There are three Boston Terrier Breed Clubs in the UK. They are licensed by The Kennel Club and charged with the responsibility for protecting and promoting the breed. They all hold shows where you can see lots of Bostons and speak to their owners and breeders. Clubs do not advertise or sell puppies, but some of their members do.

These clubs are an important source of information for you when you’re conducting your search. Look at their websites and see if you can speak to a member of the committee about your search for a puppy as they might be able to help you. Most club members are well known to one another, so finding and introducing yourself to one member tends to lead to onward referrals to others.

The Kennel Club maintains what is referred to as a Breed Standard which is the definitive description, or blueprint, of a Boston. At this point it is worth mentioning that you should note the acceptable colours of a Boston Terrier – see panel. Any other colour must have had another breed crossed with a pedigree Boston to make this colour. These “crossbreeds” are sometimes referred to as “designer dogs” and may be sold alongside unsubstantiated claims about their health and superior lineage to justify their cost. Their breeders tend not to be members of a Breed Club. If you are looking for a crossbreed this article isn’t going to help you, but if you are looking for a purebred Boston from a reputable breeder then read on …

The Breed Standard describes an ideal Boston and focuses largely on its appearance, but like everything in life, perfection is an ambition and not easily achieved. If your goal is to find a lovely companion then your priority should be on health, temperament and support from the breeder, because you may need to contact them for their advice or assistance. Therefore, finding the right breeder is as important as finding the right puppy.

The SBTC understands that some owners have dogs that are non-standard breed colours (or NBS as the KC refer to them) and welcomes anyone who has an interest in the purebred pedigree Boston to become members. However all members are asked to agree not to breed from or with NBS dogs.

The term NBS is one to look out for if you are looking at Kennel Club website material, because although the KC recognise these aren’t breed specific colours, they will still register them on their website and in their puppy section. It is also possible to become a KC assured breeder of NBS puppies which are listed alongside breed standard Boston puppies, so don’t assume that because a breeder or litter is listed on the KC website, it conforms to the standard set for the “American Gentleman” which is what the Boston Terrier!

It’s so convenient to ‘ask Google’ isn’t it? But there’s a big difference between established kennels advertising their dogs on their own or a hosted website, from the ‘buy a puppy online’ virtual shops. You are less likely to find a well-adjusted puppy from an online sale. These puppies are more likely to be owned by sellers rather than breeders. We do not believe this is how puppies should be sold and do not encourage any of our members to use them.

Contact breed club committee members for their help as they are representatives for the breed and will often know or hear about a litter of puppies for sale. The Club Secretary may have heard about potential litters and should be able to confirm to you whether someone that you have found through your own research, is a member of their Club. Members of breed clubs are conscious of their responsibility to the Breed and are bound by a Code of Ethics. This doesn’t guarantee a dog’s health, but it does mean the breeder has taken reasonable steps to breed for it’s health and welfare.

Attending a show is a great way to see lots of Bostons in one place and notice whether there is one type of dog that catches your eye more than most. Every show sells a catalogue that contains the names of the dogs entered in each class and details of their owners. There are many types of dog show held all over the country, but the best ones to attend are the Breed Club shows. At these you can see and speak to the owners and breeders of Bostons and let them know your interest. Some breeders will keep your contact details and let you know when they become aware of a puppy looking for a new home.

Finally, listen to what some of our most experienced breeders have to tell you about buying a Boston puppy. Be patient and wait for the right puppy. Anything worth having is worth waiting for!