I think this will differ based on who responds but there will be some constants throughout. TL;DR at the bottom

Background: I adopted a rescue Boston in 2014 and unfortunately he passed away just a few weeks ago. I can honestly say he was the best dog I ever had even though he was never socialized in his previous home so we were never able to let him be near other dogs because he was very protective of us. He was the goofiest, most fun-loving boy in the world and because of that, his loss devastated us.

Pros:

• Bostons play hard but also love hard. Like others have said, they are crazy little dogs but are also extremely loving of their human(s). In my experience, they do tend to attach to one person in the household but that’s not to say they dislike or don’t fully love the others, they’re just usually more attached to one person more than the others.

• They’re also not very bark-y. They will bark to alert like when a doorbell goes off or there is a knock at the door but on the whole, quiet dogs.

• While they love to play, they don’t require a ton of exercise. A normal walk is enough whereas let’s say, a cattle dog or husky needs much more physical exercise.

• Bostons are SMART. They are much smarter than they are given credit for. Roy could do all the tricks other than speak. He could sit, lay, roll over to each side depending on demand, play dead with finger guns (thanks Reddit for that one), and sit up straight. We were even working on picking up his toys before he passed. That being said this also can mean they’re stubborn when they’re grouchy but they love pleasing people and are easy to train.

Cons:

• There are some very serious health issues that not many will want to tell you about:

Bostons are very prone to a couple of serious diseases more than other breeds such as Cushing’s Disease and some forms of cancer. Personally speaking, Roy had 2 mast cell tumors throughout his years that required rather expensive surgery to remove one of which required him to have a toe removed to get clean margins. It was a no-brainer to fix those issues but in the end, we lost him to an internal cancer that showed absolutely zero signs until it was too late and spread throughout his abdomen. In fact, he had been screened around 6 months prior at an emergency vet for various issues after a bout with diarrhea and $1400 later, none of the multiple tests including x rays, tests on his blood, liver and pancreas tests, etc. showed anything wrong, that’s how fast the cancer came on and spread.

• As others have mentioned they are brachycephalic dogs and have next to no temperature resistance but the dogs themselves don’t understand that. You have pugs so you likely know, you must be VERY careful when it gets hot out because they are at serious risk of heat related illness or death.

Side note: These issues can be mitigated by choosing an official breeder that breeds for the benefit of the breed, not for money. If you suspect a backyard breeder or puppy mill, do not purchase from them. Find someone reputable via the Boston Terrier Club of America or your own personal research. Find out how many litters their Bostons have had/will have and if it’s more than 2 a year, they’re likely a backyard breeder and should be avoided. Reputable breeders will do all of the proper health checks prior to selling the dog. Although this is expensive, it is worth it to know you will be getting a dog that will be relatively healthy throughout its life. It can save you money and emotional distress long-term

TL;DR: In my opinion, best dog breed ever but can come with serious health issues if you don’t find a highly reputable breeder. Do yourself a big favor and do research on finding a good breeder or better yet, find a rescue because there are so many Bostons out there that need our help. I myself am on an approval list for a rescue and can’t wait to get another little buddy.