10/22/2026
“I Just Want a Pet!”
Why Should I Pay More for a Boston Terrier If I’m Not Going to Show It?
There is one statement responsible Boston Terrier breeders hear time and time again:
“I just want a pet. I don’t need a show dog. Why should I pay so much for a puppy if I’m not going to show it?”
It is a question worth addressing, because it suggests that a Boston Terrier destined to be a family companion somehow deserves less consideration than one destined for the show ring.
My answer is simple:
Just because you want a pet doesn’t mean you should settle for a poorly bred Boston Terrier.
In fact, I would argue that the quality of a family companion is every bit as important as the quality of a show dog. After all, that puppy may never step into a show ring, but it will become part of your family, share your home, and depend on you for its health, comfort, and well-being for years to come.
A show dog may spend its weekends competing for championships. Your companion will spend its life being your best friend.
Shouldn’t that dog have the best possible beginning?
Anyone Can Produce Puppies. Not Everyone Can Breed Quality.
Let’s establish something right from the beginning.
Anyone who owns an intact male and female Boston Terrier can potentially produce a litter of puppies. But producing puppies and responsibly breeding Boston Terriers are two very different things.
Breeding quality requires far more than putting two dogs together and waiting for puppies to arrive.
It requires knowledge of pedigrees, an understanding of the Boston Terrier breed standard, an eye for structure and movement, an appreciation for temperament, an understanding of hereditary conditions, and the ability to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the dogs being considered for a breeding.
It means understanding that not every Boston Terrier should be bred simply because it is registered, attractive, or beloved by its owner.
It means making difficult decisions, investing in health testing, studying generations of dogs, and continually learning how to improve the next generation.
And it means recognizing that the responsibility does not end when the puppies are born.
Breeding responsibly is a commitment to the breed, not simply a way to produce puppies.
A Pet Puppy Should Not Mean a Lower Standard.
One of the biggest misconceptions in dog breeding is that a puppy sold as a pet does not need the same level of care, planning, or consideration as a show prospect.
Why should it?
A Boston Terrier does not become less deserving of good structure, sound movement, a stable temperament, or thoughtful health screening simply because its future family has no interest in dog shows.
The Boston Terrier breed standard exists to describe the characteristics that define the breed. Responsible breeders use that standard as a guide when making breeding decisions, whether the resulting puppies will compete in the ring or spend their lives on the couch.
Not every puppy in a litter will develop into a show prospect. Puppies mature differently, and some may have minor structural or cosmetic characteristics that make them less competitive in the show ring.
That does not automatically make them inferior companions.
A well-bred pet Boston Terrier can be a wonderful example of the breed, even if it is not destined to become a champion.
The important distinction is that being sold as a pet should describe the puppy’s intended future, not excuse poor breeding practices.
Health Testing Is Not Just for Show Dogs.
This is especially important in Boston Terriers.
Responsible breeding involves more than looking at two dogs and deciding they make a nice pair. It includes making informed decisions about inherited health risks and evaluating the health of the dogs being bred.
Appropriate health screening may include:
* BAER hearing testing to evaluate hearing.
* CAER eye examinations to screen for eye disease.
* JHC genetic testing for juvenile hereditary cataracts, with appropriate consideration of parentage and genetic status.
* Patella evaluations to assess kneecap stability.
* Respiratory function evaluation, where available and appropriate, to help assess breathing function.
Testing protocols and recommendations can vary, and results must be interpreted in the context of the individual dog and its pedigree. No health-testing program can guarantee a puppy will never develop a health problem.
However, responsible breeders use available information to make better breeding decisions and reduce avoidable risks wherever possible.
These considerations matter just as much to the family who wants a companion as they do to the exhibitor who wants a champion.
Your puppy does not need a show career to deserve breeders who take its health seriously.
What Are You Actually Paying For?
When you purchase a Boston Terrier from a responsible breeder, you are paying for much more than the puppy itself.
You are investing in the decisions that came before the litter ever existed.
