Victorian Boston Bulldog
Breed Standard
The Victorian Boston Bulldog
General description
The Victorian Boston Bulldog should have the appearance of a small athletic, well muscled dog being strong for his size. Fully capable of purging his home of large or small vermin, free breathing and fully able to breed and whelp naturally.
Easily trainable the Victorian Boston Bulldog is very loyal to his family and should display a kind and friendly nature behind which should be discernable determination, courage and high spirit with a confidant attitude.
The head and muzzle being cubical and blocky, displaying the expression of an intelligent dog with a tremendous amount of heart. No feature should appear so prominent from either excess or lack of substance as to cause the dog to appear out of proportion. This dog should carry a natural, healthy balance of both temperament and structure.
Fault: Shyness or nervousness in an adult dog.
Head
The head should be large and square, showing no wrinkles, with the circumference being nearly equal to the dogs height at the withers and in good proportion to the body. The stop is well defined.
Minor fault: excess definition of features resulting in an uneven look
Muzzle
The muzzle should be square wide and deep being nearly equal in length depth and width and proportionate to the skull. The distance from the tip of the nose to the stop does not exceed one-third of the distance from the tip of the nose to the occiput. No wrinkles preferred. Flews may be mildly pendulous and must completely cover the teeth, but must not be in excess as to take away from the square look of the muzzle.
Fault: muzzle too long or snipy
Bite and teeth
The bite should be even or slightly undershot the maximum allowable being 1/8th of an inch. Full set of teeth, with the incisors being straight and even. Strong lower jaw.
Broken chipped or extracted teeth are acceptable
Fault: overbite
Disqualification: wry mouth
Nose
The color is solid Black, blue or liver. Nose is broad with wide nostrils.
Fault: more than 10% pink on the nose.
Serious fault: pinched nares or obstructed breathing
Disqualification: nose that is more than 30% pink.
Eyes
Eyes of moderate size, round to almond shaped, set wide apart. Neither sunken or bulging with no excessive haw showing when looking forward. Full pigmentation on eye rims.
Fault: more than 25% lack of pigmentation on eye rim on an adult dog, excessive haw showing
Disqualification: complete lack of pigmentation on an eye rim on an adult dog
Ears
Ears are small rose, semi-pricked or upright with rose being preferred.
Fault: complete lack of pigmentation on the ear, button ears.
Neck
Muscular thick and slightly arched, of moderate size and length. Clean in outline and gradually widening towards the shoulders, with minimal to no dewlap.
Forequarters
The shoulders are moderately muscled and powerful. Both shoulders and elbows showing no looseness. The forelegs are strong, straight and of medium bone. They are well muscled, set moderately wide apart and are perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short, strong and flexible. Elbows standing neither in nor out.
Faults: front legs bowed
Body
The Sturdy and powerful body is square or slightly longer than it is high.
The chest is moderately wide, well filled in and deep, giving ample room for heart and lungs.
The ribs are deep and well sprung extending to the elbows and carried well back to the loin.
The back is strong and level.
The loin is short and muscular with a good natural arch creating a definable tuck up of the underline.
Faults: Flat sides, narrow chest, long or slack loins, roach back, sway back
Hindquarters
The rear is strong, moderately wide and well muscled, in proportion to the forequarters. Thighs are well developed.
The angulation is moderate showing a good curve to the stifle with the rear pasterns well let down and perpendicular to the ground.
Hocks turning neither in nor out.
Fault: significant lack of bend to the stifle, lack or excess of muscle, cow hocks or bow hocks.
Feet
Round, compact, toes well arched and strong.
Fault: flat feet, splayed toes
Tail
Set on low, preference being given to short tapering natural tails. Straight, kinked, moderate screw tail or docked tail is acceptable. Tail length up to three inches.
Fault: gaily carried tail
Coat and Color
The coat is short and fine in texture but moderately harsh. All colors are acceptable except merle.
Fault: Excessive lack of pigmentation, completely white coat.
Height and Weight
Weight between 25 and 40lbs
Height between 14” and 17” at the withers
Movement
The Victorian Boston Bulldog is a sure footed straight gaited dog with good reach in front and power behind.
When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth and powerful. Legs turn neither in nor out and feet do not cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
Fault: Legs moving too close, sidewinding, hackney action, paddling, pounding or rolling.
