’s obvious during certain times of the year that they do need some kind of clothing on their back, especially for the short hair breeds during the dead cold of winter. When you run into a grey area is during the warm months or if the pet is strictly an inside dog. There are many doggie parents that dress up their little best friends for fun, like in holiday apparel at Christmas or Halloween, and I think that’s perfectly fine. A lot of small canines love the extra attention and treats they get when they’re all dressed up. I know mine do. However, there are some people that may go too far with clothing their little dog. The main point is that dog apparel can be for fun but should always conform to the needs and comfort of the dog, not to the desires of the owner.

The main desire of an owner who dresses up a dog is cuteness. Who doesn’t love seeing a little apple head Chihuahua with an adorable sweater walking down the street? This is great, but one of the main dangers of dog clothes is overheating for the canine. If you see a dog with a coat, jacket or sweater on and he’s panting, then he should have the outfit taken off immediately and be given water. Not only is this uncomfortable for him, but it’s also dangerous. Of course, any responsible owner can avoid this, and I’m only referring to those that don’t pay attention to their dog’s needs. This is not to say that when it’s warm dog clothing can’t be of any use. For example, some breeds like the hairless Chinese Crested dogs need protection from sunburn. Sunblock and a light dog shirt are just the thing. Also, if you and your hound are at an Independence Day cookout, a patriotic colored dress or camouflage tank top are the perfect party outfits. Just remember to asses your dog’s needs, talk to your vet, and pay attention to how your dog feels before putting them in clothes.

Grant Carroll is a loving daddy of four dogs and co-owner of littlepamperedpets.com littlepamperedpets.com with adorable littlepamperedpets.com/dog_clothes/small_dog_clothes.html chihuahua clothes for your little chi chi. Browse Little Pampered Pets.com to find littlepamperedpets.com/DogClothes.html dog apparel for a canine of any style.

Tags: chihuahua, dog clothes, yorkshire terrier

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Taking your dog to a professional groomer can get expensive, especially if you happen to own a high-maintenance pooch. We all know how to bathe a dog, but what about the rest? How do you go about trimming their nails and hair? Products made for humans are unacceptable. All dog breeds need their ears cleaned. Do you know how to do this? With a little training and the proper dog grooming tool you can save money and have a fun experience with your pet.

Which Dog Grooming Tools do I Need?

Before you purchase a litany of equipment take in mind your dog and what he or she needs. The first step is to have a sturdy surface for grooming. If your dog is antsy and scared a muzzle may be a good investment. A muzzle doesn’t hurt a dog in any way, but does protect him or her from biting you or him or herself. Once you’ve found a sturdy surface the following dog grooming tools will help keep your puppy healthy and happy:

The Brush

Every breed needs a good brushing now and then. Long-haired dogs, such as the Maltese and Yorkshire terrier, require daily brushing. A flat brush is best for a long coat. Short haired dogs can benefit from a bristle brush. This will leave their coat shiny and free of loose hair. Before you bathe your dog, brush them out so as to remove all loose hair.

Nail Trimmers

The best time to clip your dog’s nails is directly after the bath. This dog grooming tool allows you keep their nails short and prevent them from bending and breaking in awkward and painful ways. As long as you use clippers expressly for dogs your tool is safe to use.

Doggy Tooth Brush

“What?” you ask. A toothbrush! Yes, a toothbrush. Home dog grooming tools are not complete without the toothbrush. It’s easy for your puppy to get plaque build up, which leads to infection and possible heart failure. Purchasing a toothbrush for dogs will allow you to gently brush off excess plaque and keep their breathe smelling like roses, well, almost.

Cotton Balls

A dog grooming tool that you may actually have already! Cotton balls are great for cleaning your doggie’s ears. Avoid Q-tips or anything pointy. If doggy flinches, its easy to jab a q-tip down too far. Simple wet the cotton ball and wipe the outer area of the ear. Don’t wipe further or you could damage the ear.

Home grooming can be a rewarding experience. You will get a little wet and may smell a bit of dog at the end, but with a set of home dog grooming tools you will save yourself money and learn a little about your pooch!

Michael Louis is a dog lover with a passion for knowledge who enjoys sharing his dog care secrets. Did you fine these dog

Tags: dog breed, dog breeds, dog grooming, groom, yorkshire terrier

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When we talk about hypoallergenic dogs, we mean that they have a less or reduced tendency to cause allergies or allergic reaction among allergy sufferers.

It has been estimated that about 10% of the US population is allergic to animals (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology). Symptoms of the reactions can range from watery eyes to dangerous asthma attacks.

The problem is not with the pet’s hair. It is the dander, or microscopic scales of dead skin (similar to, but much smaller than the dandruff on the human scalp) which pets are constantly shedding that is the cause. They are so tiny that you seldom know that they are circulating in the air or laying on the furniture and carpets because they are so small.

Here is a list of Hypoallergenic Dogs. If I have missed any I do apologize.

American Hairless Terrier Basenji Border Terrier Cairn Terrier Chinese Crested (hairless) Havanese Kerry Blue Terrier Maltese Miniature Schnauzer Portuguese Water Dog Shih-Tzu Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Spanish Water Dog Standard Poodle Standard Schnauzer Tibetan Terrier Toy Poodle West Highland White Terrier Wirehaired Fox Terrier Yorkshire TerrierPlease remember that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic and also that allergic sufferers react differently to each separate breed of dog. For madaboutwesties.com/west_highland_terrier_puppies.html” target=”_blank Westhighland Terriers owners, such as myself, the news is good. They are considered good for allergy sufferers, with a relatively low dander (ranked number 7). However you need to be reminded that one person’s allergies may vary greatly from another person. It is always advisable to visit the home of the dog you wish to have, before you bring it home. I hope that you found this article of use to you

Good health and happiness

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

Jeff Cuckson
mailto:webmaster@howtosurviveabadday.com webmaster@howtosurviveabadday.com

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