Boston Terrier lying on a wooden table outside looking at the camera

Boston Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Despite being a non-sporting breed, Boston&rsquo;s are athletic and do well with agility dog sports. You can buy a Boston Terrier from a reputable dog breeder, or they can be adopted from rescue groups. If you are thinking of getting a Boston, here&#39;s everything you need to know.&nbsp;

Utility

Type

13 - 15 years

Lifespan

Small to medium

Size

4.5 - 11 kg

Weight

38 - 43 cm

Height

Friendly, stubborn, energetic

Temperament

30 - 60 mins per day

Exercise

Low maintenance

Grooming

Boston Terriers have a life expectancy of 13-15 years. The right diet and exercise will help to keep your dog healthy, but some health conditions can&rsquo;t be avoided. Regular health check-ups with a vet will help to detect any health concerns at an early stage.

They can be left alone but they&rsquo;re prone to <a href="/all-things-pet/how-to-deal-with-dog-separation-anxiety" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to separation anxiety in dogs">separation anxiety</a>, which can lead to destructive behaviour. Ideally, don&rsquo;t leave your dog alone for long periods, and when you do leave, make sure they have lots of toys to keep them entertained. Cameras with a speaker and/or treat dispenser can also help to calm an anxious dog.

Yes, they do shed but their short smooth coat sheds less than other breeds of dog. They&rsquo;re considered year-round light shedders, but you may see slightly more fur loss during spring and autumn. Weekly brushing will help to reduce shedding as it removes dead skin and loose fur.

Boston Terriers are generally not an aggressive breed. They may bark when someone knocks on the door but as soon as the door is open, they welcome their visitors with a happy face and waggy tail. Despite being naturally friendly, it&rsquo;s best to socialise your dog from a young age, particularly with other dogs.

A Boston Terriers&rsquo; gentle temperament makes for an ideal companion. They&rsquo;re loving, loyal and lively. They love to play and often have sudden bursts of energy, which are highly entertaining to watch but can make training difficult. Fortunately, their <a href="/all-things-pet/dog-grooming-101" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog grooming">grooming requirements</a> are low, so as long as you have time to walk, play and cuddle, this breed is right for you!

The Boston Terrier breed originated in Boston, United States, by breeding the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/bulldog-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's English Bulldog breed guide">English Bulldog</a>&nbsp;with a White English Terrier. Fondly known as the &ldquo;American Gentleman&rdquo;, the Boston was accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1893.

The most common colour is seal with white, but they can also be brindle, red, or black, all with white markings. They can also be all black and all white.

A Boston Terriers&rsquo; gentle temperament makes for an ideal companion. They&rsquo;re loving, loyal and lively. They love to play and often have sudden bursts of energy, which are highly entertaining to watch but can make training difficult. Fortunately, their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/all-things-pet/dog-grooming-101" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog grooming">grooming requirements</a>&nbsp;are low, so as long as you have <a href="/all-things-pet/guide-to-dog-walking" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog walking">time to walk</a>, play and cuddle, this breed is right for you!

<ul>
	<li>Vetstream Ltd (online) Boston Terrier. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/boston-terrier" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Boston Terrier Page">https://vetstream.com/treat/canis/breeds-pages/boston-terrier</a></li>
	<li>Braund K &amp; Davidson A P (online) Dystocia. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Dystocia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Dystocia Page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Dystocia</a></li>
	<li>Brooks D E &amp; Williams D L (online) Lens: hereditary primary cataract. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Lens-hereditary-primary-cataract" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Lens: hereditary primary cataract page">https://vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/Lens-hereditary-primary-cataract</a></li>
	<li>Harari J &amp; Arthurs G (online) Patella: medial luxation. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/patella-medial-luxation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Patella: medial luxation Page">https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/patella-medial-luxation</a></li>
	<li>Johnson L, Sammarco J &amp; Haar G (online) Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome. In: Vetlexicon Canis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: <a href="https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/brachycephalic-airway-obstruction-syndrome" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link to Vetstream's Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome Page">https://www.vetstream.com/clinical-reference/canis/diseases/brachycephalic-airway-obstruction-syndrome</a></li>
</ul>

