Do Boston Terriers' Tails Curl?

The Boston terrier is a breed included in the non-sporting group, recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1893. The breed was obtained by combining an English Bulldog and a white English terrier. The name comes from the area the breed was developed in as a fighting dog. If you intend to adopt a Boston terrier you may have questions about its appearance, including the tail.

  1. Boston Terrier Appearance

    • Boston terriers come in three sizes: up to 15 lbs., between 15 and 20 lbs. and over 20 lbs., but not exceeding 25 lbs. Boston terriers are short and the body is compact and well-balanced. The head is square and in proportion with the rest of the body. The legs are strong and in balance with the length of the body. The coat is short and smooth, and comes in brindle, seal or black, with white markings.

    The Tail of Boston Terriers

    • Purebred Boston terriers have short tails, which may be straight or curled. A curled tail is considered normal and is not a cause for disqualification in dog shows. Boston terriers may inherit the tail features from their ancestors, the English bulldogs, which are also short-tailed and have either straight or screw tails. The tail of a Boston terrier should be set on low, short, fine and tapering and must not be carried above the horizontal, according to the American Kennel Club specifications for Boston terriers.

    No Tail Docking for Boston Terriers

    • The American Kennel Club considers a docked tail in Boston terriers a fault and this can be a cause for disqualification. Even if certain breeders dock the tails of Boston terriers, these dogs shouldn't be docked to meet the standard requirements for dog shows. Ideally, the tail of an adult Boston terrier should measure one-quarter of the distance from set-on to hock. However, if the tail is longer or shorter, this is not considered a fault.

    Other Breeds With Curled Tails

    • Boston terriers don't have cork-screw-like tails, like pugs and English bulldogs. Other curly-tailed dog breeds include akita inu, basenji, chow chow, Norwegian elkhound, Alaskan malamute, pomeranian and samoyed. However, these breeds have fluffier tails that have a different appearance than the tails of pugs or Boston terriers.