Boston Terriers versus French Bulldogs?

[RougeEmpire]

[QUOTE=hackinaround;6188165]
Another fun option and lesser know is the Old Boston Bulldog. More the original phenotype for Bostons. Back when they were robust and thicker.

http://www.oldbostonchat.com/Home.html[/QUOTE]

I’ve never seen these guys before! I love when breeders “take em back” to how they used to be. I also think a Boston is a “healthier” dog than a French, though I use the term looser. I love Frenchies (TONS of personality) but it’s really designed to be a city dog. Not bred to be active or up for much running around. A good choice if you like to take strolls in your local city park and grab lunch on the patio of a cafe and then retire to your posh apartment :lol:

The Boston however is a rough and tumble guy who can keep up most with outdoor active types!

[JanM]

My aunt and uncle had the greatest Boston ever named Pud (short for Puddles-she was just a tiny puppy when she got that name). She lived in rural Oklahoma on a ranch her whole life and was wonderful.

[Donella]

We have both a Frenchie and two Bostons (my family has had Bostons for many years now) currently. They are both really wonderful dogs though be aware that both breeds can be prone to a few significant health issues so MAKE SURE you buy only from a breeder who guarantees against the genetic disorders that are prevalent in the breed.

Bostons are the kind of dog that can be both high energy or totally chill. They love to be active (excel at agility, flyball ect.) and most have a high play drive. Ours will spend all day running around in the back yard in the summer if you let them. They also love to cuddle, to just chill and be with you if that is the mood you are in. I took my Boston girly running with me for years and she loved it. She also loved to lay with me for hours and hours on my bed when I was in University and spend most of my time studying. They don’t do well in extreme heat but ours play to the point of utter exhaustion and we have never experienced any sort of health issue because of it. I also took one of my Bostons running with me when I used to run a lot and she did really well though I only took her on the shorter, slow runs. And yes, they do snore …all of them lol. Shedding is very minimal though, so that is a big bonus I think.

In terms of health issues Bostons often have juvenile cataracts and allergy issues. Make sure the breeder you buy from guarantees against this. The first Boston we ever had was a rescue and despite numerous surgeries he lost both eyes prior to 5 years of age.

Frenchies are also wonderful dogs. They are major clowns that love to entertain everyone around them. They are quite similar to the Bostons in temperament I find, though perhaps a bit less active? Ours loves to play though as much as he loves to snuggle and sleep. They do shed quite a bit more than the Bostons and snore pretty badly too. I know they have spine issues so make sure you buy from a breeder that X rays for spinal issues ect.

Both breeds are wonderful, honestly. There is no way you would be disappointed in either but just make sure you buy from a very reputable breeder that breeds healthy dogs. I would stay far away from any crosses for the risk of health issues.

And just for fun, here is a recent pic of our Frenchie boy (Herbert) and Bostie Girl (Shirley) at Halloween:

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn273/SpruceViewFarms/DSC_01191.jpg

[EqTrainer]

Ohhhhhh! All those ears! An awesome photograph… Thank you.

[leilatigress]

LOVE me a BT! Had one as a kid and she was awesome! DH nixed the breed when we went shopping on snoring alone. I have pet sat a few and had one that was indeed a snorer, curled up with the snoring DD it made quite a racket but we loved it. One we had as a kid would walk the backs of the horses and settle on mom’s gelding. She was a helluva dog, could jump up onto the counter from a stand still. We had her in Texas during the summer and never had issues with her. Winter she had her own sweater when it got icy otherwise she was good to go. She put up with a LOT!

[honeychile]

I love my BT!
We got a 5 year old retired Can/Am Champion who just wasn’t the best stud dog. He’s neutered now and a big couch potato. He loves his walks, but loves his couch time too.

He does snore, but only if positioned awkwardly. Once you straighten him out the snoring stops. :lol:

Here is a picture of our boy:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417621_10150602017193920_509633919_9142963_477418018_n.jpg

Hope that works! My friend has a Frenchie and I would say that are pretty similar in personalities (French and BT) BUT I think the Frenchie is a bit more of a “bulldog” personality (protective of his home, a little wary of strangers, but super loveable and silly).

[EqTrainer]

Anna, you can just put that dog in a crate and send it right here! That is a seriously cute BT.

[Lynnwood]

Our l![](ttle girl Ruby <3

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/345br41.jpg)

One of her liter @ around 5weeks. Dad was brindle with Red and blue factor. Mom was a Red Brindle.

[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/291ni2x.jpg)

And although not mine my favorite all time Boston picture.

[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/2ros41d.jpg)

[Lynnwood]

Totally semi sort of off topic but to funny !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hGl3QrUrMjg

[EqTrainer]

Oh! Your bebe is so cute!

Thanks for all of your help the pic you sent me almost pushed me over the edge but the rule here is only boys and they must be black and white LOL

[Debbie]

I found a boston terrier/shih tzu mix on Craigslist and I wish I could clone her a million times over. She has shaggy fur that doesn’t shed, but also doesn’t have to be trimmed and it’s coarse so it sheds dirt. She’s colored and marked like a BT and utterly adorable. She makes friends with every dog she meets and is fine with cats and kids. Happy, happy little farm dog.

