tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post6117218432943341613..comments2008-12-27T19:24:44.556-05:00Julie Zickefoosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-50389163631963674342008-12-27T18:37:00.000-05:002008-12-27T18:37:00.000-05:00My fiance and I just got our first Boston together and are loving every minute of him! My family had a few bostons and they are such wonderful dogs! Your pictures remind me of our little mans personality haha. He is always getting in messes and trying to lick every person her meets!Operasinger25http://www.blogger.com/profile/10150447707602272347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-66448681058170976282007-04-03T20:32:00.000-05:002007-04-03T20:32:00.000-05:00Chet was a moderate challenge to house train. I am not a crate advocate for these active dogs. I got a pen from Jeffers Pet and put papers, his bed, food and water in the 8' x 3' high circle the pen made. He was paper trained. This made it easy to go out and leave him in the pen with papers, without having to rush back. Chet's breeder advises that for every month old the puppy is, that's how many hours they can be left without relieving themselves. It's a good measure. You might have more luck with a male than a female, because submissive piddling will not be an issue with most males. I highly recommend the pen method over crating.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/><BR/>JulieJulie Zickefoosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-29168885231127422002007-04-03T19:37:00.000-05:002007-04-03T19:37:00.000-05:00Hi Julie,<BR/>I'm thinking of getting a Boston Terrier for my family, but I read they can be very difficult to house break. Did you have trouble with Chet? <BR/>BettyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-86195060890688266102007-03-09T20:33:00.000-05:002007-03-09T20:33:00.000-05:00Chet Baker is making me want to have a dog. But I don't need a dog..I have 8 cats! But Chet makes my *I Want* urge over-ride my common sense urge.<BR/><BR/>My dad got out of breeding Irish Setters in the 1930's because by that time they were already totally linebred, neurotic, and not able to do their jobs.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329722830225386635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-65932338226285496752007-03-09T19:43:00.000-05:002007-03-09T19:43:00.000-05:00Zick, Jane, Mary:<BR/><BR/>You are all such pushers! "C'mon, smell my Boston - just take a sniff. Cuddle with him a little, don't you love that face? On a bad day, a BT clown will cheer you up. C'mon, just one face-lick. The first one's free, you know."<BR/><BR/>I want a Boston. I NEED a Boston. I love this little Boston baby. But, there are many reasons why this is not the best time for a new puppy.<BR/><BR/>I have 2 dogs. I don't need three. Two dogs are buddies, for me and for each other. Three dogs are a pack. The social dynamics change in a pack. ("OK, but a BT puppy is small - it is really only <I>half</I> a dog. It hardly counts.")<BR/><BR/>I also have 4 cats. Two dogs and 4 cats is a lot of animal care, animal fare, and animal hair. ("But animal care is your business. And you get discounts on stuff like food and vet bills. As for the hair - get over it. Bostons don't shed as much as cats, Labs and Rotts, and you don't know how to live without pet hair on your clothes, in your bed and in your food.")<BR/><BR/>I have 2 birding vacations coming up in May, when the puppy will only be 4 months old. I don't like boarding young puppies - it disrupts their training schedules and early education during an extremely critical developmental phase. ("Zick, will you puppy sit for me at Mohican and New River while I search for Cerulean and Canada Warblers, Barn Owls, and other cool birds? Will the park lodge and the Holiday Inn let me bring a puppy?")<BR/><BR/>My mother will kill me. ("You are an adult. Tell your mother to give you a break.") yeah. YOU tell her!<BR/><BR/>~Kathi, changing the subject to ask when the new commentaries can be heard on NPR.katdocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-18817528301562108612007-03-09T19:04:00.000-05:002007-03-09T19:04:00.000-05:00I love the way this post begins with the title "Boston Terrier Breed Standard" and the fawn picture directly below. Don't you think it's a bit tall for a Boston ? And the coloring is off but the ears are good !karoonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-52293334880416172342007-03-09T10:14:00.000-05:002007-03-09T10:14:00.000-05:00Jane tells the absolute truth here. Take the plunge, Katdoc :o)<BR/><BR/>Julie, after years of buying Purina One lamb & rice for Chloe and Bella, I tried Beneful a month ago. They liked it but I noticed it gave them explosive gas (not the usual BT gas). I stopped feeding it to them after Chloe's oral surgery, feeling she needed smaller kibble. Now we're back to Purina One, less expensive than Iams or Eukanuba, and they thrive on it.