Over the years I have met many people who were heartbroken when their dogs were affected by serious hereditary problems in their Boston Terriers.  Sadly many of these issues could have been screened for and reduced or even eliminated through careful breeding.  Unfortunately most new puppy buyers are not aware of the testing that should be done on Bostons to help ensure the health of the breed. Below are some things to look for in a  breeder, regardless of where you get your puppy from. 

A responsible reputable Boston Terrier breeder should do the following testing at minimum on their breeding dogs:

• BAER
• CAER
• Patellas 
• JHC

BAER - for normal hearing. Deafness in Bostons can be hereditary or caused by excessive white on the head or blue eyes. This is a one time test that is good for the life of your dog and can rule out deafness in one or both ears. Do not take the breeder's word for it. "My dog can hear fine" or the vet did a "clap test" is NOT ensuring the dog is not unilaterally deaf! I have known two breeders who had unilaterally deaf dogs and did not know it for years. A deaf or  unilaterally deaf dog can make a perfectly fine pet, but they shouldn't be bred and a breeder should do all they can to screen this issue out. 

 CAER- for normal eyes. Bostons can be prone to numerous eye issues.  CAER testing should be done yearly and ensures that breeding dogs have healthy eyes and no heredtiary conditions.  Late onset cataracts is common in Bostons, typically occurring after about 7 years old. It's  important to know if a Boston has developed cataracts earlier on in life and make breeding decisions based on those results. Some breeders who are not fully educated in health screening think that testing for JHC (Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts) is enough to screen for eye issues. That is NOT true and JHC DNA testing only tests for ONE hereditary eye issue, not the dozens that can affect Bostons, nor checks for cataracts beyond one specific type that only affects young Bostons. 

 PATELLAS - for normal knees. Patellar luxation is a common problem with Bostons and can cost upwards of $2500 per knee to surgically repair. This is a simple test that many vets can perform. A preliminary test can be done after 12 weeks but OFA will not accept results until after one year of age. 

JHC - a dna test to screen out Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts. This is a simple dna test that can rule out puppies being affected with JHC. This disease can cause a puppy to go blind by the age of two or three years old, sometimes sooner. Repair can be $2500+ per eye to repair. Breeders who will not invest in a simple $40 test that can ensure their puppies don't go blind should not be breeding at all. 

*These four tests  above should be performed at bare minimum on any breeding dogs prior to breeding. The below tests are also recommended for this breed:

• Cardiac
• Spine
• Trachea
• Hips

Other things to consider: 

• Is the breeder producing puppies just for a profit? Or do they breed to support and improve the breed as a whole?
• Are they breeding fad colors or for their own preferences? Or are they breeding according to the standard?
• If they claim to be a "show breeder", do they just go to shows once or twice in order to post show photos, or do they show on a regular basis with the purpose of ongoing evaluation of the quality and structure of their dogs? 
• Will they allow you to see where the puppies are raised? It's common for breeders to keep visitors from coming while the puppies are too young for vaccinations, but that aside, are you allowed to visit or do they insist on meeting off site? 
• Do they know about the health tests listed on this page or do they say "My vet says my dogs are healthy"? Or do they say "I've never had a problem"? 
• Are they knowledgeable about the breed itself?