Frequently,
variations on the standard are seen depending on the
ancestry of the individual dog. At various times, the
Bulldog,
English Mastiff,
and
French Bulldog—among
other breeds—have been crossbred with Boston Terrier
lines to minimize inbreeding in what is necessarily a
small gene pool.
Boston Terrier
Size
The breed
was first
shown
in Boston in 1870. By 1889 the breed had become
sufficiently popular in Boston that fanciers formed the
American Bull Terrier Club, but this proposed name for
the breed was not well received by the
Bull Terrier
Fanciers; the breed's nickname, "roundheads", was
similarly inappropriate. Shortly after, at the
suggestion of James Watson (a noted writer and
authority), the club changed its name to the Boston
Terrier Club and in 1893 it was admitted to membership
in the American Kennel Club, thus making it the first US
breed to be recognized. It is one of a small number of
breeds to have originated in the United States, and the
first American breed. In the early
years, the color and markings were not very important,
but by the 1900s the breed's distinctive markings and
color were written into the standard, becoming an
essential feature. Terrier only in name, the Boston
Terrier has lost most of its ruthless desire for mayhem,
preferring the company of humans, although some males
will still challenge other dogs if they feel their
territory is being invaded. Boston Terriers
were particularly popular during the 1920s in the US,
and have been holding steady in the top 20 of the AKC's
favorite breeds for the past 10+ years.
Breed Name
Description
Boston Terriers, are also sometimes called the Boston bulldog. They are
typically small, compact, well-proportioned and muscular, with erect
ears, short tails and a short muzzle. Their faces are
unforgettable with their dark, large round eyes. They have a broad, flat
head without wrinkles and a short, square muzzle leading to an ample
black nose. Their neck is slightly arched and its chest is broad, with
limbs that are straight and muscular. Their hair is short,
brilliant, and of a fine texture that comes in brindle & white or black
& white and some are born brown & white, or red & white.
Temperament
The Boston Terrier is gentle,
alert, very intelligent, well-mannered and enthusiastic. Without the
proper amount of mental and physical exercise they can become
rambunctious and a bit high strung. They are very sensitive to the tone
of one's voice. Bostons like to learn and therefore are not difficult to
train. Their intelligence ensures they pick things up quickly. If the
humans around the dog do not display the leadership that all dogs need,
they will become willful as they begin to believe they are running the
show and need to tell YOU what to do. Do not allow the Boston Terrier to
developed Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors where the dog
believes he is pack leader to humans. This can cause a varying degree of
behavior issues. Bostons need a gentle, but firm, confident, consistent
pack leader who knows how to display authority over the dog. It is a
canine instinct to have a strong leader and this little guy is no
exception to the rule. Either the human will be that leader, or the dog
will. Some owners have reported that their dogs are good watchdogs
barking only when necessary. Most are reliable with children, and are
especially good with elderly people and very friendly with strangers.
The Boston Terrier is playful, very affectionate and likes to be part of
the family. They will let you know in a hurry if they feel neglected, as
they feel that they are a part of the family. These little dogs are very
popular in the United States, due above all to its excellent character.
They generally get along was well with other pets as well as it does
with its family members.
Height: 15-17 inches (38.1-43cm.)
Weight: 10-25 pounds (4.5-11.3kg.)
History
The Boston
Terrier breed originated around 1870, when Robert C.
Hooper of Boston purchased a dog known as Hooper's
Judge, who was of a
Bull and Terrier
type lineage. Judge's specific lineage is unknown,
however, Hooper's Judge is either directly related to
the original
Bull and Terrier
breeds of the 1700s and early 1800s, or Judge is the
result of modern
English Bulldog's
being crossed into terriers created in the 1860s for
show purposes, like the
White English
Terrier.
Judge weighed over 29.7 pounds (13.5 kilos). Their
offspring interbred with one or more
French Bulldogs,
providing the foundation for the Boston Terrier. Bred
down in size from
pit-fighting dogs
of the
Bull and Terrier
types, the Boston Terrier originally weighed up to 44
pounds (20 kg.) (Olde Boston Bulldogge).