The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Boston Terrier

BOSTON TERRIER, a breed of dogs, resembling bull-dogs without their eccentricities, which originated in Boston about 1870, and soon became popular for its admirable qualities as a companion. This terrier has a shapely bull-dog-like head, and the straight legs and active manners of the old bull-terrier. Those truly bred always have a white muzzle, a white blaze on the face and on the chest and feet, with a fine coat, short and bright, and a deep broad chest. Light-class ones weigh from 15 to 23 pounds, and the heavy from 23 to 30 pounds. The breed arose from a cross between Robert C. Hooper's “Judge” (a dog three-quarters English bull and one-quarter white terrier, which was a rich dark brindle with a white flare on his face), and Burnett's “Gyp,” a pure white bitch low on the legs and stockily built, not unlike the old-fashioned bull-terrier. The product was Wells' “Eph.” He was born in Boston about 1870 and was bred to Tobin's “Kate,” an old-fashioned bull-terrier, and the result, Barnard's “Tom,” may be said to be the first of the real new breed, for he developed the typical screw tail of the present Boston terrier. This dog has a most affectionate disposition, is well knit in build and is stylish.