Boston Terriers are one of the most popular breeds in the US! The American Kennel Club ranks them 21 out of 197 on the list of the most popular dog breeds! Even though they are known for their black and white coat that looks like a tuxedo, their coats can be other colors too! For example, black and white, brindle and white, or even seal and white. But there is another color, the red Boston Terrier!
That is definitely an unusual color for the Boston Terrier and isn’t standard for this breed. But where does that color come from? How is it possible for their coat to be red?
In this article, we’ll talk more about the Boston Terrier in general but also where the red coat color comes from and if that’s even a rare color!
While you’re here you can read more about Boston Terriers:
- Boston Terrier: What makes them so popular?
- Blue Boston Terrier: How rare are they?
- Boston Terrier VS French Bulldog
Red Boston Terrier
Before we talk more about the red Boston Terrier, let’s take a closer look at this breed in general.
The Boston Terrier is a small dog with a short snout. He has a friendly appearance and looks a bit like a French Bulldog. He has a slim, muscular body and pointed ears. According to the breed standard, these dogs look determined, strong, and elegant. Their standard coat colors are black and white, brindle and white, and seal and white. But, they can also be blue and red.
Boston Terriers are small dogs, that’s no secret. But, what many people don’t know is that this breed comes in three weight classes.
The first class weighs under 15 pounds, the second class weighs 15 to 19 pounds, and the third weighs 20 to 25 pounds. When it comes to their height, they are between 12 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder.
The Boston Terrier is an agile, lively and at the same time an extremely cheerful, lovable dog. In short, the Boston Terrier makes a great companion with a lot of charm and character. This is why he is also called “American Gentleman”. But, sometimes they tend to be very stubborn and hyperactive, and they often clown around.
He inherited the friendliness and affection towards humans from the bulldogs. But, they also tend to be a bit reserved with strangers, so early socialization is important. This dog is loyal and attached to his family, and love to spend time with their owners.
Because they tolerate everything, the Boston Terrier makes an excellent playmate for children. They adore children but will be great companions for people of all ages. Besides that, their size and lively, affectionate nature make the Boston Terrier a great family pet!
Red coat
The red Boston Terrier looks a bit different.
Besides their coat color, red Boston Terriers also have different colored eyes. While Boston Terriers have dark eyes, the red Boston Terrier has gold or amber-colored eyes. Of course, there are other differences too.
A Red Boston Terrier has a short, muscular body with a broad chest.
Red Boston dogs have a square jaw and a shorter muzzle. Their muzzle is also round and wrinkle-free. The eyes of Boston Terriers are large and round, and also set wide apart. The red Boston has large eyes too, but they are blue or amber and square-shaped. They are also tucked in the skull.
Their nose is broad and reddish-brown. Unlike other Boston Terrier puppies, these dogs have a well-defined nose with a line in between.
Another difference lies in their ears. Boston Terriers have small and erect ears, while the red Boston has large ears that are also erect.
Obviously, the biggest difference is their coat color. They have varying shades of vivid red and copper-red with white markings.
The red Boston Terrier’s personality is the same as with any other Boston Terrier’s. They are well-behaved and affectionate dogs.
Where the red comes from
Now, let’s talk about where the red coat color comes from. Even though there are so many coat colors in dogs, all of those colors come from only two pigments:
- eumelanin, which is black
- paheomelanin, which is red
Both of these pigments have “set” colors that can be modified by different genes. Simply put these genes dilute the pigment into other colors.
This dilution gene is the D locus. It lightens the coat from black or brown to gray or blue or pale brown. And, as already mentioned the blue is a diluted black color.
The red coat color is produced when the gene (e) stops the production of the black pigment until what’s left is the production of the red pigment. A dog with two copies of the gene (e) will pass it on to 100% of its offspring. This means that two red Boston Terriers need to be bred in order for the offspring to have a red coat too.
Basically, the red coat color is a result of a genetic mutation. Now, because of that many people think that they are more prone to get sick. It’s a fact that genes and genetic mutations can affect a dog’s health, but in this case, there is no study that proves it.
Of course, it is possible that a dog’s coat color can affect its health, but that’s only the case with for example blue and albino Boston Terriers. These dogs are very prone to skin allergies, irritations, hair loss, skin problems, and so on.
We also have to add that this coat color isn’t rare. You just need to find a breeder that is focused on breeding red Boston Terriers.