Although the Boston Terrier is a cute, compact little dog, and you have decided you would like to be owned by one, it is important to understand the special nature of this little dog and why the breed exists. The Boston Terrier requires a certain amount of mental and physical activity.
One of the few native American breeds, and often called the American Gentleman, the Boston Terrier is a recent addition, comparatively speaking, to the realm of purebred dogs.

The handsome little dogs we see today have come a long way since their beginnings in the fighting pits of Boston. The Boston Terrier was bred from a cross between Bull Terriers and Bulldogs. The first crosses occurred in England, and some members of this hybrid stock were sent to America.

In 1889, about thirty fanciers in Boston and surrounding cities organized the American Bull Terrier Club. Dogs were bred and exhibited by these fanciers as "Round Heads" or "Bull Terriers". Bull Terrier breeders objected that these crosses were not Terriers. Bulldog fanciers objected because they were not Bulldogs. In 1891 the name was changed to the Boston Terrier Club of America, (BTCA) and a standard was written. They applied for entrance to the AKC stud book, but were denied. In 1893, however, the breed was accepted and the first Boston Terrier was admitted. He was Hector #28814, by Bixby's Tony ex Dimple.

By 1915 the breed was stabilized and had become the most popular in the country. They were number one in registrations of the top twenty breeds, when all breeds numbered 22,127. They were on top again in 1920. The Bostons were back in first place in 1930. The Boston Terrier remained in the Top Ten until 1960, but have slipped steadily since that time.

The Boston Terrier, refined and standardized, has maintained its place in American history as a spunky little dog of intelligence and spirit...a fitting representative from Boston commons from whence it came.