Boston Terriers or french bulldog

[Magpiemagpie]

We would like to get another dog as our old girl is getting on a bit now and only likes short walks
She is also a huge huge dog so I would like something smaller that won't crush me when they sit on the sofa and take over
Initially I have been researching the French Bulldogs but I have recently met a few BT which I really like . They all seem so friendly and lively which I like but I like the fact that they aren't as squat as the frenchies
Anyone had either of these dogs
Thanks

I don't have a problem with what your saying Nancy
Its the way your saying it ( if that makes sense on the Internet ) your extremely aggressive in your post with your comment that I shouldnt I have a dog. and that anyone who owns them isn't interested in a dogs welfare or something along those lines.

Your assumptions that I won't consider a rescue / rehomed dog when I most certainly would and have done in the past . In fact looking on the net there are a few Boston terriers in need of a home .Yes I might be buying from some idiot who bought one and no longer want it anymore but the dog would have an excellent life with our family but at this moment I'm not in a position to buy one as I'm off on holiday shortly .

I haven't ignored the sensible posts from people like hummus and cornflakes and the people that actually own Boston terriers who post quite reasonably and give useful advice and give there own relative experience

I will ignore post from you because you come across as extremely bullying in order to make your point and seem to be a person who likes to rant as well in order to make there point . People that like to rant I have no interest in what they are writing / saying

"Bullying" oh dear

Refer to my first post and those from vets.

The end.

It's not a fictitious rescue centre - UK Boston Terrier Rescue is a UK-wide breed specific rescue. I'm a fundraiser for them and am waiting for a break in my working schedule to foster for them. Someone linked to them above but here's their details again: www.ukbostonterrierrescue.co.uk/

Magpie - I'm not the ideal choice for a rescue because I have a child and a cat and a male dog but if you fill in the adoption form on their facebook page, you'll be considered. There aren't a huge amount of Bostons available for adoption because there aren't that many in the UK. Some of them do have health problems but most are up for adoption because bostons are bonkers quite lively dogs - mine keeps up with greyhounds and can jump very high and their owners can't cope.

This from the Blue Cross is very useful in terms of avoiding health problems in Bostons: www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/things-think-about-buying-flat-faced-dog

and this is very interesting in terms of life expectancy - as you can see, a Boston has a longer life expectancy than labs, retrievers and rotties. Good luck - I can give you contact details for people to talk to if you're in the South East. I'm off to berate some labrador owners for being really selfish and choosing such a short-lived breed :)

Some of them do have health problems but most are up for adoption because bostons are bonkers quite lively dogs

That's the understatement of the year! I've just had a quick look at the site
They've rehomed 9 dogs this year. All but 2 had severe medical and/or behavioral problems, and of the 2 that didn't, 1 is a cross breed.
100% of the dogs under assessment have serious medical or behavioral problems

(The dogs rehomed in earlier years don't have descriptions, so I can't compare those)

You can probably put some or most of the behavioural problems down to idiot owners buying a cute puppy with no idea of training it, but these are the actual quotes from each of the dogs they've rehomed this year:
"Lexie was surrendered to UKBTR in March, because of her complex medical issues, and the likelihood of ever-increasing medical bills"
"Coco also has Epilepsy and has had three seizures since November"
"This baby is only a year old but has developed an aggressive streak"
" Her MRI scan has confirmed that she has severe syringomyelia (a serious, life-limiting, brain condition). She requires daily medication to keep it under control and possible surgery in the future"
"Lexie was surrendered to UKBTR in March, because of her complex medical issues, and the likelihood of ever-increasing medical bills"

That isn't me cherry picking. That is every. bloody. dog on the site.

How can anyone argue that these dogs aren't a total health and genetic disaster? It is absolutely mind-boggling that people can overlook this in a breed.

Say what you want about labradors, but take a look at the health descriptions of every single dog listed on the lab rescue site: labrador-rescue.org.uk/dogs.html

Usually lurker but thought I'd chip in as I've had both and have fostered both breeds too.

