French Bulldog or Boston Terrier? How to tell the difference

Both French bulldogs and Boston terriers are very popular pets in the UK today, becoming a much more common sight out and about in the dog parks and on the streets than they were even as recently as a decade or so ago.

Both breeds have a strong core of loving owners too, each of which would definitely tell you why their own breed is the best-but one thing that both Frenchie and Boston terrier owners tend to have in common is the fact that many non-owners can’t tell the difference between the French bulldog and the Boston terrier at a glance!

If you are one of those people, this is entirely understandable-the two breeds do look undeniably similar to people that are not very familiar with them. But if you want to learn be able to tell the difference between the two breeds when you’re out and about, don’t despair-in this article, we will teach you how to tell the Frenchie from the Boston terrier with ease. Read on to learn more.

Are the Boston terrier and the Frenchie related?

The reason behind why the Boston terrier and the French bulldog look relatively similar to the uninitiated is simple-they both share a common ancestor, in the form of the English bulldog!

The French bulldog breed was formed by crossing miniature or toy English bulldogs that had been imported to France with their own local small dog breeds, while the Boston terrier breed originated in America, from the crossing of English bulldogs with English terriers.

Whilst there has been a significant amount of divergence between the two breeds since their early origins, it is still very obvious that they are related when you look at the two breeds side by side.

Colours

Boston terriers generally have dual-coloured coats, with black and white being the most common variant. French bulldogs can be seen in a much wider range of colours, but they are usually the same colour all over or with just small areas of a second colour, with white, brindle and sandy shades being common.

Additionally, the French bulldog’s skin tends to be quite loose and wrinkled in places like the English bulldog, but the Boston terrier’s skin is more taut and smooth.

Shape and build

French bulldogs tend to be rather shorter and more heavyset than the Boston terrier, which in turn is a touch taller and longer legged.

Lighter, taller dogs are generally Boston terriers, whilst those that are stocky and shorter are likely to be Frenchies. The face of both breeds are brachycephalic, which means that they possess that signature flat appearance, but the ears of the French bulldog tend to be tall and erect, while the Boston terrier’s ears are smaller and fit closer to the profile of their head.

The hips and rear end of the French bulldog tends to be very narrow and sloping too, while the Boston terrier’s hips tend to be more in proportion with their bodies.

Personality

It is the personality of both the French bulldog and the Boston terrier that really makes them so universally popular, and every single dog is of course an individual that will have their own unique traits, temperaments and preferences. However, taking the breeds as a whole, there are some broad generalisations that can be made for each of them, which again, serve to highlight the differences between them.

If you’re looking for a quiet, reasonably sedentary homebody that likes to snuggle up on the sofa and doesn’t need masses of high energy exercise, then the French bulldog fits the bill; while the Boston terrier is, as a general rule, a little livelier and more interested in running around and going for long walks exploring the countryside.

However, both breeds can of course be playful and entertaining, as well as having the odd couch potato moment too!

Cheat sheet

If you find yourself out and about and dying to say hello to a petite, flat faced little dog and want to get off on the right foot with their owner by correctly guessing the dog’s breed, just remember the following five facts:

• Tall, leggy but lightweight dogs are likely to be Boston terriers, while shorter, heavier dogs are French bulldogs.
• If the dog has tall, erect ears, that’s probably a Frenchie.
• Black and white dogs are likely Bostons; brindle dogs and those whose coat is all or mainly one colour are probably Frenchies.
• Loose, wrinkled skin probably means a Frenchie, while smooth, taut skin is likely a Boston terrier.
• If the dog’s hips are very narrow, this is probably a French bulldog.

Simple!