Breed profile
Boston Terrier
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeSmall
ExerciseModerate
GroomingLow
ChildrenGood
BarkingLow
HealthHigh
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classSmall
Adult weight7 to 11 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelHigh
BarkingLow
Grooming effortLow
Health burdenHigh
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Good fit
- Alone tolerance
- Low
- Energy level
- High
- First-time owner fit
- Excellent fit
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 45 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- Moderate
- Trainability
- Good
- Grooming effort
- Low
- Professional grooming
- Low maintenance
- Shedding
- Low
Household fit
- Children
- Good
- Dogs
- Good
- Cats
- Moderate
- Prey drive
- Low
- Visitors
- Very good
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- High
- Heat tolerance
- Very poor
- Cold tolerance
- Moderate
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Luxating patellas
- Brachycephalic syndrome
- Dystocia/caesarean risk
- Hemivertebrae
- Atopy
- Cushing syndrome
- Dry eye (KCS)
- Cherry eye
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Flat-faced conformation can affect breathing and heat regulation.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.