Quality AKC registered Boston Terriers

HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF THE BOSTON TERRIER

BOSTON TERRIERS AND THEIR COLORS

HEALTH OF THE BOSTON TERRIER 

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 Terrier has been called: lively, affectionate, delightful, intelligent, stylish, sturdy, handsome, elegant, loving, loyal, and most of all-an extraordinary companion dog.

An 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."

"Nothing in America is more American or more expressive of the American spirit than that of the little dog, the Boston Terrier."

"He is so gay, so bright, so stylish! He has been in favor for more than a century, yet the Boston Terrier, like America itself will always be as new as a fresh-minted silver dollar. And while a silver dollar may loose it's shine-and usually does, the Boston Terrier has proved again and again that he looses none of his glisten, his start, is so full of genuine delights and surprises that the world is far, far better for many thousand people because of his presence in homes throughout this land and many other lands."        

"The smaller dog (Boston Terrier) graduated from the stable and barber shop. He was soon replacing the Pug and the precious Toy Spaniel in the drawing rooms of the fashionable, and while charming milady, no end, he found favor in his master's eyes because of his spirit and gameness."

*An introduction to the Boston Terrier" by Vincent G. Perry from his book "The Boston Terrier"

"the question is often asked, "How did the Boston Terrier originate?" Briefly stated it may be said to have resulted from a cross between the English Bulldog and the White English Terrier, and then to have been considerably inbred. Incidental pecularities of the first dogs used as sires are partly responsible for the present type."

"...Mr. Robert C. Hooper, of Boston came into possession of a dog named Judge. This dog, which he purchased of Mr. William O'Brian of the same city, was undoubtedly imported from England. Judge, commonly known as Hooper's Judge, was destined to be the ancestor of almost all the true modern Boston Terriers. He was a cross between an English Bulldog and a White English Terrier. He was a strongly built, high stationed dog of about thirty-two pounds weight. In color he was a dark brindle, with a white stripe in the face. His head was square and blocky, and he resembled the modern Boston Terrier in that he had a nearly even mouth. Judge was bred to Burnett's Gyp (or Kate). Gyp was a white bitch, owned by Mr. Edward Burnett, of Southboro, MA. She was of about twenty pounds weight, had a fine three-quarter tail, and was quite low stationed. She was of stocky build, showing considerable strength in her make-up. Her head was good, being short and blocky."

"From Judge and Gyp decended Well's Eph. This dog was of strong build, and like his dam was low stationed. His weight was about twenty-eight pounds. He was of a dark brindle color, even white markings, and like Judge, had a nearly even mouth."

"Eph was mated with Tobin's Kate, this bitch was of small size, weighing only twenty pounds. She had a fairly short head, was of golden brindle, and had a straight three-quarter tail."

*From a book entitled "The Boston Terrier" written by J. Varnum Mott MD  

From the breeding of Well's Eph and Tobin's Kate produced Bernard's Tom, whelped in 1877. Bernard's Tom was then bred to Kelly's Nell, a dark brindle of even markings, weighing aapproximately twenty pounds. From this breeding came Bernard's Mike, who had the large, full, round eye that became so important to the breed. He was a light brindle color with white markings and weighed approximately twenty-five pounds. Mike also had another quality favored by early breeders, a short, screw tail. He sired the first Boston to be registered by The American Kennel Club who was named Hook's Punch. Hook's Punch in turned sired the first AKC champion, Ch Topsey. From these dogs, the beginning of the Boston Terrier breed was created. 

This new breed was first exhibited in the New England Kennel Club show in Boston in April 1888. In the early years these dogs were being bred and exhibited as Round Heads which was met with numerous obstacles, but these Fanciers would not give up after years of hard work. In 1891, the Boston Terrier Club of America was organized and being that these dogs were a Boston bred dog they changed their name from Round Heads to the Boston Terrier. 

After two years of trying to get the breed recognized, The American Kennel Club admitted the breed for registration in the Stud Book in 1891, showing about 75 dogs whose ancestors could be traced back three complete generations. The Boston Terrier became a member of the American Kennel Club, in 1893.

Much of the progress has been accomplished in the breed since the year 1900 in the development of different strains by selective breeding and some inbreeding, that has produced some very 1st class dogs with nice short heads, clean/cut tuxedo markings, dark soft eyes and the perfect size Terrier type bodies for the urban living needs of today.

