The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-02
Boston Terrier

Our colby little friend, the Boston Ter rier, is known among many fanciers as "the great American dog." Sure he is one of the most admired of the canine family, and taken all in all, I should guess that as many of his breed are to be found in homes as any other one kind. The Bos- ton is friendly dog, a good locker and excellent as a watchdog His size is also very much in his favor-from IA to 30 pounds, and also short-haired. By care full breeding he has many of the best qualities of other breeds and few of their faults. The origin of the breed is the Bulldog and. the English Terrier, and then considerably inbred. The first dog of prominence was Robert c. Hooper's s Judge" and to him is traced most of the best Bostons today. The club known as the American Bull Terrier club was or ganized in Boston in 1890, but in 1893 changed it's name to the Boston Terrier club, at which time he was recognized by the A. K. c. The Boston Terrier in general appearance should be that of a smooth-coated, compactly built dog of
 
 great degree of intelligence, and be in proportion to the dogs size, the body rather short and well knit, and the limbs strong and finely turned as a whole, con- veying an impression of determination, strength and activity. The skull should be broad and flat without prominent cheeks, and the forehead absolutely free from wrinkles. The stop well defined. Eyes wide apart large and round and dark and soft in color, with the outside corner on a line with the cheeks as viewed from the front The ears small and thin, as near the corner of the skull as possible. The muzzle short, square, wide and deep, without wrinkles, and the nose black and white with we'll defined straight line between the nostrlls. Jaws broad and square with short regular teeth. Chops wide and deep. completely covering the teeth when mouth is closed. Body deep and of broad chest, well ribbed up. Fore legs wide apart, straight and we'll mus cled. Hind legs straight, quite long from stifle to hook. Feet small, round and toes compact and arched. Tail set on low, short fne and tapering, straight, screw, devoid of fringe or coarse hair, and not carried above the horizontal. And color is permissible, brindle. with even white markings, preferred. The markings are white muzzle, blaze on face, collar, chest and feet. The coat should be fine in tex ture, short bright and not too hard. In weight there are three classeS-12 to It pounds, r to 22 pounds, P to 2S pounds, and known as lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight, respectively. In select ing a puppy take those which are cor- rectly marked, as far as possible, short tailed. either kinked or screw; straight legs, broad. flat skull, small ears good bone, brindle in color
 notice with much interest the agita- tion in some of the dog papers regarding the breeding of Bostons, and the better selection of brood bitches. This is a step in the right direction. It would be considered suicidal in other lines of breed ing if none, or but scant attention, were paid to the selection of the dam. Then why pursue the course with the Boston, for it is all too common for the novice to think if he has any kind of a bitch, that can. by any excuse be called Boston, that if he breeds her to a good dog he is going to get results. Of course some times he does, and therein lies the trouble. for it is in this mating that the harm to the breed comes in future gen erations. We are constantly reminded by the older breeders that the Boston throws back, to a greater degree, than any other breed, so that it is certain that in the second or third generation from the mat ing of a very indifferent bitch that her weak points will manifest themselves; in fact, no ground has been gained and con- siderable time is lost. Granted that 1t is a greater temptation to man, who pos sesses bitch of poor quality and of such a negative disposition that she per- lnits the sire to dominate her. to breed her to a good dog. and sell the offspring at good prices. but the man who buys this class of stock Is doomed to disappointment if he expects to breed any winners. James Watson and many other, breeders equally as high in authority on the Boston agrees that to the dam we must look for shape and to the sire for color and markings. How. then, can fanciers expect to get pups of correct type from bitches that have not got 1t. Look for the best when selecting a stud dog. and don't fail to get one of the correct type for brood matrons.
 We illustrate the Boston Terrier today with fne specimen owned by south efis:ksnnxK Ghe Daltex Kennels of Dallas, Hex Ths 4~asr writes me that he is one of the aeNesepsf mems the kennel has ever psuaucel aud iA the sire of some beauti- 4rily r,4xEed pups This kennel has a ssne stai!ik of registered dogs, and espe-
 alks .s iho owner proud of his brood nsetreGS. whiel he improves year after. Nnt. he now Is shipping some of -he hssk snatkaa l's tons h the country.