r/BostonTerrier • u/Ataraxia4Me • 4h ago
r/BostonTerrier • u/drophie • Sep 26 '17
Education A Guide to Finding a Responsible Boston Terrier Breeder
u/ZZBC and I noticed a lot of folks on this sub looking for recommendations or suggestions of where to find a breeder for Bostons, so we thought it might be useful to make a post on the subject so folks can reference it when they come to this sub! This post will address finding responsible breeders specifically - if you are looking to adopt a dog, which is awesome, please check out your local breed-specific rescue!
Where do people go to look for good breeders?
The first stop for anyone looking for a Boston from a breeder should be the Boston Terrier Club of America (www.bostonterrierclubofamerica.org). You can also look for your regional breed club - an example of this is the Minuteman Boston Terrier Club, which covers New England. The BTCA has a referral service for breeders who are members of the club.
Why is it important for breeders to be members of their breed club? It shows that they are dedicated to the breed. It’s important to note, though, that while all responsible breeders are members of their breed club, not every member of a breed club is breeding responsibly. Because of this, it’s important that you have a conversation with the breeder about their goals for breeding and to do your due diligence. Trust, but verify - a dog is a long term commitment, and you deserve to have a pet that has the best chance at living a long, healthy life.
What kind of breeding is responsible?
There are a couple major points to look for when checking out Boston breeders (or any dog, really!). The first is to find out why the breeder is breeding dogs, and the second is to explore their breeding practices in depth.
Ideally, when you ask a breeder why they are breeding dogs, it should primarily be for conformation (dog shows), work, or sports. Since Bostons aren’t a working breed, you are looking for someone who is producing dogs with the aim of doing well in the show world, someone who is breeding to produce puppies that will grow up to excel in sports (agility, barn hunt, flyball, rally, and obedience are examples of sports you’ll find BTs competing in), or (ideally) someone who is doing both! The best way to verify this is if the breeder has other dogs that are titled in sports, conformation, or in both arenas. Sometimes, you run across breeders claiming things like “champion bloodlines” - be very wary of those people. That usually means that their dogs have one dog in their pedigree that has a title very, very far back, but they personally have never titled a dog in anything.
I just want a pet, not a show dog or a sports dog. Why should I be looking for breeders who participate in conformation or sports?
Sports and conformation dog shows are much, much more than just a “beauty contest” - judges at dog shows are looking at the dog’s structure, temperament, and fitness for breeding, and a championship conformation title means an impartial third party (not just the breeder or their friends or family) has judged that dog to be a structurally sound example of the breed. It is to make sure that the dog is not only a good dog, it is a good example of a Boston Terrier and has all of the traits that make the Boston Terrier the dog we know and love. Dog sports, on the other hand, prove that a dog is more than just physically sound - it demonstrates that 1.) the breeder wants to demonstrate that their Boston Terriers are versatile, and 2.) that their dogs are capable of successfully competing in dog sports beyond conformation. For a breed like Bostons that is traditionally known as a “pet” breed, this really shows that the breeder is dedicated to demonstrating the full range of abilities that this amazing breed has. That doesn’t mean that breeders who don’t compete in both sports and conformation are bad - dual sport/conformation BT breeders are fairly rare, and finding one is definitely icing on the cake!
Lastly, it’s important to avoid is folks breeding dogs for reasons like “I wanted my dog to experience being a mother”; “she has the sweetest personality”; “I wanted another dog just like [insert name of parents here]”. While those reasons definitely matter to the breeder, they are also short sighted and self centered because they aren’t breeding with the dog’s best interests in mind or with the aim of producing healthy, sound, consistent companions.
The Importance of Health Testing
This is probably the most important piece of looking for a BT breeder. Boston terriers are prone to a number of health issues, including eye problems, allergies, cardiac issues, luxating patella, and congenital deafness. For that reason, it is extremely important that you look for a breeder that has appropriate health certifications and that those certifications are registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (www.offa.org). A vet check or a promise from the breeder that their dogs are healthy is not a sufficient substitute for OFA exams. A dog may appear healthy and may not even show health issues itself, but this does not mean that it will not produce offspring with a genetic disorder such as juvenile cataracts. You want to make sure you’re bringing home a family member that have the best chance at having a long, happy, healthy life and health testing is the best way to do so.
At minimum, Bostons who are being bred need:
- An OFA eye exam to check for eye problems that comes back clear. This used to be called a CERF exam.
- An OFA cardiac exam to check for heart murmurs.
- An OFA orthopedic exam to check for a condition called luxating patella, where the knee slips out of place. This is extremely common in small breed dogs like Bostons, so dogs being bred should have normal knees.
- A BAER hearing test to make sure they have good hearing.
- A genetic test for the gene for Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts (JHC), a disease which causes Bostons to go blind early in life due to cataracts. This can either be through a certified genetic testing service like Embark or Paw Print Genetics, or the breeder should be able to prove the dog is JHC clear through parentage (neither dog’s parents were carriers).
