One of the most recognizable dog breeds, the Boston Terrier is best known for its tuxedo-like markings and coloration—but would you recognize a Boston Terrier if it was red?
Red Boston Terriers are pretty unique when compared to the other colors you’ll find standard for the breed. While most Bostons have black noses and deep brown eyes, the red Boston Terrier often has a red nose and light brown or hazel eyes!
While the red Boston Terrier is beautiful and less common than the standard AKC-recognized colors—we’ll cover this more below—they aren’t “rare” or more difficult to produce than standard Boston Terriers. Some unethical breeders will use this myth to their advantage, charging extraordinarily high prices.
To help you navigate the world of red Boston Terriers and avoid common mistakes people make when buying these purebred but non-standard pups, we’ve created a simple guide! Keep reading to find out if the red Boston Terrier could be your perfect pup.
Meet 5 Insta-Famous Red Boston Terriers
When you think of a Boston Terrier, red probably isn’t the first color you think of. So, what exactly does a red Boston Terrier look like? Ranging from a deep almost chocolatey-brown red to orangey ginger red, here are six examples of red and white Boston Terriers from Instagram.
1. Bensen & Jacen
These handsome boys are Bensen and Jacen, twins and best friends who have spent every moment since birth together! Both a beautiful deep red, Bensen and Jacen look especially good sunbathing—one of their favorite activities.
2. King Henry VIII
A distinguished gentleman with a name befitting his royal stature, King Henry is a 3-year-old red Boston Terrier from New Jersey who is always getting into mischief! A cheese lover, rug destroyer, and laundry mess up-er, King Henry is living his best life at all times.
3. Remy
Remy (left) is a red Boston Terrier who lives in Leeds, UK with his standard black and white Boston Terrier brother, Pablo (right). These boys love adventuring, going for long walks, and spending lots of time together! Such a handsome fellow, Remy has a brighter, more rust-leaning tone to his red patches.
4. Honeybun
Honeybun is a kitty cat-loving red Boston Terrier from Brooklyn! Lucky Honeybun has two cats of her own, Carrot (seen above) and Cleo, who keep Honeybun entertained and thoroughly snuggled!
5. Buckley
Instagram users have totally fallen for Buckley thanks to his signature grumpy grimace, but don’t let that look of irritation fool you! Buckley is a sweet, fun-loving red Boston Terrier who is always making his humans laugh.
Red Boston Terrier Basic Info
Ready to get to know the red Boston Terrier? If you aren’t already in love, get ready to start falling! Boston Terriers have a huge fan base, and their owners are adamant that these pups are full of endless entertainment.
“[My Boston Terrier] is the funniest dog,” said Reddit user ZZBC in response to a question on the r/dogs subreddit about what life is like with a Boston Terrier. “[My Boston] oozes personality and has the biggest zest for life. He constantly makes us laugh. I can’t imagine not having one of these goofy guys around. If you own a Boston life is full of hilarious antics, bizarre noises, and so many farts.”
What is the Personality of a Red Boston Terrier?
We already know that the Boston Terrier is known for being goofy, but what other characteristics define this breed’s temperament? Some other common traits described by many Boston Terrier owners—regardless of color—include:
- Affectionate and good with people including children
- Playful, friendly, and open to strangers and new experiences
- High-energy and alert
Red Boston Terrier Size
Whether it’s black and white, brindle, or red, full-grown Boston Terriers should weigh between 12—25 pounds, and stand at 15—17 inches at the shoulder.
Compact, sturdy, often muscular little dogs, Boston Terriers are small but mighty!
Red Boston Terrier Health
Before we dive into Boston Terrier health, it’s important to know that red Boston Terriers are not more prone to health issues than their standard-colored counterparts. Coloration in this case has nothing to do with health.
While a well-bred Boston Terrier should be generally healthy, the breed is prone to a number of health issues. Boston Terriers are a brachycephalic breed, which means they have a short, squashed face. Brachycephalic dogs are all prone to breathing troubles, allergies, and sensitivity to exercise due to their shortened airways, and Boston Terriers are no exception. Beyond this, the most common health issues to watch for if you have a red Boston Terrier include:
- Eye injury
- Vision problems
- Patellar luxation
- Hearing impairment, and deafness
Where To Find a Red Boston Terrier for Sale
If you’ve already Googled “red Boston Terrier for sale near me” to no avail, we recommend taking a look at the American Kennel Club Marketplace. Although red isn’t a registered or recognized Boston Terrier color according to the AKC, you can still find red Boston Terrier breeders on their breeder database.
