About Boston Terriers

An Exceptional Companion Dog

The Boston Terrier is a healthy, long-lived breed with an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

Known as one of the finest companion dogs, the Boston Terrier was the first non-sporting breed developed in the United States. Intelligent, affectionate, and highly adaptable, it has earned the nickname “The American Gentleman” for its tuxedo-like coat and charming personality. While friendly by nature, males in particular often display a strong territorial instinct, making them attentive and reliable watchdogs.

Boston Terriers are wonderful companions for children, seniors, and families of all sizes. Their compact size, gentle temperament, and easy-going nature make them ideal for apartment living and smaller homes. They are easy to manage and thrive on human companionship, offering endless affection and loyalty.

Compact, muscular, and well-balanced, Boston Terriers typically weigh up to 12 kg (26 lbs). The breed is best known for its elegant “tuxedo” coat, recognized in the traditional colors accepted by the American Kennel Club (AKC): Black & White, Brindle & White, and Seal & White. They feature a short muzzle, large dark round eyes, and an intelligent, gentle expression that has made the breed beloved around the world.

For more than 20 years, La Calandria Kennel has imported outstanding bloodlines in pursuit of the highest standards of genotype, phenotype, health, and breed quality. We specialize in the traditional AKC-recognized colors while also working with carefully selected bloodlines that have produced additional coat colors—including Champagne, Red, Blue, and Chocolate—through multiple generations of responsible breeding by certified breeders in the United States. We have proudly incorporated these exceptional bloodlines into our breeding program for more than seven years.

Characteristics

Temperament	Friendly, intelligent, playful, and adaptable.
Energy Level	Moderate. Their many wonderful qualities have made the Boston Terrier one of the most popular companion breeds in the United States and around the world for more than a century.
Good with Other Dogs	Yes, when properly socialized and supervised, as with any breed.
Grooming	Low maintenance. Occasional grooming is sufficient, with bathing recommended every 15–20 days on average.
Trainability	Intelligent and eager to please, making them easy to train.
Height	27–32 cm (10.5–12.5 in)
Weight	9–13 kg (20–29 lb)
Life Expectancy	13–15 years
Barking Level	Low; generally a quiet breed.
Good with Children	Excellent. Boston Terriers are affectionate, gentle, and make wonderful family companions.

The Boston Terrier is the first dog breed developed in the United States. Descended from British fighting dogs and carefully refined through selective breeding during the 19th century, it is affectionately known as “The American Gentleman” because of its tuxedo-like markings and elegant appearance.

The breed was developed from crosses involving the English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, French Bulldog, White English Terrier (now extinct), and later the Boxer. It was first exhibited in Boston, Massachusetts, in the late 1800s, making it a truly American breed with British and French ancestry.

In its early years, the breed was known as the American Bull Terrier. However, to avoid confusion with the Bull Terrier breed and its breed clubs, the name was officially changed to Boston Terrier, in honor of the city where the breed was developed.