Content provided from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vetstream.com/treat/canis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="link to vet experts Vetstream's website">Vetstream&#39;s Vetlexicon Canis</a>

Vetlexicon is the world&rsquo;s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world&rsquo;s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

Much like their adult form, Boston Terrier <a href="/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppies have lots of energy to burn</a>. They enjoy playing games and going for walks. They&rsquo;re also an intelligent breed so make sure you keep them entertained to prevent destructive behaviour &ndash; like chewing on your furniture!&nbsp;

Puzzle games or hiding treats around the room is a great way to keep them stimulated. It&rsquo;s also a good idea to start training from a young age as they learn quicker, and it will help to prevent unwanted behaviour.

The Boston Terrier is a <a href="/all-things-pet/best-dog-breeds-for-families-with-kids" title="Link to Everypaw's article about the best dog breeds for families">great dog choice for any family</a> &ndash; they&rsquo;re good with kids and other pets! Their lively and friendly personalities make them a popular breed. There&rsquo;s even a Boston Terrier club, which was formed in 1935 by Lady Essex.&nbsp;

A Boston will keep you active and entertained, but don&rsquo;t worry, they also love to chill out at home, preferably on the sofa or on your lap. They&rsquo;re an easy-going breed so make perfect pets for first time owners.

This greedy breed will eat anything! When it comes to their mealtimes, weigh their food out so that you don&rsquo;t overfeed your dog by mistake. You don&rsquo;t want your little buddy piling on the pounds.&nbsp;

Boston&rsquo;s are a <a href="/all-things-pet/living-with-brachycephalic-pets" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to Brachycephalic pets">brachycephalic breed</a>, which refers to their flat faces. Their squished noses make breathing harder for them than long nosed breeds and <a href="/all-things-pet/tips-for-overweight-dogs" title="Link to Everypaw's article about overweight dogs">being overweight</a> makes it even more difficult.

If you&rsquo;re unsure how much food your dog needs, check the food packaging for guidelines or ask your vet. Two smaller meals a day is better than one big meal. <a href="/all-things-pet/dog-food-feeding-guide" title="Link to Everypaw's dog food guide">High-quality dog food</a> will meet all your dog&rsquo;s nutritional needs, so you don&rsquo;t need to feed them anything else. But an odd treat here and there will be gratefully received.

The short smooth coat of a Boston Terrier is easy to maintain &ndash; a weekly brush will do the trick! Brushing regularly helps to remove the loose fur and dead skin that&rsquo;s shed naturally. Most dogs only need bathing once a month, or every 6 weeks. But if your dog likes to roll in things, you could find yourself bathing them more often.&nbsp;

<a href="/all-things-pet/dog-grooming-101" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to dog grooming">Bathing your dog at home</a> can be an easy and pleasant experience, especially if you start it from a young age. Or you can take them to a professional groomer for a pampering session. Why not treat them to a pedicure while they are there? Your dog&rsquo;s nails will need clipping regularly to prevent them from overgrowing.

Training a Boston can be difficult. They&rsquo;re intelligent but also stubborn, so you&rsquo;ll need to be consistent. They&rsquo;re big foodies, so positive reward training with treats will get the best results. Make sure you reward your dog every time they complete a command to keep them interested.&nbsp;

If training isn&rsquo;t going to plan, remember you can always take them to training classes for extra advice and support. Boston&rsquo;s are a lively breed that needs around an hour of <a href="/all-things-pet/the-dog-exercise-guide" title="Link to Everypaw's dog exercise guide">exercise every day</a>. A couple of daily walks will burn off most of that energy, but they also love to play. A game of fetch in the garden will tire them out, or you can hide treats around the house for them to find.&nbsp;

Boston&#39;s are not a fan of being left alone, so make sure you exercise them before you go and keep them entertained with toys. 
&nbsp;

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Boston Terriers are charming and playful, but as a prospective owner, knowing they can be prone to specific health issues is essential. Therefore, considering pet insurance for your Boston Terrier before bringing one into your home is wise.