General description
The Victorian Boston Bulldog should have the appearance of a small athletic, well muscled dog being strong for his size. Fully capable of purging his home of large or small vermin, free breathing and fully able to breed and whelp naturally.
Easily trainable the Victorian Boston Bulldog is very loyal to his family and should display a kind and friendly nature behind which should be discernable determination, courage and high spirit with a confidant attitude.
The head and muzzle being cubical and blocky, displaying the expression of an intelligent dog with a tremendous amount of heart. No feature should appear so prominent from either excess or lack of substance as to cause the dog to appear out of proportion. This dog should carry a natural, healthy balance of both temperament and structure.
Fault: Shyness or nervousness in an adult dog.
Head
The head should be large and square, showing no wrinkles, with the circumference being nearly equal to the dogs height at the withers and in good proportion to the body. The stop is well defined.
Minor fault: excess definition of features resulting in an uneven look
Muzzle
The muzzle should be square wide and deep being nearly equal in length depth and width and proportionate to the skull. The distance from the tip of the nose to the stop does not exceed one-third of the distance from the tip of the nose to the occiput. No wrinkles preferred. Flews may be mildly pendulous and must completely cover the teeth, but must not be in excess as to take away from the square look of the muzzle.
Fault: muzzle too long or snipy
Bite and teeth
The bite should be even or slightly undershot the maximum allowable being 1/8th of an inch. Full set of teeth, with the incisors being straight and even. Strong lower jaw.
Broken chipped or extracted teeth are acceptable
Fault: overbite
Disqualification: wry mouth
Nose
The color is solid Black, blue or liver. Nose is broad with wide nostrils.
Fault: more than 10% pink on the nose.
Serious fault: pinched nares or obstructed breathing
Disqualification: nose that is more than 30% pink.
Eyes
Eyes of moderate size, round to almond shaped, set wide apart. Neither sunken or bulging with no excessive haw showing when looking forward. Full pigmentation on eye rims.
Fault: more than 25% lack of pigmentation on eye rim on an adult dog, excessive haw showing
Disqualification: complete lack of pigmentation on an eye rim on an adult dog
Ears
Ears are small rose, semi-pricked or upright with rose being preferred.
Fault: complete lack of pigmentation on the ear, button ears.
Neck
Muscular thick and slightly arched, of moderate size and length. Clean in outline and gradually widening towards the shoulders, with minimal to no dewlap.
Forequarters
The shoulders are moderately muscled and powerful. Both shoulders and elbows showing no looseness. The forelegs are strong, straight and of medium bone. They are well muscled, set moderately wide apart and are perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short, strong and flexible. Elbows standing neither in nor out.
Faults: front legs bowed
Body
The Sturdy and powerful body is square or slightly longer than it is high.
The chest is moderately wide, well filled in and deep, giving ample room for heart and lungs.
The ribs are deep and well sprung extending to the elbows and carried well back to the loin.
The back is strong and level.
The loin is short and muscular with a good natural arch creating a definable tuck up of the underline.
Faults: Flat sides, narrow chest, long or slack loins, roach back, sway back
Hindquarters
The rear is strong, moderately wide and well muscled, in proportion to the forequarters. Thighs are well developed.
The angulation is moderate showing a good curve to the stifle with the rear pasterns well let down and perpendicular to the ground.
Hocks turning neither in nor out.
Fault: significant lack of bend to the stifle, lack or excess of muscle, cow hocks or bow hocks.
Feet
Round, compact, toes well arched and strong.
Fault: flat feet, splayed toes
Tail
Set on low, preference being given to short tapering natural tails. Straight, kinked, moderate screw tail or docked tail is acceptable. Tail length up to three inches.
Fault: gaily carried tail
Coat and Color
The coat is short and fine in texture but moderately harsh. All colors are acceptable except merle.
Fault: Excessive lack of pigmentation, completely white coat.
Height and Weight
Weight between 25 and 40lbs
Height between 14” and 17” at the withers
Movement
The Victorian Boston Bulldog is a sure footed straight gaited dog with good reach in front and power behind.
When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth and powerful. Legs turn neither in nor out and feet do not cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
Fault: Legs moving too close, sidewinding, hackney action, paddling, pounding or rolling.
Tucker - Four Mile Ranch
Sebastian - O'Klassic Kennels