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-67613683599838815752007-03-09T09:03:00.000-05:002007-03-09T09:03:00.000-05:00Good morning all, sorry I missed the forum last night but what would my morning coffee be without Zick and Baker. I totally agree about the stopless noses that many of our breed have, which is one of the many reasons why I breed and handle so called pet quality Boston's. My dogs are a little leggier also and my girls are longer bodied as I feel that they make better natural free whelpers. Now I know that there are many show breeders out there that will say this is blasphemy but a good breeder must agree with this...you breed to improve the breed not to make your first million...cause that ain't gonna happen folks. I not only will not breed the mini's I personally feel that a breed that started off at 35 pounds back in the 1860's does not NEED to be 8-10 pounds to be dear companions or healthy ones for that matter. After all if you want a mini get a toy breed, not a Boston. As far as kissibility I know of another breeder who names all her dogs after LIQUERS since hers are such lickers LOL. Boston's were and are made for love and your boy comes from a long line of lovers. LOL. His mother is my velcro dog...attached at the hip and her stop is too short for me! Oh, KATDOC... break down get Panda, I promise you will NEVER be sorry you added a BT to your pack. When the time comes that you must say goodbye to your dear Gracie that little bundle in a tuxedo will help you over the rough spot. I speak from experience, Chili was born two days before my dear mother passed and she helped me wade through the miasma called grief. Boston's just improve the quality of life and THAT is why I breed them!Janeymspupswilltravel.tripod.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-40780002290446155902007-03-09T08:42:00.000-05:002007-03-09T08:42:00.000-05:00Bacon's running about 22.3 lb. right now--he lost weight while we were in Guatemala, playing and running with his slutty Aunt Pokey and not eating much. He got tired of Royal Canin (fabulously expensive) so I'm mixing it with Beneful(more affordable) which he seems to eat more eagerly. Anyone with any thoughts on the relative merits of those foods, pipe up! Baker thinks Bella is verra pretty. More to love.Julie Zickefoosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-53502075959264213342007-03-09T08:10:00.000-05:002007-03-09T08:10:00.000-05:00Both of my Bostons have a nice sized stop like Chet's that we scratch and rub for them. Neither Chloe or Bella have breathing problems although they both get that "reverse wheeze" that I call an inverted sneeze when they're excited (Chloe much more often than Bella). Chloe weighs 23 pounds and Bella, an inch or two shorter, is nearing 25. SHE'S A TANK.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-55438940112301094222007-03-09T07:02:00.000-05:002007-03-09T07:02:00.000-05:00Hey KatDoc (AKA Saturday Night Puppy Fever)...I still think you should go for it, Gracie and all. Having said that, I'm glad you pointed out the breathing issues with brachycephalic dogs. Chet doesn't snore or wheeze, though he occasionally gets the "reverse wheeze" going when he gets overexcited. He's got enough nose to breathe through. We visited with two show Bostons (tipping the scales at 13-15 lb.--and the owner was complaining that the male was "too big!") Anyway, these dogs had heads as round as tennis balls, and Phoebe and I could hear every breath the poor things drew. Please. He said he never goes anywhere without a bottle of Benadryl in case they get an allergic reaction and have trouble breathing. Hmmm.I am in total agreement on the "Munchkin" cat issue, too. Having grown up with a dachshund, dearly loved, but with discs that slipped in and out, I told myself that I wanted a dog shaped like a dog, an athlete who could go the distance on a long hike and run and jump with the kids.And now for a word from our subliminal sponsor. pandapandapandapandapandaJulie Zickefoosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-86685239969765351492007-03-09T06:23:00.000-05:002007-03-09T06:23:00.000-05:00I have read that while the upper limit for Bostons should be 25#, there is no lower limit and a "good" BT can weigh as little as 8-10#. I think that is too small, and I definitely prefer them in the 20-25# range. I like the more solid, muscular "bully" type Boston.