Boston Terrie r Day is coming up February 19th! This lovable pup, which is also the Massachusetts State Dog, is a very popular pet, and with good reason. A local vet discusses this ‘pawesome’ dog below.

H  istory

The Boston Terrier dates back to 1875, to a pup named Hooper’s Judge (or just Judge) who was of the bull and terrier breed. Judge was bred to a cute white bulldog named Gyp, who provided the blocky head that’s now characteristic of the breed. Though the Boston Terrier was originally bred as a pit fighter, it didn’t take long for them to find their way into people’s homes and hearts, and become a popular pet. They’re now the 21st most popular breed in the AKC registry. Speaking of the AKC, they added the breed in 1893, as the first US breed to officially be listed. Another fun fact about this smart dog? He’s not actually a terrier, at least officially. Instead, they are in the non-sporting group. 

E

xercise

Fido does need some activity to stay healthy. Take care not to overexert your furry pal! These pooches are brachycephalic. This means that they have very short muzzles, and they can get out of breath easily. They also don’t do very well in either extreme cold or extreme heat.

Grooming

One great thing about Boston Terriers is that they really don’t need a lot of grooming. Just brush Fido once a week, and bathe him regularly. You’ll also need to keep up with your pet’s dental care and peticures.

Lifestyle

Boston Terriers are great dogs: they are happy, friendly, lovable, and fiercely devoted. They are quite small, which makes them a great match for those who live in apartments or condominiums. They are also pretty quiet, which is another reason they’re a good pet for urbanites. Another great thing about these lovable dogs? They’re quite easy to train! Boston Terriers can often be found in agility and strength contests, and sometimes work as therapy dogs. They also do well at tracking and dock diving. And, as you may know, they’re the official mascot for Boston University and Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.

Eyes

One of the Boston Terrier’s most prominent features are their eyes. Those bug eyes can be super expressive! In fact, a Boston Terrier named Bruschi, made the Guinness Book Of World Record for being the dog with the largest eyes. These pups sometimes get corneal ulcers and/or injuries from sand or other objects getting into those bug eyes. You’ll need to be careful to remove potential hazards, such as thorny plants, that are at Fido’s eye level.

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