Crossbreeding is an excellent method to achieve the desirable offspring of any pet animal. Today, there are a wide variety of Boston Terriers that are available by a breeder.
These sub-breeds are sold as ‘rare’ Boston terriers with a unique skin coat and bright blue eyes. Talking about that, Splash Bostons are one of them who have these amazing blue eyes.
But, what is a splash Boston terrier? Let’s find the answer in the guide below.
Quick Navigation
What Is a Splash Boston Terrier?
A splash Boston terrier is also known as a pied Boston terrier or piebald Boston terrier. The piebald trait is referred to a certain kind of pattern over the animal’s coat where unpigmented spots or white traces develop over its skin.
How Splash Boston Terrier Came Into Existence?
The Story of Bostons dates back to the 1870s when crossbreeding was quite popular. Boston terriers and bulldogs were crossbred to achieve the desirable breed.
In 1893, Boston Terrier was admitted to American Kennel Club. Since then, Boston terriers are a part of the American Bull Terrier Club (now American Kennel Club) and the hearts of many Americans and natives across the globe.
The history of how the splash Boston terrier came into existence is quite uncertain. However, a source reported that long ago, one of the Champion Boston terriers showed splash markings. From there, the story of Splash Boston Terrier took rail, and today they are in demand.
What Is a Pie Gene in Splash Boston Terrier?
If an American Boston terrier has piebald traits, it has developed white spots due to un-pigmentation over its skin. This piebald gene can also lead to discoloration of the iris.
Hence, if the surrounding skin of the splash Boston terrier is pink or pinkish-white, then the color of the iris would be blue. But if the color of the surrounding skin is dark, then the color of the iris would be a different shade of brown.
The piebald gene in the Boston terrier is not natural. Hence, the breeding is done manually to achieve a splash Boston terrier. The gene is a recessive trait; therefore, only homozygous (offspring having the same genes from both parents) will show splash traits.
Heterozygous individuals will have a solid skin coat. It is rare for heterozygous offspring to show pie gene traits.
Physical Appearances and Attributes of a Splash Boston Terrier
Size of a Splash Boston Terrier
The size of a Boston Terrier doesn’t vary much. Usually, this tuxedo gentleman has an average height of 9-15 inches and weighs anywhere from 12-25 pounds.
Boston Terrier is closely related to bulldogs. A Boston has a square jaw and brachycephalic head. The eyes of a Boston Terrier are round and set wide and deep-seated into the skull.
Its ‘tuxedo coat’ can be black, seal or brindle in proportion to the white markings on its face, chest, paws, or legs.
Appearance of Splash Boston Terrier
A splash Boston terrier has unpigmented markings over its body. On a general note, a splash Boston terrier is predominantly white. There are three ranges of being a splash Boston terrier,
- Minimal
- Moderate
- Extreme
These ranges define the solid patches to white skin coat ratio in a splash Boston terrier. Moreover, splash isn’t an infused shade but a pattern. Thus, a splash Boston terrier with a different color from regular black and white can be achieved via breeding.
Today, there are several options to choose from, including Red Splash, Blue splash, and even honey color splash Boston terrier.
Behaviorism of a Splash Boston Terrier
A splash Boston terrier is a super-friendly domestic dog.
They are loving and a chirpy pet animal who loves to enjoy its time playing and enjoying with their owner.
Bostons believe in the language of love. That’s why it is very easy to befriend and get along with a Boston terrier.
Not only that, they are very social beings and very friendly even to strangers. However, their passion for humans and affection can be the subject of worry as new pups cannot distinguish friends from foes.
That’s why as a responsible owner, one has to groom them from the very beginning about these things.
Boston terriers are very monogamous by virtue. They have a special corner for only one unique being in their heart. So if you are new to a splash Boston’s affection, then get ready for the undivided love and affection from its end.
When it comes to being a guard dog, size and build, strike the name of Bostons from the list. Boston Terriers don’t bark a lot at anyone.
The rate of barking is usually low to moderate in Terriers. Moreover, splash Boston terriers are prone to deafness (because of their genes) which’s why keeping them as guard dogs might not be a great idea.
Trainability and Intelligence
Splash Boston terriers are quick learners. They grasp everything quickly. Furthermore, they are very good learners.
A Boston terrier’s attention to detail, ability to adapt to surroundings is commendable. They can learn your schedules, likes, and dislikes and even decipher your current mood.
As a pet, Terriers rarely through tantrums on their owners. They are more eager to please their owner. They have a knack for quickly learning commands and grasp details.
Positive reinforcement is the best way to keep them motivated. Just like other pet animals, Bostons also like to receive treats. But beware that excess of treats can make your Boston overweight and harm its health.
