Popular breeds always suffer from poor breeding practices due to ignorant and irresponsible breeders. In responsible breeding, dogs of the same lineage are never bred, and ethical breeders dedicated to the positive development and health of the chosen type of dog will never breed dogs with preventable temperaments or health disorders.
Unfortunately, many hobby breeders in the United States and around the world try to cash in on the popularity of certain breeds and will produce many puppies born to unsuitable sires and mares, many times mating within the same bloodline. This prolongs and accentuates various problems within the breed, and inbreeding will aggravate this. Unfortunately, the Boston Terrier is listed as a “pet store breed” and is often bred unethically for a quick buck.
Boston Terriers, while most are sweet as pie and easily pick up basic obedience, can end up being a bit unpredictable, even leading to some aggression. This is often caused by the aforementioned irresponsible breeding practices, but can also be the fault of an owner who hasn’t bothered to train their dog properly. Boston Terriers are a very excitable and boisterous breed; These traits, along with a lack of obedience training, can make him a very difficult dog to handle.
As far as health issues go, the Boston Terriers weren’t lucky enough to be drawn. They are in a group of brachycephalic breeds (meaning they have short heads and noses) that have a number of respiratory problems due to an elongated soft palate and shorter airways. These handicaps lead to snoring, snorting, wheezing, and reverse sneezing. While some owners love these sounds and find them endearing, they can often be indicative of a much larger problem, such as narrowed nostrils or collapsed trachea, both of which require corrective surgery. The Boston Terrier is also prone to drooling and gas, which can be an inconvenience to the unexpected owner. Feeding higher quality foods, whether store-bought or homemade, can help minimize this problem. All in all, the Boston Terrier makes a wonderful pet, but it can require a large financial commitment to keep it in the best of health.
Although the despicable practices of some breeders are difficult to identify when looking for a new puppy, there are some steps you can take to ensure that you will have to deal with as few of these temperament and health issues as possible. First and foremost, never buy a pet from a pet store. Most pet stores are supplied by puppy mills. Puppy mills are champions of inbreeding and irresponsible mating. There is no guarantee that your puppy will be a purebred Boston Terrier, but it is very likely that he will have various health problems in the future. The second step is to find a reputable breeder and do your research. Call the owners of the puppies the breeder’s dogs have sired and get reliable references. With a little work, you can be sure that you will have a much healthier and happier puppy to share your life with.