These tests cannot be completed before the dog is two years old, so you should not buy a dog from someone breeding animals younger than two. To verify the results of these tests, click here and type in the breeder’s kennel name. The results on all their dogs should ideally pop up and be reviewable.
Warning Signs of Irresponsible Breeders
In addition to knowing what a good breeder looks like, it’s important to be aware of things that might be a red flag and could mean the breeder is not responsible. A breeder is not inherently irresponsible if they are doing something on this list - however, if a breeder is doing something on this list, it’s important to ask more questions about it.
Breeding more than 1-2 types of dogs: most reputable breeders focus on 1-2 breeds. It’s challenging to do more than that and still title and health test their dogs, though, so a lot of folks who are breeding more than 1-2 different breeds are cutting corners in other places (such as not titling or health testing all their dogs).
Intentionally breeding dogs that are disqualified from conformation: the Boston Terrier breed standard states that Bostons should be either brindle and white, black and white, or seal (black with a red cast in direct sunlight) and white. While off-standard colors like lavender, red, brown, slate, etc. can sometimes occur by chance in a litter, the much more likely scenario is the breeder is breeding for them intentionally. Does the color matter for long term health? Nope! But it’s important to question why a breeder might be producing dogs that are ineligible to compete in dog shows. Oftentimes, breeders who are producing off-color dogs are doing so because those colors are popular with puppy buyers. Breeding for color instead of temperament, health, or structure is not responsible. Additionally, these breeders are usually not doing the appropriate health testing on their breeding dogs and registering the results with OFA or doing anything with their dogs besides breeding them (we've never seen a BT kennel intentionally producing colored dogs that compete in dog sports, for instance, or are certified therapy dogs).
Not allowing you to meet the puppies’ mother or see where the litter was kept: while it’s totally normal for the father of a litter not to be on-site, you should be able to meet the mother (dam) of the litter when you pick up or visit your puppy. If the breeder doesn’t have the mother on site, or if they insist on meeting you somewhere like a parking lot instead of at their home, you should question why that is and if there is something going on at their house that they don’t want you to see. Note: It is quite possible that the father may not be on the property for you to see. A responsible breeder will want to choose a male that best complements her female and that often means using a male from a different kennel.
Allowing puppies to be taken home before 8 weeks: 8 weeks is the absolute youngest a puppy should be separated from its litter - this is especially important for small dogs like Bostons, who may be extremely fragile prior to this age due to their size. A breeder that allows puppies to go home before 8 weeks is depriving the puppy of critical socialization time with their littermates, which can have negative effects on the dog’s behavior as they grow up.
Overbreeding dogs: female dogs should not be bred before they are two years old, and they should not be bred an excessive number of times. How many times is too many depends heavily on the specific dog, but generally if all the females owned by a breeder are consistently having multiple litters a year for several years, that is too many and can have adverse health effects for the females.
Overall, finding a good breeder can be challenging, and many not-so-good ones are unfortunately very good at “talking the talk” to make their dogs sound better. Looking for a breeder doing things responsibly is more challenging at the beginning and it may take longer to get a puppy, but the payoff is well worth it: a dog that is more likely to be healthy, well-tempered, and structurally sound, and a lifetime of support from your breeder and their community of puppy owners.
About the Contributors: u/drophie has a two year old female Boston Terrier that runs in agility and flyball - she has also dabbled in barnhunt. u/ZZBC has a three year old male Boston Terrier that participates in barnhunt.
r/BostonTerrier • u/ilikechipotle • Dec 14 '13
Helping Boston's In Need (PLEASE READ!)
I just wanted to let everyone know that here at /r/bostonterrier we are more than happy to help boston's in need. Please feel free to post those boston's here and ask for donations if necessary. I find that a lot of times these posts are reported or flagged. Please know that while other subreddits may discourage it, we here at /r/bostonterrier are glad to help.
Thanks, and I will add this to the sidebar as well.
r/BostonTerrier • u/DonutRobot-1 • 2h ago
Advice I just noticed how shiny perritas coat is. What products you guys use for shiny coat?
r/BostonTerrier • u/CraftyPlastic5387 • 47m ago
Cuteness My gremlin
Oatie my beautiful boy. No thoughts behind those eyes
r/BostonTerrier • u/Glad_Independent_890 • 12h ago
Cuteness My Boston Harvey in 2015 vs. 2025 🥲♥️
This guy means a lot to me, and has seen me grow through many ups and downs.
r/BostonTerrier • u/masticated_musings • 4h ago
Another Pic of my Giant Boston Puppy
Dana - 6mo blue Boston terrier, weight unknown Shoshana - 6yr red Boston terrier, 17.5lbs
Is Dana going to be huge?!??
