Dog breed guide
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier has a short, smooth, fine coat that needs only occasional brushing, plus regular ear and teeth checks and nail trims. Dogs Victoria describes it as highly active, bold and playful, and highly intelligent but sometimes stubborn. It is described as a fun family dog and an ideal house companion, and the Royal Kennel Club lists it as suitable for flats.
Also searched as Boston.
Boston Terrier at a glance
- Adult weight, male
- 5 to 11 kg
- Adult weight, female
- 5 to 11 kg
- Size
- Small, under 10 kg
- Lifespan
- 10 to 14 years
- Coat
- short, smooth, bright and fine in texture
Ratings
Petboost editorial ratings from 1 to 5, drawn from the breed standard text under Sources. A breed with no basis in the sources for a rating shows none.
- Grooming effort
- Energy
- Trainability
- Good with children
- Suits an apartment
5 means it needs the most grooming
5 means it needs a lot of exercise
5 means it learns quickly and eagerly
5 means it suits a family best
5 means it copes best in a small home
Next steps
- Find a local groomer or daycarePet businesses near you that take bookings online.
- Check a Boston Terrier puppy's weightWhere a puppy sits against the breed's adult range.
- Dog age in human yearsFrom a formula, not the seven-to-one rule.
Sources
- Petboost breed reference data, adult weight ranges (breed list snapshot).
- Dogs Victoria, Boston Terrier breed characteristics, https://dogsvictoria.org.au/choosing-a-breed/browse-all-breeds/192/Boston-Terrier-/, read 2026-10-05
- The Royal Kennel Club (UK), Boston Terrier breed information, https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/utility/boston-terrier/, read 2026-10-05
General information about the breed, not veterinary advice. Speak with your vet about your own pet.