Thus, motivate your Terrier with non-edible treats and rewards. Though, you can give occasional itsy-bitsy treats to your sweet little gentleman for his hard work.
Rare Genetic Patterns of Boston Terriers
| Genetic Pattern for Boston Terriers | Descriptive Features |
|---|---|
| Splash | mask, white collar, white socks, tuxedo saddle |
| Tri-Color | pointed eyebrows, cheeks, and coloring dividing the socks and leg color |
| Merle | black, seal, or brindle “tuxedo coat”, white markings on its face, chest, paws, or legs, faded skin pigment, and blue/odd-colored eyes |
Exercises for Your Boston Terrier
Physical Exercises
Splash Boston Terriers can be trained and groomed just like any other Boston terrier. But if your splash Boston terrier has a hearing impairment, then the best way to communicate to them is via hand signals.
Unlike other dogs, Bostons who are unilaterally or bilaterally deaf need to learn things via visual aid or vibrations. Moreover, as a trainer cum owner, you need to take care of your dog when exercising outside.
To stay in pink of its health, your tuxedo best friend needs at least one hour of physical activity each day. It can include:
- Thirty minutes walk at intervals. (two times a day)
- One long and steady walk.
- Game of fetch
- Swimming
- Tug of war
- Agility courses
Mental Exercises
It is observed that just like human beings, dogs can also evolve with technology. Today there are many dogs on the internet that are well-versed with daily gadgets.
Since Boston Terriers can pick details, they can also learn this fantastic stuff. For its mental development, you can introduce various tricks and mind games to your Boston terrier. These games may include,
- Nursery puzzles for kids.
- Identification and recognition of characters.
- Puzzle toys that are especially for dogs.
- And lastly, work on their coordination and communication skills. You can introduce a new word each day that revolves around its daily life. Phrases like ‘sit down, ‘handshake,’ ‘stand up’ can be taught to your dog for effective communication.
Health and Life Expectancy
The average life of a Boston Terrier is usually 11-15 years. Meanwhile, a splash Boston is short-lived depending upon its health condition.
Terriers bred in an unhealthy manner have a shorter life due to their chronic ailment. Most of the Boston terriers experience a few severe health problems once in their lives.
But it isn’t the case with this breed only; every species has its own set of medical issues in their lives.
Diseases In Splash Boston Terrier
As mentioned above, every breed has its medical issues. For example, like a splash Boston terrier, one is prone to hereditary deafness both unilaterally and bilaterally. Apart from that, in Bostons, Corneal ulcers, cataracts, and cherry eyes are some of the most known ailments that they go through once in a life.
It is not necessary that one would go through any of the above; one can also live a very healthy life without any long-lasting medical problem.
Patellar luxation, also known as a knee problem, is quite common in dogs of every breed. However, according to scientists and vets, Medial luxation is more profound than lateral luxation in small dogs like Bostons.
In Medial Patella luxation, the ‘knee cap’ dislocates from its original position. Thus, it affects the locomotion of the animal and results in excess pain, especially in the initial days.
Apart from knee issues, digestive problems, deafness, and reverse sneezing are few chronic issues among different breeds of Boston terrier.
These issues are curable to some extent and can be managed with treatment and TLC. Along with these, heart murmurs and brain tumors are two fatal ailments among this breed.
Related Questions
What Is the Rarest Boston Terrier Color?
The rarest Boston terrier colors are the following and in no particular order; blue, merle, lilac, lavender, and platinum.
What Is a Splash Gene in Dogs?
The Splash gene in dogs is a recessive allele on the spotting locus. This splash gene is what causes the dogs to have an out-of-the-ordinary color.
What Does the Perfect Boston Terrier Look Like?
Most people would describe the perfect Boston Terrier with looks like a white muzzle band, an even white blaze between the eyes and over the head; a white collar, and white on wholly or partly of the forelegs and hind legs.
Conclusion
Research says that there could be many reasons to acquire deafness in dogs and other domestic pet animals. According to the paper, traits like deafness can be passed down to future generations via genes.
For example, the white gene (the gene responsible for piebaldism and splash characteristics in the Boston terrier) is a known reason to cause hereditary deafness in dogs.
Earlier, it was believed that pigmentation in dogs to achieve a ‘rare trait’ is not related to hearing issues. But today, researchers revealed the other side of the story. According to them, a few genes are responsible for hearing loss and other disabilities in dogs, like the splash Boston terrier.
MITF gene, which is also associated with pie traits, causes un-pigmentation of the skin around the ears and thus, damages the hearing ability of the animal.
When the piebald dogs are crossbred to achieve a different color (apart from black and white), the chances of damage in the family line for generations increase.
Thus, as a responsible owner, one should be careful of these greedy breeders who put the lives of these innocent pups at stake for money.
