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MediumNon-Sporting Group

Boston Terrier

The Boston Terrier was developed in late-19th-century Boston from Bulldog × White English Terrier crosses, with breed type standardized by 1893.

Calculate Boston Terrier age
Lifespan11.8 yrrange 11–13
SizeMediumNon-Sporting Group
Weight12–25 lb5.4–11.3 kg
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11

Gallery (3)

About

About the Boston Terrier

The Boston Terrier was developed in late-19th-century Boston from Bulldog × White English Terrier crosses, with breed type standardized by 1893. The state dog of Massachusetts; AKC rank 25. Among the earliest US-developed AKC breeds.

Aging

How Boston Terriers age

RVC VetCompass gives a median 11.8 years (n=2,427). Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (milder than Pug or Frenchie), cataracts, and deafness are the defining late-life concerns; hemivertebrae from the screw-tail and cherry eye are secondary.

Lifespan deep-diveAvg 11.8 yr · range 11–13Senior careSenior at 7 · geriatric at 11Common health issues9 tracked conditions
Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight
12–25 lb(5.4–11.3 kg)
Height
10–12 in(25.4–30.5 cm)
Coat type
Short
Colors
Black & WhiteBlack Brindle & WhiteBrindle & WhiteSeal & WhiteSeal Brindle & White
Temperament

Temperament

How Boston Terriers tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

friendlybrightamusingadaptable
  • Energy
  • Trainability
  • Good with kids
  • Good with other dogs
  • Shedding
Health

Common health issues

Full health profile
  • Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr

    Periodontal Disease

    Description and veterinary guidance for Periodontal Disease land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr

    Patellar Luxation

    Description and veterinary guidance for Patellar Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Exercise
60min
per day

About 60 minutes of activity per day keeps a Boston Terrier physically and mentally satisfied. Split it between a structured walk and free play.

Related

Related breeds

Breeds with a similar size and group profile, for readers comparing options.

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References

Sources

Lifespan and health figures on this page are drawn from the peer-reviewed and organizational sources below.

  1. AKC breed standardAmerican Kennel Club breed page

    Breed size, weight range, height, AKC group, origin, coat type, and temperament baseline.

  2. RVC VetCompassRoyal Veterinary College VetCompass life-table research (McMillan et al. 2024)

    UK primary-care records; source for the median-lifespan and mortality figures.