What’s the Difference between a Boston Terrier vs French Bulldog

Find out which dog is better for you, French Bulldogs vs Boston Terriers with our handy guide.

If you’re on the search between a French Bulldog and Boston Terrier but not sure which one is right for you or what the difference is between the two, we’ve created a handy guide to spot the differences from looks to personality. Both dogs have qualities unlike the other and we help determine these qualities with our handy guide. Read on to decide which dog is better for you and your family.

Cuteness galore is a trait of both the Boston and Frenchie, they are common ancestors after all, yet have distinguishing characteristics that make them completely different breeds of dogs. Learn about their differences below.

French Bulldog (Below)

 Boston Terrier (Below)

The History of French Bulldogs

The boston terrier and frenchie share a common ancestor: the english bulldog. The frenchie as they are known, started in England, during the industrial revolution, english lace makers took the frenchies with them to work in Normandy, in France they were then bred with french terriers to become the french bulldog we know today, Parisian women fell in love with their bat like ears. French Bulldogs were the dogs to accompany Parisian working girls. They were their trusted companions and lap dogs. Perhaps this is where ‘French’ bulldog even came from!

History of Boston Terriers

The Boston Terrier gets its name from Boston, MA, in the 1870s the American breed it was a cross between an english bulldog and english white terrier (now extinct) the cross breeding between english bull terrier, boxer, pitbull terrier and the french bulldog is now the modern boston terrier. The boston terrier was the first non sporting breed created in the US.

Appearance of the French Bulldogs

French Bulldogs and Boston Terriers share a few things.

• Big buggy eyes
• Big smile
• Short fur/coat
• Minimal tails
• Both brachiocephalic breeds

Appearance of how a French Bulldog differs from a Boston:

• Bat ears that are round
• A big head
• Short legs
• Muscular build
• Larger bone structure
• Short and square confirmation

Boston Terriers have this whereas French Bulldogs do not:

• Slimmer stature and frame
• Lean legs
• Round head
• Small head
• Pointy ears
• Less color variations

Popularity Difference between French Bulldogs and Boston Terriers

Both the French Bulldog and the Boston Terrier are popular breeds but the winner goes to the French Bulldog coming in 3rd place, the Boston comes in 21st place, according to AKC (American Kennel Club).

Life Expectancy of French Bulldogs vs Boston Terriers

Boston Terriers: 13-15 years

French Bulldogs: 10-13 years

Weight Difference of French Bulldogs vs Boston Terriers

Boston Terriers: 15-25 pounds

French Bulldogs: 20-28 lbs

Price Difference of French Bulldogs vs Boston Terriers

French Bulldogs: $2500-$10,000+

French Bulldogs are more costly than Boston Terriers and other dog breeds. Depending on the color you choose, French Bulldogs can be more costly.

Boston Terriers are the cheaper of the two, if you’re on a budget, Bostons are a better bet. Their prices range from $500-$1500.

Difference in Markings between French Bulldogs and Boston Terriers

Boston Terriers are nicknamed the ‘American Gentleman’. You can see where they get this popular nickname from by looking at their markings. Bostons have a white front and black coat which is a standard look.

Bostons come in a few other colors:

• Black Brindle & White
• Brindle & white
• Seal & White
• Seal Brindle & White

French Bulldogs come in a lot more colors, including:

• Brindle
• Brindle and White (Brindle Pied)
• Cream
• White
• Fawn
• Fawn and White (Fawn Pied)
• Reverse Brindle
• Blue
• Blue Brindle
• Blue Pied
• Solid Blue
• Reverse blue brindle
• Blue Fawn
• Sable
• Blue and tan
• Black and tan
• Chocolate
• And many more!

Health Differences between French Bulldogs and Boston Terriers

What they share:

• Both are brachycephalic dogs meaning special care is given to both
• Elongated soft palate
• Cherry eye
• Allergies
• Flatulence
• Snoring
• Grunting
• Stenotic (small nares)

Boston Terriers carry these specific health potential problems :

• Spinal malformations
• Spinal defects
• Patellar luxation

French Bulldogs carry these specific health potential problems :

• Bone problems
• Joint issues
• Spinal issues; hemivertabrae

Grooming of a French Bulldog vs a Boston Terrier

Both breeds have short coats which makes it easy to groom. Grooming 1 a week is sufficient for both breeds, neither require daily grooming. We recommend grooming wipes for daily use if you want to freshen up your pet.

Training a Boston Terrier vs a French Bulldog

Both a Boston and French Bulldog are easy to train. If you get them as adults the training can be more difficult as they are more set in their ways. As puppies, we recommend crate training for both breeds. French Bulldogs respond well to crate training. Boston Terriers are obedient to their owners and train well to go potty outside. French Bulldogs may be stubborn at first, as this is part of their charm, they will quickly understand that going outside is where they need to potty. We highly recommend keeping your puppy in a puppy area of your home for more successful potty training rates. If your puppy has free roam of the house, they may potty more frequently and not understand to go outside. Bully breeds in general have a habit and known for being stubborn. Make sure your bully knows you’re the king or queen of the house or they will attempt to dominate.

Are French Bulldogs or Boston Terriers better for apartment living?

French Bulldogs are known to be great apartment dogs and require less space than Boston Terriers. If you live in an apartment, French Bulldogs are better for smaller spaces and less exercise. Boston Terriers have more energy and need more playtime and long walks to get the excess energy out, while French bulldogs are known to be more ‘chill’ overall.

What is the activity level of Boston Terriers vs French Bulldogs?

French bulldogs have less energy on average than Boston Terriers. Boston Terriers can play for hours and demand a game of fetch. In fact, they can play fetch all day if you let them and will never seem to get tired, so be prepared! French Bulldogs on the other hand enjoy playing but also can be lazy at times where all they want to do is laze on the couch with you and watch TV. If you have more of a laid-back lifestyle, French Bulldogs are your better bet. Boston Terriers will require more playtime and walks because of their higher activity level.

Which Breed is Best for you?

After reading our handy guide, which breed is best for you? We have our eyes on French Bulldogs and there is a reason they are the 3rd most popular dog breed in America. If you’re wanting to add a French Bulldog to your family, check out our available pups or join our future puppy waitlist.