Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix: Facts, Details, Pictures

What we now commonly refer to as designer dogs incorporate all the best characteristics from our favorite breeds. These types of dogs allow seemingly contradictory qualities to coexist harmoniously in a single dog. If you’re here, you’ve placed a winning bet on the Boston pit and will soon know why.

Boston terrier pit bull mixes are designer dogs from crossbreeding a Boston terrier and pit bull dog. Prominent features are triangular ears that point up or fold down and a smooth, short coat. They usually live between 8 and 10 years, with a growth average of 17-19 inches and 25-30 pounds.

The Boston pit’s heritage is rich; from state dog to university mascot, this mix isn’t lacking in accolades. You must explore further if you’re curious about what you get when you breed a canine that was once made to be a gladiator and then developed to be a powerful, sweet little thing with another muscular, agile, and loyal dog. This dog is worth every word on this page and much more.

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Origins Of The Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

As to the American Kennel Club (AKC) records, the Boston pit has a rich history beginning overseas. The origins of this gentle brute of a unique breed date back to England’s 19th-century culture of mixing terrier and bull breeds to create spartan-type dogs for blood sports.

It then goes on that the modern Boston pit’s first patriarch-ancestor was bred from an English terrier and a bulldog in the late 1860s. The original owner from Liverpool sold the dog, Judge, off to William O’Brien, an American who brought the dog back with him.

William O’Brien then sold Judge to another Boston native, Robert C. Hooper. As referred to in the annals of breeds, “Hooper’s Judge” became the first patriarch of all true Boston terrier pit bull mixes.

It’s recorded that Judge was a strong and muscular dog that carried its thirty-two-pound weight with an air of dignity. Judge’s coat was a dark fleck with a white stripe down his square, blocky head, and small face.

To create the first All-American Boston terrier, Judge was bred to Burnett’s Gyp, a petite white female. The offspring of Judge and Burnett’s Gyp was crossbred with a French pit bull to create the first Boston pit.

The muscular fighting part of the Boston terrier was selectively bred out in the first couple of decades of the breed’s existence. The sporty lineage was slowly transformed into a more petite, more attractive, gentler companion dog.

This development would also affect the Boston pit’s future, developing them into the beautiful and mild-tempered dogs we have today. Fortunately, the Boston terrier’s original strength wasn’t lost even as the English terrier went extinct, and that strength was bred and married with agility in the modern Boston pit.

Interestingly, the Boston pit got its name from its Boston terrier for having been painstakingly developed into the “American Gentleman” in Boston, which led to the Boston terrier being named in the 1979 Massachusetts Legislature as the state dog and commonwealth symbol.

Physical Traits Of The Boston Pit Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

The Boston pit is widely regarded as having a unique appearance that can’t be easily predicted. Each offspring will take physical characteristics from its Boston terrier and pit bull parent without much preference.

Despite the random nature of each Boston pit, the silhouette will generally have a broad-shouldered and muscular body that has a majority of its bulk in the torso area. They might be short but will hint towards the sportier history of its parents.

This crossbreed is the first generation of its parents where one parent is larger than the other without mattering which parent it is that’s bigger in size. Boston pits aren’t big dogs; their compact bodies typically range from a height of 17 to 19 inches.

The Boston pits that develop on the smaller side usually measure 25 and 30 pounds, while bigger ones can weigh in the ballpark of 60 pounds. You will notice that their mass will differ according to the sizes of the Boston terrier and pit bull they’re bred from.

Apart from the Boston pit’s sometimes pink-tinged, black or brown nose, a smooth short coat that sheds moderately, and triangular ears, there aren’t many other features that significantly distinguish the dog away from its parents.

Depending on the dog’s parents, the ears point up or fold down without drooping like a dachshund. The face might appear flat with a short muzzle when the dog’s appearance lottery draws more from its Boston terrier heritage.

On the other hand, its face might emerge round with pronounced cheekbones sitting on a head that could be more blocky if inspired more by the pit bull lineage.

The color of the dog’s flat and shiny coat is also a merry affair that can combine the two-tone coat of the Boston terrier with the unique color patches of some pit bulls. Although the dog usually dons more solid patterned fur, the color and style combinations can include:

Black,
Brown or seal,
Brindle,
Red,
Grey,
Tan,
White, and
They can be decorated with spots and patches in any of these colors.

The dog’s eye colors are a bit easier to predict, as they usually come out light brown, blue, or a combination of colors on each side. These dogs tend to remain exuberant for most of their lives as they don’t mature into senior “doggizens” until they reach about ten years.

The reported lifespan is often 8 to 10 years, with some dogs pushing it to the reaches of 15 years.

Temperament Of The Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

Even with some of the menace that might sometimes present itself from its brutish lineage, the Boston pit is widely regarded as an intelligent and safe dog. Inexperienced people might report the dog misbehaving and not a good listener if they need to learn how to deal with its energy.

Like its Boston terrier mama or papa, the Boston pit is a social dog that gels well with the whole family, parents, small kids, and all. They can be highly empathetic dogs that can sense and respond to their owner’s emotional state.

When trained and raised correctly, these dogs are amicable with dogs and other pets while being cavity-inducing sweet, loving, and fiercely protective of their human parents and family. They love to please their owners and create laughs by doing the silliest and darndest things while coming back to nuzzle their wet noses on you throughout the day.