To correct uneven type in the early breeding's, a bully bitch was bred to a Bull Terrier and a too Terrier type bitch was bred to a Bulldog. French Bulldogs were occasionally used to help establish type and to reduce size. It is considered a real stroke of genius that the early breeders used the Bulldog as the mother of the breed and the Bull Terrier, a cross between the English Bulldog and the White English Terrier, as the father. These two breeds contained enough of the Bulldog heredity to stabilize the resulting breed. It is amazing that out of all of those early breeding's, varying so greatly in size and color, the forefathers of our breed were able to produce as much uniformity as they did. This is not to say that these dogs were anywhere the quality of today's Boston's, they had much improvement ahead in establishing type in body, head, color, markings and size. 

*Researched and written by Ericka Thonen        

"... and I am going to make a prediction that on the continent of Europe it will not be long before the American dog will follow the trotting horse, and will work his way eastward until jealous China and strange Japan will be as enamored with him as we are, and his devotees at the Antipodes will be wondering where he got his little screw tail, and why that sweet, serene expression on his face, like the "Quaker Oat smile," never comes off. This to a person who knows not the Boston may seem extravagant praise, but to all such we simply say: Get one, and then see if your not to explain with the Queen of Sheba, when visiting King Soloman and being shown his treasures: "Behold the half was not told to me!"  

*Written by Edward Axtell in his book "The Boston Terrier and All About it"          

Congratulations Cypress Farm Kennel and Colorful Bostons for getting the Colored Boston Terrier (Bostons of nontraditional colors) added to the list of over 400 recognized breeds by the United Canine Association (UCA). This is a huge step in the right direction for the Colored Boston Terrier! Hopefully one day the Boston Terrier Club of America (BTCA) will also be able to recognize these beautiful Colors and they will be able to participate next to their traditional Colored brothers and sisters in AKC sanctioned conformation events, even if it means that they are considered a separate breed. Great work guys!!!

The Boston Terrier Club of America (BTCA) recognizes these colors as the desirable Boston Terrier colors with a white muzzle, even white collar, breast, part or whole of the forelegs and hind legs below the hocks being preferred.

*Black and White

*Black Brindle and White

*Brindle and White

*Seal and White

*Seal Brindle and White

Brindle is more of a pattern than a color and comes in various shades of color in the background (phaeomelanin) with black (eumelanin) stripping throughout the coat in varying degrees of thickness from very thin bars, to very thick bars so the coat looks like it is entirely black.

Seal is described as looking black except when viewed in the sun or bright light when it then has a reddish appearance.

Back when the Boston Terrier breed was still in it's infancy the black color was found to be a very undesirable color. It wasn't until 40 years AFTER the breed was included in AKC's Stud Book that in June of 1934, the black color was accepted into the breed's standard. The reason the black color was so prevalent was because breeders, trying to get the ever popular seal brindle color, would continue to breed seal brindle to seal brindle until finally, the black (eumelanin) bars of the brindle ended up taking over the seal (phaeomelanin) background.

Boston Terriers DO come in a "Rainbow" of colors, but because the BTCA doesn't recognize these nontraditional colors you would not be able to show one of "color" in AKC sanctioned conformation events. AKC does however, recognize a Boston Terrier of nontraditional color so the dog would be able to compete in Fly Ball, Obedience, Agility or any other AKC sanctioned event besides conformation. UCA has just included the "Colored Boston Terrier" in it's list of over 400 recognized breeds so a Boston of nontraditional color would now be able to participate in UCA sanctioned conformation events. 

           THE GREAT COLOR CONTROVERSY           

There is a very intense controversy over the nontraditional, non-standard Boston Terrier colors. It is a heated debate where the "traditionally colored" side will go as far as to say that "Colored" Bostons are "mutts" and "impure", are ONLY bred by "unscrupulous breeders" and should be either destroyed completely or altered right away and should NEVER be bred! This is absurd because by definition, ALL purebred dogs are "mutts" because they have ALL been created by using two or three (or even more) different breeds of dogs. Secondly if you look at the breeds that were used to first create the Boston Terrier and all of the colors these breeds come in, you will understand where these colors came from, the colors have ALWAYS been here! Some of the people saying these hateful things should be careful because their Bostons may share the same pedigrees as some of their colored brothers and sisters so, by insulting the "Colored Boston Terrier" they are in turn insulting their own Bostons.                                    

Now to say that ALL breeders that breed the "Colored Boston Terrier" are unscrupulous is very unfair! Not one of these people have EVER come to my home to see how my Bostons are raised nor has anyone EVER asked what my goals were! I love my Bostons traditional colored or not VERY much and any money made from the sale of puppies (although not much money at all is actually made) goes straight back to them! To say that am unscrupulous because I breed for Bostons in ALL of their colors is obviously from someone who can't stand change. I do value our breed's standard and to breed nontraditional colored Bostons would be the ONLY exception to the standard that I would practice. I do not pick my breeding adults just on their colors, everything must be up to my standard as well as BTCA's standard, color is just icing on the cake! Hopefully one day The Boston Terrier Club of America will finally accept "The Colored Boston Terrier" so that they can compete next to their traditional colored brothers and sisters in AKC conformation events, even if it means as two different breeds.                                 