<BR/><BR/>As far as the very short noses, not only is it important to have the "smoochability" factor, but the extrememly short faces on all of the brachiocephalic breeds predispose dogs (and cats, like Persians) to terrible breathing and eye problems.<BR/><BR/>Any time humans breed for the extremes (biggest, smallest, shortest, etc.) we create animals who can't live normal lives. I have known Pugs whose nares (nostrils) are so small they can't take a normal breath and many English Bulldogs can no longer reproduce without human intervention. The scariest thing lately are "Munchkins," a "breed" of cat started when a genetic mutation causing extremely short legs was exploited and deliberately perpetuated. Now, they are creating cats that look like Dachshunds and which can barely walk. It's stupid, and done only for human vanity, not for the benefit of the pet.<BR/><BR/>Please drop a kiss on Chet's snoot for me!<BR/><BR/>~Kathi, who is looking forward to thr new bookkatdocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-14418181888573118542007-03-08T23:35:00.000-05:002007-03-08T23:35:00.000-05:00Julie - I am enjoying Bostons even more now that I'm getting to see and "know" more about Chet and also Mary's girls through her blog. Chet is one awesome dog, and I love all of your photos and stories of him! <BR/>Can't wait for your second book - yay! I know these things take a while, but I'm patient!NatureWomanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04272529400065960820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-27991183161702677552007-03-08T23:29:00.000-05:002007-03-08T23:29:00.000-05:00I...just...can't...think...of words...that will...do him .....justice.<BR/><BR/>Sigh. I miss Boomer. He had the perfect little "Kissing Platform" between his muzz and his forehead. It was a good place to put a treat, too. He would wait until I said, "okay".<BR/>And he was a perfect 23 pounds...and he smelled good...and he was loving...<BR/>I need to go have a good cry.<BR/><BR/>*Please give Chet a special kiss from me. He's precious.Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-57978794204781354412007-03-08T23:13:00.000-05:002007-03-08T23:13:00.000-05:00Oh boy, four more commentaries! 8-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-31111118704947935112007-03-08T22:01:00.000-05:002007-03-08T22:01:00.000-05:00Julie,<BR/><BR/>You know, since I love and own two of Chet's breed, your descriptions of days with Chet make me howl. Neither of us can say enough good about them. They are pure pleasure dispensers, and they smell so sweet...<BR/><BR/>New book, 40 degrees, longer days. Life is good, ey?Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02040099513110890878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-55962417663587363492007-03-08T20:28:00.000-05:002007-03-08T20:28:00.000-05:00In my current job, I get up at 4 AM Monday through Friday. I miss the sunrise and morning birds. It's the best time of the day! Oh yeah, and getting out from under the covers with my toasty pooches laying next to me is hard too!RuthieJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663411478574192825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-13064855925194305352007-03-08T19:48:00.000-05:002007-03-08T19:48:00.000-05:00Julie,My Boston was 10 years old on 12/31 and is 20# and not an ounce of fat. She has been on the same food all of her life. Bil-Jac.Just about everything Chet does I can relate to Missy. Free kisses to everyone she meets. Never a stranger. She doesn't like other dogs that bark at her.<BR/>Love everything about your blog.Jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-18502597078601241082007-03-08T19:13:00.000-05:002007-03-08T19:13:00.000-05:00Eat him up, yum. Here's hoping all Bostons land in such appreciative families, they deserve it.jemkagilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-38437474973967380912007-03-08T17:59:00.000-05:002007-03-08T17:59:00.000-05:00Glad you made it to Athens and back safely. <BR/><BR/>Chet is such a smoocher. Glad he has his girl and you have your baby.Trixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04765602736333069178noreply@blogger.com