This precious bundle of canine-joy can also watch and entertain kids when adults are within eyesight but more focused on other pressing tasks or simply getting lunch ready. Owners with experience will often advise new dog parents with young kids around the house to teach the kids not to pull the dog’s tail.

This is because the dogs can get too excited and play rougher when someone pulls on their tail or ears. Even with this advice, parents should keep dogs and kids within close view in case of sudden aggression in this roughhousing.

Boston pits can also be of the subdued lot that is calm and go with the flow, which means even though they sometimes bark, they don’t usually cause too much of a commotion unless they have been allowed to be boisterous with other dogs and strangers because of a stubborn nature.

Although the Boston pit is reported with such favorable moods and temperament, the latest research does suggest that it’s only a dog’s physical traits that we can more accurately predict. Any other characteristics like a golden or Labrador retriever’s friendliness are only marginally passed down through genetics.

Meaning the final determiner of how a Boston pit will behave is primarily shaped by its environment and how it is brought up. Wait a minute, just like mini-humans? That should be both exciting and a tremendous responsibility when raising a dog with such a glowing temperament report.

Grooming Requirements Of The Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

Boston pit’s small fur doesn’t shed much and can be tolerated by people with mild allergies, but the dog is not to be regarded as hypoallergenic. Their shiny coat doesn’t require much maintenance and should be perfectly healthy with brushing twice to three times weekly.

The dog should be bathed once a month or when its fur gets dirty and when you notice more shedding than usual. Even though the Boston terrier enjoys swimming, the Boston pit should be similarly regarded.

But, the baths should be reserved to protect the dog’s protective barrier oils on its skin, giving its fur that winning sheen while keeping the skin soft and lovely.

The area around the dog’s ears and eyes should be regularly cleaned with a clean, soft, and damp cloth. This will help remove any harmful substances hiding in these areas and will also help remove moisture buildup that can result in a low-level fish smell from this area.

As with any other dog, you should brush the dog’s teeth at least two times per week.

Although not particularly necessary, it’s a good call to take a Boston pit to a professional groomer every two weeks to help keep nails the correct length and thoroughly groom them to keep them physically healthy.

Lastly, Boston pits might need sunscreen applied to their ears and other exposed and sensitive areas.

Food Requirements Of The Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

Boston pits will need more food to fuel their athleticism the larger they are. However, to avoid the dog’s predisposition to obesity, you want to regulate the meals to two separate meals of two cups of premium dog food suitable for the breed.

The overall diet plan should be low on carbs and fat to curb excessive weight gain. Good quality raw meat such as pork and chicken should be mixed into the dog’s diet.

You should also consider supplementations that’ll help strengthen the dog’s bones as it is prone to bone problems in its later years.

There’s been recent academic interest in glucosamine and chondroitin as viable supplements to help combat osteoarthritis in dogs.

It’s best to consult a veterinarian on the exact supplements, meals, and portion sizes of different-sized and different-age Boston pits.

Illnesses To Look Out For With A Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

Boston pits aren’t immune to the problems plaguing their parents. It is impossible to tell which health problem a Boston pit might develop, but some of the most frequent health issues are:

Obesity,
Dental problems like calculus,
Bone and joint problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia,
Breathing issues from some Boston terriers’ brachycephalic condition,
Eye problems like cataracts or glaucoma
Hearth and digestive system diseases,
Hypothyroidism, and
Skin allergies could result from exposure to specific allergens from plants, insects, and other chemicals.

You’ll need to monitor your Boston pit for excessive scratching, paw licking, skin wounds, and chronic infections because of skin allergies. The dog must also be screened for hereditary diseases and regularly taken to a vet.

Exercise And Activity Requirements For Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

These energetic dogs are also prone to weight problems, requiring adequate exercise to burn extra energy and calories. Fortunately, they aren’t usually picky and can be satisfied with 30 to 40 minutes of daily free running time.

They’ll also be happier incorporating regular play and brisk walks with their owner. Agility, jumping, and other moderately demanding exercises are advised and should be paired with fun games.

The combined exercises should amount to between 1 to 2 hours of activity and stimulation.

Training A Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

Training the Boston pit requires consistency and patience. Boston pits are clever dogs who need mental training to flex their big brains and win a few low-calorie treats from positive reinforcement.

On top of potty training, puppies will require early socialization training to teach them to behave and play better with others.

Should You Get A Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

If you have the time and resources, you can rest assured that the Boston pit will be the right companion for you and your family. As you never know what health woes owning this dog might bring, you’ll need money to take out pet insurance and feed it the best possible foods.

You’ll also need time to give to your Boston pit, as this mix is highly sociable and enjoys the company of its family. Space is another factor you should consider, as you never really know how big these dogs might grow when you get them as puppies.

Additionally, you should read through everything in this article and conclude that you can handle the responsibility using all the provided information.

How To Get A Boston Terrier Pit Bull Mix

It’s generally not recommended to buy the dog as a puppy, not only because their price varies from $200 to over $2,000, but also because you’ll be buying blind regarding health problems.

It’s best to adopt from a reputable shelter, a Boston pit, that is a little bit more mature and has had a health screening. Rescuing is generally better as people usually avoid dogs with pit bull heritage because of the preconception of aggression.

Conclusion

Boston Terrier pit bull mixes are beautiful dogs that might fall prey to the health problems of being of two dog breeds because of being designer dogs. They have a storied heritage that begins in brutality and ends in one of the kindest and most loyal dog breeds you can have.

Resources

https://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf1a.htm