This may not work (I hate the new Facebook photo settings): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.109322112430015.12670.100000566807390&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=109322502429976&set=a.109322112430015.12670.100000566807390&type=3&theater

or this:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=109322502429976&l=60c3e68bbb

I fully intend to have a full BT at some point; I love the Frenchies too.

[Epona142]

We took in two Bostons after their elderly owner died. Well, I say “we”, but it was my husband who toted them home. He manages a small grocery store, so people get to know him. The owner’s daughter told him about the dogs and he agreed to take them in. Which is a bit of a change, normally it’s me dragging home strays.

At first I was not too enthused. They stunk, they snorted, they snored, they farted. (They still do all but the first…)

But I put them on a diet, an exercise program, and watched carefully to see how they interacted with the rest of the farm. They settled right in, snorting and farting with happy faces.

We’ve since discovered they will chase a flashlight until they drop. They “help” wash the horses by jumping into the water hose stream. Boy that gave me a surprise the first time… luckily my mare Apple is only concerned with falling asleep under her “shower” and could not care less. So now I play with them with the water hose as well. They love to be squirted with it and to chase the water around. We’re going to pick them up a kiddy pool here soon to see if they’d like that.

They chase and eat flies better than my chickens do, I swear.

They are turning out to be a real hoot. They love to snuggle and slurp you with their funny little faces. They have slowly but surely wormed their way into my heart. Being elderly, we may not have them long, but they’ve made me realize that Bostons are a pretty good breed!

[Bluey]

Don’t worry, being healthy, they should live very long.

One problem I don’t remember being mentioned is that bostons are prone to demodectic mange, so be sure to keep your eye on any bare patches and get to it before it gets too big.
Today that is not such a big problem, but before there was a way to kill those bugs, it could kill.
Hard to detect at first if it starts in the facial folds.

Years and years ago, before Mitaban or ivermectins, we lost one of our dobies to that, very sad situation.

We had a ten year old boy with a boston in our dog club and he trained that dog in obedience and did very well, they are very good dogs to train.
Frenchies, not so much, they kind of tend to have a more independent streak.

[Trakehner]

Boston all the way…good choice. Good breeder is the way to go…some of the Boston lines had their fissures in their skulls solidify too soon…resulting in a warm pet rock of a dog (dumb).

A girl at my barn had a lovely Boston female, she was always running and going on trail rides…that dog was so in shape, a solid block of black & white muscle and very sweet.

If you had a horse trailer hitched up and opened the door, she was instantly inside and settled down instantly on the back seat. A really lovely dog.

[SkipHiLad4me]

Well you know I’m going to put in my plug for the Boston Terrier Rescue because we have some REALLY great dogs looking for new homes. Many have been victims of the bad economy and their families couldn’t keep them due to financial reasons or poor health. I sent you a PM :yes:

[EqTrainer]

Thanks so much… I sent you back a note. Unfortunately I am not interested in working with a rescue unless it were very unusual circumstances - the ones they dislike the most LOL a puppy, outright ownership, will be with kids/cats and will not be leashed 24/7. So if there is an exception to that by all means let me know!

[Lynnwood]

[QUOTE=EqTrainer;6196341]
Thanks so much… I sent you back a note. Unfortunately I am not interested in working with a rescue unless it were very unusual circumstances - the ones they dislike the most LOL a puppy, outright ownership, will be with kids/cats and will not be leashed 24/7. So if there is an exception to that by all means let me know![/QUOTE]

Your above is entirely the reason I end up buying vs rescue.

Dogs , cats, kids ponies , on a farm not 100% fenced … (thud) sound of rescue fainting dead away. :lol:

[SkipHiLad4me]

[QUOTE=hackinaround;6196492]
Your above is entirely the reason I end up buying vs rescue.

Dogs , cats, kids ponies , on a farm not 100% fenced … (thud) sound of rescue fainting dead away. :lol:[/QUOTE]

And this type of stereotyping is what is very frustrating for the GOOD rescues out there who are working hard to match dogs with the right families. :no: I’m sorry to hear that some people haven’t had a good experience with the rescue groups that they’ve encountered. Not all rescues are created equally though and it does a great disservice to the ones who work hard to do the right thing by lumping them in with all of the “others” who make a bad name for rescues. Plus it deters people who aren’t familiar with rescue at all to even explore the possibilities out there when they could end up finding the perfect dog out there somewhere by doing so (and then giving that dog the second chance it deserves!)

[Trakehner]

I’ve had terrible luck with rescues…horse, dog and cat.

The horse group gave a test on horse care, disease and body parts…which is fine. Wanted references from a vet and barn owner etc. and the horse would never be mine, I’d be the caretaker. Well, screw ya’ll with that attitude, it’s not a child.

Dog rescue…must have a fenced yard, someone always at home, vet references again etc. Guess they really didn’t want a dog home.

Cat rescue…phew! those people really were out to lunch. What “color” owner are you? Red, Blue or Yellow? Again, HUH?

Sadly, too many rescues are so intent at finding what they consider a “good home”, the animals don’t find any home.

[EqTrainer]

The rescue SkipHiLad4Me works with has an excellent reputation and does a great job. Its just not right for me.