r/BostonTerrier • u/YoUDee1999 • 2h ago
Cuteness I did these same poses for my 7th grade pictures
Do I look like a chill guy?? Ya, I know
r/BostonTerrier • u/Apple_Cobbler_1899 • 10h ago
2013 and 2025
She is still like a little baby for us 🥰
r/BostonTerrier • u/OneEyedOtis • 42m ago
Cuteness I got this gremlin on 7/24/25
It was love at first sight when we met. Otis was in a foster for a whole year after losing his eye to a pack of coyotes. He's a tough one. They were never able to find his owners, and so we became a pair. It's been an adventure so far. He's always looking for new friends on his YouTube channel, OneEyedOtis.
r/BostonTerrier • u/SuitednZooted • 17h ago
Update: strong Moo is best Moo
She is responding to the meds and now has her favorite baby. It’s just up to how her body responds to the meds now. I can’t express it enough how much your collective support means!
r/BostonTerrier • u/Pinseeka-83 • 8h ago
Life saver
Don't know what I'd do and will do without him. Til then all the lovin and treats for my boy.
r/BostonTerrier • u/MirrorSilly2188 • 10h ago
Cuteness Sunbathing
My cutie Ola-Pearl is a thing of beauty when she finds her little sun spots and her brindle pops 😍. The vet told us her body was perfect at her check-up last week.
r/BostonTerrier • u/endofmayo • 3h ago
Charles 2010 and 2025
My shadow. My friend. Legendary farter and french fry thief.
r/BostonTerrier • u/roman_705 • 6h ago
Cuteness Hi Ev’body!
Cru Love Jones just wanted to say hi to everyone. It’s been a while since we posted. HI! :)
(shot with a Nikon f100 50mm 1.4 on Ilford HP5)
r/BostonTerrier • u/MrsRidge • 9h ago
I’m soooo tired of this rain
Southern Indiana here!! Flooding and all. My dogs are over it!! This rain sucks!!!
r/BostonTerrier • u/nbologna12 • 45m ago
Rocco sure loves being outside…..when it’s nice out lol
r/BostonTerrier • u/Cheech_Bluribbndiq • 8h ago
Zu-Zu loves it when the deer get close. She won that particular staring contest.
Zu-Zu and her brother, Ponyboy used to go nuts when the deer got close. They're used to them now and really like watching them graze around the house. If that window wasn't there it would be total mayhem. But for now?...a peaceable kingdom.
r/BostonTerrier • u/Motor_Relation_5459 • 5h ago
Show off your long snout Boston's!
Yes, he's all Boston and I love his long snout. He also has a tail! He just turned 1!
r/BostonTerrier • u/HumbleCatch4325 • 5h ago
Looks like a Boston /pug in California
🆘⏰CODE RED PAST DEADLINE 4/5 AT 4PM‼️‼️
In the blink of an eye life can pass you by.. This sweet little angel #a577793 who deserves so many more happy years needs our help and fast. Arrived 3/31 just off stray hold and DEADLINED for medical. SHELTER NOTES: rectal prolapse and enteritis/colitis (diarrhea) The shelter doesn’t have a vet and they have way too many dogs so this sweetheart is code red urgent!! NEEDS EVERYTHING but MOST OF ALL A CHANCE TO LIVE AND LOVE.
🙏➡️Shares, Prayers and Pledges. Please.
🛟ONE RESCUE & ONE FOSTER = HIS LIFELINE🛟
Listed as a 5 year old male. Brown Brindle French Bulldog. Weight 24.3lbs.
🙏➡️ADOPT. FOSTER. RESCUE. PLEASE Please PLEDGE.. Please SHARE.. Sharing is Caring and your ONE SHARE could SAVE HIS LIFE!!
San Bernardino Animal Services 333 Chandler Pl. San Bernardino CA 92408 Rescue Email: sbrescue@sbcity.org Phone: 909-384-1304 or 909-384-7272 SHELTER HOURS DAILY 11AM TO 4PM
r/BostonTerrier • u/UnableShop9994 • 17h ago
Then and now.
Brody is three months in the first photo and almost five months in the second. He’s our first Boston and certainly won’t be our last! This silly little Velcro dog has my heart.
r/BostonTerrier • u/roman_705 • 2h ago
Cuteness It me, Brixie!
My papa took a cute pict of me with his new/old camera. Do you like it?
(shot with Nikon F100 85mm 1.4 Ilford HP5)
r/BostonTerrier • u/C00LmomBADmom • 26m ago
Advice A good boy who deserves a treat but has a very sensitive stomach
Thanks for the recommendations we switched to Hill’s Science Diet (sensitive stomach & skin-wild caught paddock) and his poops and skin have been great. He is not a fan of toys but has showed interest in chewing bones (just a bull horn and chicken feet). However I stopped offering because he was not digesting it well. Wondering if there are easily digestible alternatives?