Everypaw offers&nbsp;<a href="/Home/dog-insurance.html" target="_blank" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance Page">Lifetime Dog Insurance</a>&nbsp;policies tailored to meet different vet fee coverage needs, which can be invaluable when addressing illnesses and injuries. Our Boston Terrier insurance policies include unlimited access to a dedicated team of veterinarians and vet nurses, along with added benefits such as complementary treatments and physiotherapy. Protect your furry friend with a plan that ensures you&#39;re prepared for whatever comes your way!

Boston Terriers are charming and playful, but as a prospective owner, knowing they can be prone to specific health issues is essential. Therefore, considering pet insurance for your Boston Terrier before bringing one into your home is wise.

Everypaw offers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/dog-insurance" target="_blank" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance Page">Lifetime Dog Insurance</a>&nbsp;policies tailored to meet different vet fee coverage needs, which can be invaluable when addressing illnesses and injuries.

Our Boston Terrier insurance policies include unlimited access to a dedicated team of veterinarians and vet nurses, along with added benefits such as complementary treatments and physiotherapy. Protect your furry friend with a plan that ensures you&#39;re prepared for whatever comes your way!

That’s All You Need to Know About Boston Terriers

This intelligent, stubborn but loving breed is a great choice for any family home. They&rsquo;re great with kids and other pets if socialised at an early age. They enjoy lots of playtime and <a href="/all-things-pet/guide-to-dog-walking" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Walking Guide">going for daily walks</a>. Meeting new people is never an issue &ndash; they love everyone!&nbsp;

Training may be tricky but with perseverance comes success, and food will always get their attention. Unfortunately, as they&rsquo;re a <a href="/all-things-pet/living-with-brachycephalic-pets" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to brachycephalic pets">brachycephalic breed</a>, they are prone to a few health conditions.&nbsp;

This intelligent, stubborn but loving <a href="/all-things-pet/best-dog-breeds-for-families-with-kids" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to the best family dog breeds">breed is a great choice for any family</a> home. They&rsquo;re great with kids and other pets if socialised at an early age. They enjoy lots of playtime and going for daily walks. Meeting new people is never an issue &ndash; they love everyone!&nbsp;

Training may be tricky but with perseverance comes success, and food will always get their attention. Unfortunately, as they&rsquo;re a <a href="/all-things-pet/living-with-brachycephalic-pets" title="Link to Everypaw's guide to living with Brachycephalic pets">brachycephalic breed</a>, they are prone to a few health conditions.&nbsp;

Dystocia refers to difficulties giving birth during any stage of labour. It can be caused by the unborn pups, the mother, or a combination of both. This includes birth canal abnormalities, foetal abnormalities, or abnormal positioning of the puppies. This condition is common in small dogs and means veterinary assistance will be needed to deliver the puppies, including caesarean sections.

Cataracts are easy to spot as they cause a cloudiness over the eye(s), which prevents light from entering the eye and reduces vision. Hereditary cataracts affect both eyes but not always at the same time. They may be present from birth or develop at a young age.&nbsp;

Fortunately, cataracts can often be removed with surgery. If left untreated, cataracts are likely to cause complete blindness.

Any dog can be affected by a luxating patella as it can be a result of trauma. But small breeds of dog, like the Boston Terrier, are more susceptible due to hereditary issues.&nbsp;

Patellar luxation is when the kneecap doesn&rsquo;t line up properly with the groove it normally slides into. This causes the leg to lock up, causing the dog to hop and hold up the leg. It&rsquo;s a painful condition that needs surgery to sort it out.

Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)

Brachycephalic breeds are those with short noses like the Boston Terrier. They have the same amount of tissue in their nose and throat as long nosed breeds, but it all gets squashed up causing wrinkles and folds. These block the airways making it difficult for the dog to breathe, especially when trying to exercise.&nbsp;

Overweight dogs will suffer more from BAOS. The only way to fully resolve the problem is to surgically take out any excess tissue to open the airways.

Common Boston Terrier Health Problems by Vetstream

Boston Terriers are prone to some health problems. It&rsquo;s important to know what the symptoms are. We&#39;ve teamed up with veterinary experts Vetstream to give you an idea of common Boston Terrier health problems and what to keep an eye out for in your dog.

