Boston Terriers are brachycephalic too, just milder than a Pug, so expect real breathing limits in heat and a jaw shape so narrow that most litters are delivered by planned cesarean rather than naturally.
11.8years, median
0.7 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 2,427 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 11 to 12.2 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, small breeds as a group had a median of 12.7 years and flat-faced breeds 11.2. This breed is small and flat-faced.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.0Health tests to ask the breeder for
Boston Terrier Club of America sets the tests a Boston Terrier needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Annual Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist
- Patellar Luxation Examination
- BAER Examination for Congenital Deafness (once, after 35 days of age)
When to spay or neuter a Boston Terrier: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is a year or later. For females, any age. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
Eye ulcers: flat-faced breeds as a group had over 11 times the risk of crossbred dogs in a study of more than 100,000 dogs in England. A squint or a half-closed eye is a same-day call to the vet. The eye ulcer page has the signs, and the eye drops that make an ulcer worse.
Itchy skin: Merck lists the Boston Terrier among the breeds prone to atopic dermatitis, a lifelong allergy to things like pollen, mold and dust that usually starts between six months and three years of age. Why does my dog keep itching? has how vets tell it apart from fleas, mites and food allergy, and the treatments.
- DNA test for Early-onset Hereditary Juvenile Cataracts (HSF4 mutation), results registered with OFA
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Boston Terrier near you
Shelters and rescues list Boston Terriers and Boston Terrier mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are cheerful, easy to train, and do not need a big yard, which makes them a genuinely good fit for many households and apartments. But the flat face means real limits: no long runs in the heat, snoring at night, and extra vigilance around their prominent eyes, which are easily scratched during normal play.
Health you should know about
- Brachycephalic airway obstruction — a shortened muzzle restricts airflow, causing snoring, snorting, and reduced heat and exercise tolerance, which can progress to airway collapse in severe cases.
- Difficult births — the breed's head shape means most litters need a cesarean section; one study found Boston Terrier bitches roughly 13 times more likely to need a difficult delivery than the average dog, with the large majority of litters delivered surgically.
- Eye problems — prominent, shallow-set eyes are prone to corneal ulcers, and the breed is among those most commonly affected by hereditary cataracts.
- Shorter life expectancy than the average purebred — a 2024 UK study found Boston Terriers live about 11.8 years on average, versus 12.7 years for purebred dogs generally.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Sources — 3 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 3 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.