While the breeders allowed to advertise on the AKC Marketplace are generally reliable and experienced, you should still do independent research on any breeder you choose.
If you’re interested in adopting a red Boston Terrier, we suggest checking breed-specific rescue. Here’s a fabulously comprehensive list of Boston Terrier rescues from the Boston Terrier Society.
Red Boston Terrier FAQ
Who knew there was so much to learn about red Boston Terriers? While we’ve managed to cover the basics so far, we know you probably have more questions. Here are just a few of the questions dog lovers like you are asking about the red Boston Terrier.
No! Because red isn’t a standard or AKC-recognized color for the Boston Terrier, it’s less common for breeders to intentionally breed for this color variation. That said, they aren’t more difficult to produce, and are certainly not rare.
Some unethical breeders will use the myth that red Boston Terriers are rare to excuse major price hikes, sometimes asking more than $2,000 for red Boston Terrier puppies.
On average, a red Boston Terrier puppy from a reputable breeder will cost $800—$1,200.
Remember that red Boston Terriers are not rare, and should not be more expensive than Boston Terrier puppies in standard colors.
The American Kennel Club recognizes and accepts five Boston Terrier color variations:
-Black & White
-Black Brindle & White
-Brindle & White
-Seal & White
-Seal Brindle & White
Red and white Boston Terriers—or liver and white Boston Terriers—are not non-standard and cannot be bred as registered AKC Boston Terriers or shown at dog shows. However, red Boston Terriers can still be bred ethically by reputable breeders, they are simply not a “registerable” variety of the breed.
The least common Boston Terrier colors include lavender, lilac, blue, and merle, but none of these colors are truly “rare.” Like red, unethical breeders will use these colors to justify charging exorbitant prices, despite the fact that these colors are not accepted by the AKC.
Of the accepted and standard Boston Terrier colors, seal brindle and white is the least common, though still not rare. The lovely Louie is a great example of the seal brindle and white Boston Terrier.
Source: @Louie.Doggs_Lily.Bean.Too
While red isn’t an AKC-accepted Boston Terrier color, you can get pretty close with a seal Boston Terrier! Seal is a deep brown that appears almost black in low light, but shifts to a reddish chocolate brown in the sun. Some seal Boston Terriers have so much red in their fur that they almost appear red!
“Off-colored” refers in this case to color variations that are not accepted by the American Kennel Club. Red is a non-standard color, so a red Boston Terrier is considered off-color by the American Kennel club.
While this term isn’t exactly complimentary, there’s nothing wrong with having a red Boston Terrier—they just aren’t considered breed standard. Red Boston Terriers still make amazing pets and are no different at the core than Boston Terriers in other colors.
Looking for red Boston Terrier names that don’t feel cliché or boring? Here’s a quick list of a few names we think are perfect for a red Boston Terrier.
Clifford—the small red dog
Lucy—like the famous redhead Lucille Ball!
Archie—another famous redhead
Wendy—do you see where we’re going with this?
Phoenix—like the mythical bird who is reborn from flame
Red is called “liver” in the dog world, so if you see someone talking about a liver Boston Terrier, you know they’re talking about a red one! While some liver Bostons will be fiery red, others will be closer to reddish-brown or seal.
Boston Terriers are a purebred dog breed and their ancestry should be exclusively Boston Terrier.
The breed was developed in the US in the late 19th century. Breeders crossed English Bulldogs and English White Terriers—a now-extinct dog breed—to produce the Boston Terriers we know today!
The two foods that are super healthy and that almost every single dog loves, even the pickiest dogs, are: 
1. The Farmer’s Dog. This is a fresh-frozen food that’s delivered to your home in just the right amounts for your dog. There are a number of fresh frozen dog foods available on the market and I tested them all. The Farmer’s Dog came up the winner with my picky dogs. You can see the fresh frozen food test here.
2. Sundays Food For Dogs. This is an air-dried food. It has the convenience of kibble (just pour it in the bow) but is much much healthier. It’s like little pieces of jerky, so dogs go crazy for it. There are a number of air-dried foods on the market. My dogs tested 3 of them. You can see the results of the air-dried food test here.
3. Supplements: I highly recommend using a supplement on your dog’s food, not matter what you feed them, to ensure the meal is balanced and they are getting all the right supplements to help them stay healthy. The supplement I use is called The One from Front of the Pack. It has 12 ingredients that have been clinically-proven to keep your dog’s joints, skin, heart, digestion, and even their breath in tip-top shape. It’s also a powder, so easy to sprinkle on your dog’s food.
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