How long does a Boston Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Boston Terrier is 11–13 years.

How tall is a Boston Terrier?

The listed height for a Boston Terrier is 10–12 in.

Is a Boston Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Boston Terrier is 5 out of 5.

When is a Boston Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Boston Terrier is 8–12 months.

Non-Sporting Group

Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier is a small dog in the Non-Sporting Group. Adult weight is 12–25 lb, height is 10–12 in, and the listed lifespan is 11–13 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Bright, Amusing.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Boston Terrier dog — Photo: Ed Siasoco · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan11–13 years

Weight12–25 lb

SizeSmall GroupNon-Sporting Group

Height

10–12 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12 years is about 1.6 years shorter than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 18.5 lb is about 2.5 lb heavier than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is United States. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.5 points above the group average of 3.5 for the Non-Sporting Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 4 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 23 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and BAER Testing. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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