Much like their adult form, Boston Terrier <a href="/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppies</a> have lots of energy to burn. They enjoy playing games and going for walks. They&rsquo;re also an intelligent breed so make sure you keep them entertained to prevent destructive behaviour &ndash; like chewing on your furniture!&nbsp;

Puzzle games or hiding treats around the room is a great way to keep them stimulated. It&rsquo;s also a good idea to start training from a young age as they learn quicker, and it will help to prevent unwanted behaviour.

Boston Terrier Insurance, Health Advice, and Health Problems | Everypaw

Get a quote for your Boston Terrier's insurance

Boston Terrier

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The benefit values featured in the table may vary across the different levels of cover and will depend on the cover you choose. Please check your cover before purchasing. Be aware, for some breeds of dogs we do not provide our &pound;8k and &pound;10k Lifetime cover. 
 
All policies and features are subject to special conditions and exclusions of the insurers, please click the link to read about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Insurance Exclusions page">our policy exclusions.</a> 
 
Excess is applicable to all vet fees claims. When your pet reaches a certain age, the excess payable may change. The excess will be your set excess plus a percentage of your claim amount.

Getting your furry friend covered shouldn&#39;t just come down to cost. There&#39;s a lot more to it than that, so take the time to do a pet insurance comparison. Think about their breed, the level of cover they might need, and what would be important to you. After all, insurance is there for both of you.

One of the best ways to do that is to compare cover levels. This will give you an idea of how much your pet insurance will cost, how much you can claim against vet bills, as well as the policy benefits. It&#39;s all about finding the Lifetime Pet Insurance that works best for you and your pet.

*Based on Everypaw claims data from February 2024 to March 2025

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As our furry companions age, they&#39;re more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses here and there. And we want you to be able to look after your pet well into retirement. That&#39;s why we don&#39;t have age limits on our policies. Our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-for-older-pets.html">pet insurance for older pets</a> can help you do the most important thing &ndash; looking after your pet.

What about younger pets? We also offer <a href="/cat-insurance/kitten-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Kitten Insurance page">kitten</a> and <a href="/dog-insurance/puppy-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Puppy Insurance page">puppy insurance</a>, covered by our cat and dog insurance. No matter how old or young your purr-fect pet is, our pet insurance can give you all-important peace of mind.&nbsp;

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Whether you are looking for a playmate for your pet or if your house is more like a <a href="/dog-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Dog Insurance page">dog</a>, <a href="/cat-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Cat Insurance page">cat</a> and <a href="/rabbit-insurance" title="Link to Everypaw's Rabbit Insurance page">rabbit</a> smallholding, you need multi-pet insurance that works for you. Everypaw&#39;s policies are just that and give you a discount on every pet too. No matter how many pets you have, from glorious <a href="/dog-insurance/dog-breed-guides/golden-retriever-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Golden Retriever Dog Breed Guide page">Golden Retrievers</a> and majestic <a href="/cat-insurance/cat-breed-guides/maine-coon-cat-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Maine Coon Cat Breed Guide page">Maine Coons</a> to lovely <a href="/rabbit-insurance/rabbit-breed-guides/lionhead-rabbit-insurance-care-and-health-advice" title="Link to Everypaw's Lionhead Rabbit Breed Guide page">Lionheads</a>, it&#39;s there for every single paw.

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How Does Pet Insurance Work: Getting a Quote

Our pet insurance quote form takes just 3 minutes to fill out. Here&#39;s how it works:

<ul>
	<li>Select which type of pet you&#39;re looking to insure and enter their age, breed and sex</li>
	<li>Enter basic personal details about yourself including your email and home addresses</li>
	<li>Select your vet fees limit</li>
	<li>We&#39;ll give you a pet insurance price! And we&#39;ll show you what the cost is for the year, plus what your monthly instalments will look like if you choose to pay that way</li>
</ul>

Will my pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Ever found the urge to discover what the best dog breeds to train are or maybe you want to get to the bottom of your pet&#39;s worm problem.&nbsp;<a href="/Home/all-things-pet.html" title="Link to Everypaw's All Things Pet blog">Everypaw&#39;s All Things Pet blog</a>&nbsp;has the content to keep you informed.

