Alanna Mallory, BS, LVT, VTS (SAIM)
Where Are Boston Terriers From?
The first Boston Terrier, a dog named Judge, was imported from Liverpool, England in 1870 and purchased by Robert Hooper. He became known as Hooper’s Judge and was dark brindle in color with white markings, a combination of its two breeds, the English Bulldog and the white English Terrier. He weighed about 30 pounds and resembled the English Bulldog. He was bred with a 20-pound, white-colored female that was short and square, named Gyp. Their male offspring, named Wells’ Elph, was a short and muscular dog that was dark brindle in color with white markings. Wells’ Elph was later mated with a golden brindle female weighing about 20 pounds, named Tobin’s Kate. The breed’s appearance has standardized over time as a result of multiple breedings.
In 1889, the American Bull Terrier Club was established and the breed was shown as “Round Heads” or “Bull Terriers.” Due to the similarity of the breed name, the Club experienced opposition from Bulldog and Bull Terrier fanciers. As a result, the breed was named the Boston Terrier after its city of origin and, in 1891, the Boston Terrier Club was formed. The Boston Terrier achieved American Kennel Club recognition in 1893. The breed’s popularity spread across the country in the following years and reached Europe in the 1920s.