I have to say I've found the bostons far easier. They're incredibly friendly and much easier to train. They're very smart little things and very sociable. I've found frenchies to be more stubborn and harder to toilet train also. I go to a lot of meetups for both breeds and I also see more variation in frenchies; I've yet to meet a Boston that wasn't a sweet little thing, whereas I've had and encountered frenchies that can be quiet grumpy and possessive over food and toys. I mentioned this to a vet in passing and she agreed; said she has yet to meet a Boston who was bothered about going to the vet but has a number of frechie patients who will make their displeasure known.

Have had both and love both breeds but I have to say I do prefer the bostons and would stick to bostons in future. Apologies to any frenchie owners

Wow, that's a really excellent example of selective reading sparechange. There were 9 dogs rehomed this year - 3 of which had health problems (and one of those was a pug). And one has epilepsy which, forgive me if I'm wrong, is much more common in other breeds. So 6 out of 9 had no health problems.

And for every one of those bostons, there has been a queue of people hoping to be selected as their adopter.

Two are being assessed - one of those is also a pug which the charity paid to have brought over from Romania.

Of the 11 labs still looking for homes in the South East (who knows how many they've had through the shelter so far this year?), 2 of them need muzzling and 3 don't have photos because they're so traumatised by neglect.

We're going round in circles. I won't apologise to you - no matter how much you shout at me - for my choice of dog. I took a long time to decide which breed was right for us and I've not regretted my choice for a moment. He's happy, healthy, has bundles of personality and is an absolute joy.

And both you and Nancy need to learn a lesson in the art of persuasion because shouting at people and twisting facts to fit your narrative really weakens your argument.

Arhh, I just typed out a long reply and lost it when my browser froze.

I can't be arsed to type it all out, but in a nutshell, no one has shouted at you. How bizarre to think they have?

Plenty of people are exasperated, but lots of them are also exasperated when yet another physically or mentally ill animal comes to them to be treated because of what the breeders and owners (who are only owners because of the breeders) have done in creating these animals.
I won't apologise for people who feel these frustrations just because you don't like facing the realities of what you're a part of.

And yes, lots of breeds are prone to seizures, but they are particularly common in dogs which have been inbred to change the head shape and size. So Bostons, Frenchies, Staffies, CKCS and KCS all suffer from them

No one has shouted at me, no. I wasn't talking about you, I meant Nancy who has been quite aggressive to the OP. Perhaps hectoring is a better word.

I bought a dog. Wolfiefan also bought a dog. Both breeds are prone to particular health problems but we have tried our hardest to guard against those by choosing our breeder carefully and informing ourselves of the facts before we made a decision. Like her, I have wanted a Boston for a very long time - about 12 years since I met my first one and fell in love (who incidentally is still going strong). Maybe dog owners and lovers are divided between those who love a particular breed and those who wouldn't ever dream of buying a dog?

Incidentally, through an admittedly quick google, I can find no evidence to suggest that bostons (or indeed other brachy breeds although I hate to lump them together) are more prone to epilepsy than other breeds. Actually labs seem to be more likely than bostons but I'm starting to feel mean for picking on them ...

Are you a vet by the way?

There's a French bulldog for rescue on dogsblog... she's 10 months old

I have a 3 year old frenchie and like you I was considering either a French bulldog or a Boston terrier. I chose a frenchie with black and white markings so she looks quite Boston ish. She also has a bit of a snout (not totally flat faced) so no breathing difficulties wheezing or snoring. She is adorable. I also know a few Boston and they seem very similar in personality just more energetic. Good luck.

We have a 10 year old Boston Terrier and she has been the most wonderful pet for us. She has always been so gentle and tolerant with my daughters and has a very placid temperament.

No health problems so far and the last time I brought her to the vet he said he was in excellent condition for a "senior" dog.

She only snores occasionally, she sleeps in my bed and I am a light sleeper, when she does start snoring I just nudge her or turn her on to her side.

I think people are assuming Bostons and Frenchies are more similar then they actually are. Most Bostons are very agile and athletic with a similar build to a Boxer. Other people always comment on how fast she is when we let her off lead at the dog park.

And another one for rescue on dogsblog that is a cross between the two!