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For that extra peace of mind when your pets get up to mischief, there&#39;s Everypaw. Our pet insurance is for cats, dogs and rabbits, and every policy comes with unlimited 24/7 access to vet nurses and vets. So, if you ever feel a bit &#39;for pet&#39;s sake&#39;, know Everypaw is here for you and your pet when you need us most!

Why Choose Everypaw for Pet Insurance in the UK?

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Manage your UK pet insurance policy online in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.everypaw.com/pet-portal-info" title="Link to Everypaw's Pet Portal Information page">Pet Portal</a>

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Choosing the right pet health insurance isn&#39;t always easy. We know that. And we also know that a key part of deciding is knowing what&#39;s not covered. That way, at least there are no nasty surprises in terms of coughing up for bills that you thought were going to be taken care of by your policy.

So, here are a few of the main exclusions on our pet insurances:

<ul>
	<li>Treatment for any pre-existing conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment for poisoning or any accidental injury that occurs in the first 3 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment for any illness that occurs in the first 14 days of your policy*</li>
	<li>Treatment related to vaccine-preventable conditions</li>
	<li>Treatment related to breeding, pregnancy or birthing</li>
	<li>Treatment on baby teeth if your pet is over 16 weeks when your policy starts</li>
</ul>

*Switching to Everypaw Pet Insurance? If you can prove your previous insurance runs up to the policy start date, we can waive this for you.

Please see our <a href="/Home/pet-insurance-policy-exclusions.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Policy Exclusions page">exclusions page</a>&nbsp;for further details.

Fingers crossed, you never have to! We want to reassure you that claiming on your pet health insurance is as hassle-free as possible. That&rsquo;s why we have Vet Pawtal. A direct platform for vets so they can submit claims and leave you to care for your pet.

Vet Pawtal is the fastest and most efficient way to claim. There&rsquo;s no more paperwork for you, and we&rsquo;ll keep you updated every step of the way.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

If your vet can&rsquo;t submit the claim, don&rsquo;t worry; you can still submit it in the <a href="https://petportal.everypaw.com/register#login" target="_blank" title="Link to the Everypaw Pet Portal">Everypaw Pet Portal</a>. It&rsquo;s straightforward; just log in and follow the instructions. Alternatively,&nbsp;you can <a href="https://www.everypaw.com/downloads-2020/everypaw-claim-form.pdf" target="_blank" title="Link to download an Everypaw claim form">download a claim form</a>, but this can take longer.

Please refer to the guidance in your policy documents for Third Party Liability claims.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, head to our <a href="/Home/claims.html">Pet Insurance Claims information page</a>.

We know pets are just as much a part of your family as any human. So, we know how important it is to you that they&#39;re protected. Choose Everypaw for pet insurance in the UK and give yourself that priceless peace of mind.

We know things can be tough right now, with many people facing money worries. If you have such concerns, please get in touch with us, as we may be able to offer some options to help, which could include reducing your cover or increasing your excess.

If you wish to find out more and your eligibility for any options, please call <a href="tel:03445431009" title="Call Everypaw Customer Services and Claims">0344 543 1009</a>.

Two levels of our Lifetime Pet Insurance cover have been rated 5 Stars by independent financial business, Defaqto, for 8 years in a row.

Deciding which pet insurance your furry bundle of fun needs can be tricky, especially if you&#39;re a new fur-parent. That&#39;s why here at Everypaw.com, we&#39;re trying to keep things simple, we&#39;re all about&nbsp;<a href="/Home/lifetime-pet-insurance.html" title="Link to Everypaw's Lifetime Pet Insurance page">Lifetime Pet Insurance</a>.

Our Lifetime cover is available for your cats, dogs and rabbits. And if you&#39;re looking to cover your cat or dog, there&#39;s a range of cover levels to choose from. Lifetime covers your pet up to a set vet fee limit, and the limits reset for every year of cover.

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Boston Terrier Insurance, Care and Health Advice

Boston Terrier Facts

Is a Boston Terrier Right for Me?

What Are Boston Terrier Puppies Like?

Life with a Boston Terrier

Caring for Your Boston Terrier

Dinner time

Grooming time

Training & exercise