The Boston Terrier, dressed to the nines in a striking tuxedo coat of snow-white and either black, brindle, or seal (which appears black except it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or bright light), turns heads wherever it goes. This intelligent, compact, and jaunty companion has some terrier roots but isn’t a terrier.
The breed’s dapper and distinguished appearance, with its well-defined coat and alert expression, explains one reason why the Boston Terrier’s nickname is “The American Gentleman.” The other reason is that the Boston was the first of only a few made-in-the-USA breeds and the first member of AKC’s newly formed Non-Sporting Group in 1923.
Boston Terrier Early Development
William O’Brien, of Boston, Massachusetts, purchased a Bulldog-Terrier-type dog from England and sold him around 1870 to Robert C. Hooper, also of Boston. The Bulldog-Terrier-type, dark-brindle dog weighed in at a stocky 32 pounds and had a square, blocky head and white stripe on half his face. Named “Hooper’s Judge,” the dog became the patriarch of the Boston Terrier.
Judge was a cross between an English Bulldog and a White English Terrier, a breed which was popular in England in the late 19th century but is now extinct. The tough, muscular dog resembled a Bulldog more than a thinner White English Terrier.
Edward Burnett of Southborough, Massachusetts, bred Burnett’s “Gyp,” a 20-pound, white Bulldog-type bitch, to Judge. The mating produced only one puppy, a male named “Well’s Eph.” A later mating between Eph and “Tobin’s Kate,” a small, 20-pound golden brindle bitch, produced handsome companion dogs, including “Barnard’s Tom.” These dogs became the foundation of the stylish Boston Terriers we recognize today.
Choosing a New Name
Other breeders bred their bitches to Tom and called the breed the “American Bull Terrier,” despite the new dog bearing no resemblance to a Bull Terrier. Years later, 30 Boston area breeders began exhibiting their dogs and called them “Round Heads” or American Bull Terriers. The name later changed again from Round Heads or Boston Bull Terriers to Boston Terriers, after the city where it originated.
The Boston Terrier Club of America was formed in 1891, with the AKC registering the first Boston Terrier in 1893. At this time, 75 Bostons were approved for the AKC Stud Book.
The Most Decorated Dog
When “Stubby,” a stray brindle Boston Terrier or Bull Terrier-type dog, was found wandering the streets of Connecticut in 1917, Private First Class Robert Conroy of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th “Yankee” Division, who was training at Yale University for World War I, rescued him. Conroy taught the dog a few tricks, such as how to lift his paw and hold it to his eye to mimic a salute. Conroy hid the dog under his overcoat and carried him on board when the unit shipped out to sea.
Stubby became an official part of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and proved brave, loyal, and intelligent. He saved soldiers from incoming mustard gas attacks and helped locate and comfort wounded soldiers on the battlefield in France. He once attacked and held a German soldier until an American soldier found him.
The Boston Terrier’s actions earned him the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army and made him the most decorated canine in American military history. Newspapers documented Stubby’s record. To honor his service, he received a gold medal and two Purple Hearts for wounds he suffered on the battlefield. Today, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History features Stubby’s accomplishments in an exhibition.
Rise in Popularity
Through its development, fanciers prioritized breeding a short, square Boston with an intelligent expression, dark, soft eyes, and a head that was flat on top and in proportion to the size of the clean-cut, short-backed body. They wanted a dog that looked determined, strong, and active with an easy and graceful carriage.
The short, smooth-coated Boston in either brindle, seal, or black with snow-white markings and weighing 12 pounds but not to exceed 25 pounds, ranked in the early 20th century as one of the most popular breeds in the U.S.
According to the Official Book of the Boston Terrier by Muriel P. Lee and the Boston Terrier Club of America, six dogs born from 1915 to 1917 became the cornerstone of the breed: “Ch. Hagerty King,” “Ch. Mosholu Blink,” “Sigourney King,” “Woodward Captain,” “Intruder,” and “Ch. Prince Conde.”
The Boston Shoe Company created comic strip characters, including “Tige,” a Boston Terrier, to sell its Buster Brown shoes. Between 1910 and 1970, the Boston Terrier ranked among the top ten most popular breeds, and for a few years, ranked either number one or number two.
President Warren G. Harding and celebrities past and present owned a Boston Terrier. These include Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Helen Keller, Robin Williams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rose McGowan, and Joan Rivers.
A City’s Canine Pride
The city of Boston honored its hometown hero in 1979, when the state legislature named the “American Gentleman” the official dog of Massachusetts. For nearly 100 years, the breed has served as Boston University’s mascot.
Retaining the appearance, demeanor, and health of every breed over generations takes time, patience, and dedication. The Boston Terrier’s dapper appearance and charming demeanor have endured throughout generations, but these qualities require time, patience, and commitment.
“Vinny,” MBIS MBISS GCHP2 CH Sabe’s Simply Invincible holds the record as the top winning Boston Terrier in breed history with 101 Bests in Show, number six dog all breeds in 2015, number eight dog all breeds in 2016, and number seven dog all breeds in 2017. He was also the number one non-sporting dog in 2015 and 2016. Vinny was bred by Sharon Saberton and owned by Joe and Carla Sanchez, Sharon Saberton, and Robert Looker.
Sturdy yet portable, eager to please, and always up for a game, the Boston enjoys participating in AKC dog sports alongside its people.