At the heart of preservation breeding lies an unwavering commitment to the Boston Terrier’s health. Responsible, preservation breeders understand that their duty extends beyond maintaining breed standards; it encompasses safeguarding the well-being of every dog in their program and, by extension, the families who will welcome these dogs into their homes.
Ensuring the health of breeding stock is paramount. This commitment not only preserves the integrity of the breed but also upholds an ethical responsibility to produce puppies that will lead long, healthy lives. By prioritizing health, preservation breeders contribute to the overall improvement of the breed, reducing the prevalence of genetic disorders and enhancing quality of life for future generations.
Rigorous health testing is the cornerstone of this approach. Breeders must be diligent in screening for breed-specific conditions, as well as common canine health issues. This proactive stance allows breeders to make informed decisions about their breeding program, ultimately benefiting the breed as a whole and the families who will cherish these dogs as companions.
Mandatory Health Tests for Breeding Dogs:
- Hearing test (BAER) – screens for bi-lateral and uni-lateral deafness
- Eye examination (CAER) – screens over 20 eye issues including early onset cataracts
- Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts (JHC/HSF4)
- Patellas – screens for luxating patellas
Strongly Recommended (Other Health Concerns)
- Cardiac – Screens for heart abnormalities
- Spine – screens for abnormalities such as hemivertebrae
Additional Screening (Other Less Common Health Concerns)
- Trachea – Screens for hypoplastic trachea
- Hips – Screens for hip dysplasia and rates hip soundness
- BOAS – Airway evaluation
Popular But Unnecessary
- Embark: Screens for issues that are not a concern in this breed. Despite claims, DM, HUU, CMR1, etc. are not a problem in the breed. Even the HC test is incorrect and does not test for the corrective marker. Embark CAN be useful, however, for screening out recessive fault colors.
- These tests are harmless but out of 200+ tests, none are specific to the. Boston Terrier, this kind of testing should NEVER take priority and ONLY be done AFTER all of the previous tests above have been done.
If your health screening only happens at your vet’s office or a mailbox, you are not properly health testing. Some of these tests require you to visit the appropriate specilist.
Ch. Bramley’s Storm Watch Kennedy