Finally, to say that ALL nontraditional colored Boston Terriers should be destroyed, WHOA!!! How can someone who says they "love the breed" so much, say something like that over a dog's coat color??? I understand that going against the grain may ruffle a few feathers now and then but that is a little extreme! The reason the "Colored Boston Terrier" is still around is because breeders trying to get the much sought after seal brindle and white were continuing to breed seal brindle to seal brindle until finally, the black bars from the brindle overtook the seal colored background and they started getting black brindle and white and solid black and white Bostons. Those breeders needed a way to reverse the black brindle color and so the nontraditional colors were used. So, unless we only want black and white or black brindle and white Bostons the nontraditional colors are very much needed. It would be a real shame to lose these beautiful, unusual, rarely seen colors because a few die hards said it should be so...  

This is a list of just a few of the other (although rarely seen) nontraditional colors a Boston Terrier can be found in...   

*Solid White or Albino- Very rare, you can tell an albino by the lack of pigment in the pads, nose leather and eyelid areas which will usually be pink and the eye color will usually be a very light blue.        

*Splash (a pattern instead of a color)- This is what is called piebald in most other dog breeds, Splash is a spotting of color throughout the body in varying degrees.

*Cream and White- The body of a cream and white colored Boston Terrier is almost off-white with markings anywhere from almost nonexistent to a rich cream color. The skin on the pads, eyelids and nose leather will have pigment usually being black. 

*Fawn and White- The markings on a fawn and white is a beautiful fawn color with black hairs mixed in through out the coat and will often have masking around the eye area. The skin on the pads, eyelids and nose leather will have pigment usually being black.

*Honey and White- This color resembles a fawn and white but without the black hairs mixed into the coat or the masking. The skin on the pads, eyelids and nose leather will have pigment usually being black. Genetically a honey and white is closer to the cream and white than a fawn and white.

*Liver (Red or Chocolate) and White- This color is becoming more and more popular, it can be anywhere from a very light shade of red to a very dark chocolate brown. The skin on the pads, eyelids and nose leather will have pigment usually being reddish or brown in color. Genetically these two colors (red and chocolate) are the same.

*Gray or Mouse (Blue) and White- Is very beautiful, and personally my favorite. This color can range anywhere from a very light silvery gray to a darker slate gray and will often have some cream brindling that usually goes away as the dog gets older. The skin on the pads, eyelids and nose leather will have pigment usually being a gray or bluish color.

*Lilac (Champagne or Blue Fawn) and White- This beautiful color is often confussed with the Blue and white color although when viewed side by side they are very different colors. The eye color of the lilac and white is usually a very pale green or blue color that stay that way to adulthood. The skin on the pads, eyelids and nose leather will have pigment usually being gray or brown in color.  

Here is a list of a few health conditions and birth defects (although not all) that can be found in the Boston Terrier breed. It is unusual for a breeder to disclose problems found in their bloodlines. Here at Panda Bear Bostons we do things a bit differently, I swear to disclose any KNOWN conditions a puppy may have and I will NEVER breed any dogs that are carriers or that are inflicted with a condition that is detrimental to the health of the dog. Please learn about these conditions and make sure to do your homework before getting a new puppy.

Please be aware that Boston Terriers have NO tolerance to very hot or cold weather and will not do well kept outdoors. If you are planning on getting a dog to live outside, a Boston Terrier is NOT the breed for you!!! 

I hope to have each of my Bostons health certifications for CERF, OFA Patellas, Juvenile Cataracts and BAER by the end of the 2009 year. Keep an eye out for new updates to be listed... 

*Allergic Dermatitis- Is the inflammation of the skin due to exposure to an allergen.

*Brachycephalic Syndrome (Stenotic Nares, Elongated Palate etc.)- Is a group of signs and symptoms that characterize abnormal conditions in the flat faced breeds (Boston Terriers, English and French Bulldogs).

**Stenotic Nares- Is a condition where the Nares (airway openings in the nose) are pinched together and will constrict the passage of air into the lungs.

**Enlongated Palate- Many brachycephalic dogs have an overly long soft palate that hangs far down into the pharynx (throat) which can interfere with the dogs airflow. Sometimes it can actually even be drawn into the opening of the larynx which can cause the tissues of the palate to become inflamed, swollen and even more obstructed. This can be corrected with surgery.

