The Colored Boston Terrier is a lively, highly intelligent, smooth coated, short-headed, compactly built, short tailed, well balanced dog. The head is in proportion to the size of the dog and the expression indicates a high degree of intelligence. The body is rather short and well knit, the limbs strong and neatly turned, the tail is short and no feature is so prominent that the dog appears badly proportioned. The dog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity, with style of a high order; carriage easy and graceful. A proportionate combination of “Color and White Markings” is a particularly distinctive feature of a representative specimen. “Balance, Expression, Color and White Markings” should be given particular consideration in determining the relative value of GENERAL APPEARANCE to other points.
Size, Proportion, Substance: Weight is classified for adults to not be under 10 pounds or over 25 pounds. The length of leg must balance with the length of body to give the Colored Boston Terrier its striking square appearance. The Colored Boston Terrier is a sturdy dog and must not appear to be either spindly or coarse. The bone and muscle must be in proportion as well as an enhancement to the dog’s weight and structure.
- Faults: Blocky or chunky in appearance.
- Serious fault: Adults under 10 or over 25 pounds.
Influence of Sex: In a comparison of specimens of each sex, the only evident difference is a slight refinement in the bitch’s conformation.
HEAD
The skull is square, flat on top, free from wrinkles, cheeks flat, brow abrupt and the stop well defined. The ideal Colored Boston Terrier expression is alert and kind,indicating a high degree of intelligence. This is a most important characteristic of the breed. The eyes are wide apart, large and round and dark in color preferably. The eyes are set square in the skull and the outside corners are on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front. The ears are small, carried erect, either natural or cropped to conform to the shape of the head and situated as near to the corners of the skull as possible. The muzzle is short, square, wide and deep and in proportion to the skull. It is free from wrinkles, shorter in length than in width or depth; not exceeding in length approximately one-third of the length of the skull. The muzzle from stop to end of the nose is parallel to the top of the skull. The nose is any color and wide, with a well defined line between the nostrils.
- Serious Fault: Wry mouth. Head Faults: Eyes showing too much white or haw. Pinched or wide nostrils. Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head. Serious Head Faults: Any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth is closed. Eyes blue in color or any trace of blue.
- Disqualify Faults: Dudley nose. The jaw is broad and square with short regular teeth. The bite is even or sufficiently undershot to square the muzzle. The chops are of good depth, but not pendulous, completely covering the teeth when the mouth is closed.
NECK, TOPLINE & BODY
The length of neck must display an image of balance to the total dog. It is slightly arched, carrying the head gracefully and setting neatly into the shoulders. The back is just short enough to square the body. The topline is level and the rump curves slightly to the set-on of the tail. The chest is deep with good width, ribs well sprung and carried well back to the loins. The body should appear short. The tail is set on low, short, fine and tapering, straight or screw and must not be carried above the horizontal. (Note: The preferred tail does not exceed in length more than one-quarter the distance from set-on to hock.)
- Disqualify Faults: Docked tail. Body Faults: Gaily carried tail. Serious Body Faults: Roach back, sway back, slab-sided.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are sloping and well laid back, which allows for the Boston Terrier’s stylish movement. The elbows stand neither in nor out. The forelegs are set moderately wide apart and on a line with the upper tip of the shoulder blades. The forelegs are straight in bone with short, strong pasterns. The dewclaws may be removed. The feet are small, round and compact, turned neither in nor out, with well arched toes and short nails.
- Faults: Legs lacking in substance; splay feet.
HINDQUARTERS
The thighs are strong and well muscled, bent at the stifles and set true. The hocks are short to the feet, turning neither in nor out, with a well defined hock joint. The feet are small and compact with short nails.
- Fault: Straight in stifle.
GAIT
The gait of the Colored Boston Terrier is that of a sure footed, straight gaited dog, forelegs and hind legs moving straight ahead in line with perfect rhythm, each step indicating grace and power.
- Gait Faults: There will be no rolling, paddling, or weaving, when gaited. Hackney gait. Serious Gait Faults: Any crossing movement, either front or rear.
COAT
The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.
Color and Markings Any color not accepted in the traditional Boston Terrier standard is acceptable, including, but not limited to: Red, Blue, Fawn, Cream, and Lilac and their variations.
- Disqualify: Merle. Disqualify: Solid colors without required white markings. Required Markings: White muzzle band, white blaze between the eyes, white forechest. Desired Markings: White muzzle band, even white blaze between the eyes and over the head, white collar, white forechest, white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs below the hocks. (Note: A representative specimen should not be penalized for not possessing “Desired Markings.”
A dog with a preponderance of white on the head or body will not be penalized granted all other qualities meet the standard.
TEMPERAMENT
The Colored Boston Terrier is a friendly and lively dog. The breed has an excellent disposition and a high degree of intelligence, which makes the Colored Boston Terrier an incomparable companion.
SUMMARY
The clean-cut short backed body of the Colored Boston Terrier coupled with the unique characteristics of his square head and jaw, and his striking markings have resulted in a most dapper and charming dog.
DISQUALIFICATIONS:
- Dudley nose.
- Docked tail.
- Solid colors without required white markings.
- Merle coloring.
