Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is one of the few breeds of dog that America can claim as its own. Around 1870, Robert C. Hooper of Boston purchased Hooper's Judge, a cross between an English Bulldog and an English White Terrier. Hooper's Judge was bred with a smaller female, and that litter bred with French bulldogs, providing the beginnings of the Boston Terrier, America's first non-hunting dog. Though originally bred for dog fighting, Boston Terriers are no longer used for that purpose and the aggressive traits have been bred out of the breed. Also know as the Boston Bull, Boston Terriers are compact, muscular dogs with short, wide muzzles, dark, large round eyes, short tails and pointy erect ears. Their short coats come in black and white or brown and white and are easy to groom. Some breeders have tried selling all white Boston Terriers as rare. However, an all white coloring generally indicates a genetic weakness, making them more prone to health problems. Though Boston Terriers do shed, it is not excessive and with regular brushing, the shedding is easy to manage. Baths are only given when necessary.