*Cataracts (Juvenile)- Juvenile cataracts in dogs can be defined as any cataracts occuring before the dog reaches five (5) years old. The most accurate way to refer to juvenile cataracts in Boston Terriers is an early onset (appearing before the dog reaches twelve (12) months of age) or late onset (appearing at four (4) to six (6) years of age). Some cataracts are visible to the eye while others can be identified only by a veterinary ophthalmologist using a CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) test. 

*Cleft Palate-Is a condition where the roof of the dogs mouth is not closed during fetal development and the inside of the nose opens into the mouth. 

*Cleft Lip- Sometimes called a "Harelip", is a condition where the two halves of the upper lip did not join during fetal development. Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip are often seen together.

*Cryptorchidism- Means that one or both of the dog's testicles has not descended into the scrotum. The dog is diagnosed as cryptorcid if the testicle hasn't dropped by eight (8) weeks although the testicles may descend in up to four (4) months.

*Cushings- Is a common endrocrine disorder found in dogs. The clinical signs are caused by an excess of cortisol. This occurs because of an increased secretion of cortisol in the adrinal glands in response to an abnormality in the pituitary glands in the brain. Cushings syndrome is common in certain breeds, usually six (6) years old or older.

*Deafness- Since it can be very hard to tell if a dog is indeed deaf in both ears, the only way a unilaterally deaf dog (deaf in one ear) can be identified is with a BAER test. This is done by attaching tiny electrodes to a dogs skin on it's head and by measuring the electric impulse produced. This test only needs to be done once in the dogs life since they are born deaf. 

*Demodectic Mange- Is a kind of skin disease caused by microscopic mites called Demodex Canis, that lives within the skins layers. Some dogs appear to be genetically predisposed to this mite while others don't contact it even if exposed to infected animals. 

*Hemivertebrae- Is the result when the right and left sides of the vertebrae fail to form during the fetus's development resulting in "butterfly" shaped vertebrae when viewed from above. Each half of this vertebrae resembles a "wedge" shape when viewed from the side. This "wedge" shaped vertebrae can cause a dorsal or lateral curvature. Major deformations in the backbone can cause serious problems like compressing the spinal cord and/or blood supply. 

*Hydrocephalus- This is a abnormal build-up of the cerebrospinalfluid in cavities in the brain. This resulting increased pressure on the brain cause the clinical signs that occur with this condition.  

*Inverted Tails- Boston Terrier tails can be a big problem if they grow backwards, creating a deep crevice that can become infected and quite painful. In really bad cases the only way to solve the problem is to amputate the part of the tail that is causing the problems.

*Mega Esophagus- Is when there is a dilation of the esophagus due to a loss of normal peristaltic function. Peristalsis is the progress by which waves of muscular contraction moves contents (food in this case) along in tubular organs. Dog's with Mega Esophagus will regurgitate undigested food right after eating.   

*Patellar Luxation- The canine patella is the equivalent of the human knee. Dogs have a ligament called the Patellar Ligament which fits into the Patella Grove on the lower end of the thigh bone in front of the knee joint (Stifle). When the patella luxates, you can actually feel it "popping" as it moves towards the middle of the dogs body. The dog's patella ligament may then assume it's normal position again. This is called "medial patella luxation". After long periods of time the edges of the groove may collapse and the dog may become artritic. An examination by a regular vet can be done and and is encouraged to submit any evaluation results whether normal or abnormal, to OFA for the purpose of completeness of data. Only dogs found to be NORMAL can receive a certification. If patellar luxation is found it can be classified into four (4) groups according to how bad the luxation is. 

*GRADE 1- The patella easily luxates manually at full extension of the stifile joint, but returns to the trochlea when released. 

*GRADE 2- There is frequent patellar luxation which, in some cases, becomes more or less permanent. The limb is sometimes carried, although weight bearing can occur with the stifle remaining slightly flexed. 

*GRADE 3- The patella is permanently luxated with torsion of the tibia and deviation of the tibial crest of between 30 degrees and 50 degrees from the cranial/caudal plane. 

*GRADE 4- The tibia is medially twisted and the tibial crest may show further deviation medially with the result that it lies 50 degrees to 90 degrees from the cranial/caudal plane. The limb is carried, or the dog moves in a crouched position, with the limb partly flexed. 

*Pyloric Stenosis- This condition is the narrowing (stenosis) of the pylorus which is the section of the stomach where food and liquid pass into the small intestine. Dog's that are affected with this condition will regurgitate undigested food after eating. 

*Spina Bifida- Is a developmental abnormality where some of the vertebrae are malformed thereby exposing the spinal cord. 

*Umbilical Hernias- Is a defect in the body wall needing surgery to fix.