The Boston Terrier is truly an "All American" dog. He is often referred to as "The American Gentleman" and it has been said that, "There is no better dog - no greater companion" than the Boston Terrier. Many adjectives have been used to describe this little dog; the Boston has been called lively, affectionate, delightful, intelligent, stylish, sturdy, handsome, elegant, loving, loyal and most of all - an extraordinary companion dog. The American Kennel Club online article describing the Boston Terrier says, "He's as full of fun as a baseball game and as lovable as a Teddy bear. He's as reliable as a Chevrolet and low-maintenance as a pair of blue jeans. He's as friendly as a cowboy and as courageous as a Minute Man. He's always well-dressed and usually well-mannered." I think this description captures the heart and soul of the Boston Terrer. To own one is to be totally in love for life!! |
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| The Boston Terrier can trace its history back to 1865, in Boston, Massachusetts. At this time pit fighting between dogs was still a popular form of entertainment. There were a number of breeds of dogs that had their start in the fighting pit, and the Boston Terrier is no exception. The Boston Terrier of 1865 is not the dog we know today. The history that has been passed down is that Robert C. Hooper, of Boston, Massachusetts, purchased a dog that was part English Bulldog, and part English Terrier (the English Terrier being an all white dog). This dog's name was Judge. He was rather tall in stature, was colored a dark brindle with a white stripe on his face. He possessed a square and blocky head, with a nearly even mouth. Judge weighed approximately 32 pounds. A cross breeding was arranged with a Bulldog-type female Massachusetts. Gyp was rather short statured, possessed a short, blocky head, and weighed around 20 pounds. What was interesting was that some of the offspring from this mating weighed in excess of 60 pounds. These were not wimpy dogs. |
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| Boston Terrier Information |
| As time passed, these dogs were referred to as stableman's or the barber's dog. The reason being that the employees of the very wealthy (most centered around Breed's Hill of Boston), would get together to gossip, drink, and pass the time at the local tavern. Some of these employees had access to their employer's purebred dogs. These employees would borrow their employer's dogs and breed them to other dogs, and arrange for the puppies to "find new homes". The offspring would end up in the fighting pits, either as young pups to demonstrate their "courage", or as older dogs, to actually fight other dogs, rats, bulls, etc. What is interesting is that these breedings were not foolish, nor frivolous. These people were actually looking for certain qualities in the dogs that they were breeding. They did not know the science of genetics, but they did know that certain strengths could be passed from one generation to another. The dogs that were used in the fighting pits were also used as family dogs. Their devotion to their masters was notable even by the people who found pit fighting repugnant. By 1891, the Boston Terrier was an established breed of dog. By this we mean that the Boston Terrier was reproducing true to its form. Offspring were consistently looking like their sire and dam. Forty breeders decided to form the American Bullterrier Club in Boston, and applied to the American Kennel Club for membership status. There were many objections raised due to the Boston Terrier not looking anything like a Bullterrier. Finally, a noted writer and authority, James Watson, suggested that since this new breed did not resemble the Bullterrier, that the dog should have its own identity. He felt that this dog having been bred in and around Boston, it should be named the Boston Terrier. So the club changed its name to the Boston Terrier Club and in 1893 it was admitted to membership in the A.K.C. If we advance the years to the early 1900's, we still can find Boston Terriers being shown in the Conformation Ring weighing around 30 pounds. However, in the 1920's breeders started to pay more attention to the markings on the body, and the body proportions. Pit fighting, for the most part, was illegal in most states, and its popularity was dwindling. So the breeders started looking at the dog as a companion. Remember that these dogs already had a reputation for having a notable devotion to their masters and family. By the 1950's the Boston Terrier was very much like the dog we know today. For show purposes, there are three weight classes that pertain to the Boston - they are light (under 15 lbs.), middle (under 20 lbs.), and heavy-weight (under 25 lbs.). The Boston Terrier Club has as a guideline for its member breeders - "We are the heirs of the past, and the Trustees of the future." If only all breeders felt that way about their charges |
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