You are investing in years of experience, carefully selected pedigrees, health testing, veterinary care, proper nutrition, appropriate socialization, and the time required to raise puppies responsibly.
You are investing in a breeder who understands the breed standard, studies the dogs behind their breeding program, evaluates each puppy as it matures, and takes responsibility for the lives they bring into the world.
You are also investing in the knowledge and support that a reputable breeder can provide long after your puppy goes home.
Responsible breeding has real costs. Quality food, veterinary examinations, reproductive care, health testing, stud fees, travel, registration, and the countless hours spent caring for a litter all contribute to the final price.
And sometimes, despite the planning, expense, and effort, a breeding does not produce the results a breeder hoped for.
That is part of responsible breeding, too.
A breeder who prioritizes the dogs cannot make every decision based solely on what is most profitable.
The Difference Between a Cheap Puppy and a Well-Bred Puppy
A lower purchase price can certainly be appealing. There is nothing wrong with being mindful of your budget.
But the purchase price alone does not tell you whether a puppy was responsibly bred.
Ask questions.
Were the parents appropriately health tested? Can the breeder explain the pedigree and why the dogs were paired? Are the puppies being raised in a clean, attentive environment? Is the breeder knowledgeable about Boston Terrier health, temperament, and structure? Will the breeder remain available if you need guidance after bringing your puppy home?
Are you being shown documentation, or are you simply being asked to take someone’s word for it?
And remember, registration papers alone do not establish quality, health, or responsible breeding practices.
A puppy’s initial cost is only one part of the financial commitment. Veterinary care, preventive care, food, training, and unexpected medical expenses are all part of owning a dog.
The goal should never be to find the cheapest Boston Terrier. The goal should be to find the right Boston Terrier from a breeder who has done the work.
Not Every Puppy Is a Show Prospect. Every Puppy Deserves Responsible Breeding.
At Argo’s Kennels, our philosophy is rooted in breeding Boston Terriers to the breed standard and making thoughtful, informed breeding decisions.
We believe in appropriate health testing, careful evaluation, and preserving the qualities that make the Boston Terrier the American Gentleman.
We understand that not everyone wants to compete in conformation. Many families simply want a wonderful companion to love, spoil, and include in their everyday lives.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
In fact, wonderful companion homes are essential to responsible breeding programs. A breeder can only keep a limited number of dogs, and placing puppies in carefully selected pet homes allows those dogs to have fulfilling lives outside the show ring.
But a pet home should never be viewed as a reason to cut corners.
We do not believe that a Boston Terrier needs to earn a championship to deserve a thoughtful beginning. Nor do we believe that every puppy must become a show dog to justify the time, expense, and care that went into producing it.
The show ring may help us evaluate our breeding program, but the ultimate goal is to produce healthy, sound, temperamentally appropriate Boston Terriers that represent the breed well and can thrive in the homes entrusted with their care.
So, Why Pay More If You Just Want a Pet?
Because you are not paying for a ribbon.
You are paying for the care, knowledge, planning, and responsibility that went into producing your puppy.
You are paying for a breeder who understands that every breeding affects the future of the breed, regardless of where each puppy eventually lives.
You are paying for someone who considers more than color, markings, size, or the ability to sell a puppy quickly.
And you are making a decision that may affect the next decade or more of your family’s life.
Of course, a higher price does not automatically guarantee a better breeder. Buyers should always ask questions, review health-testing documentation, and evaluate the breeder’s practices rather than relying on price alone.
But when comparing puppies, look beyond the number on the sales agreement. Look at the work behind the litter.
You may not want a show dog. That does not mean you should want anything less than a responsibly bred Boston Terrier.
At the end of the day, your puppy may never win a point, earn a championship, or stand on a show table.
But it will have the opportunity to win something far more personal: a place in your heart, a place in your home, and a lifetime of being your best friend.
And that is worth doing right from the beginning.
Argo’s Kennels Boston Terriers
Breeding to the Standard. Health Testing with Purpose. Preserving the Boston Terrier for Future Generations.
