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70-478: The Boston Terrier ranked as the 24th most popular breed in registrations with the American Kennel Club in 2022. The Boston terrier breed originated around 1870, when Robert C. Hooper of Boston purchased from a man named William O'Brien a dog named Judge (known later as Hooper's Judge), which was of a bull and terrier type lineage. Hooper's Judge is directly related to the original bull and terrier breeds of

140-421: A blond coat and, therefore, produce offspring looking unlike their parents. Starting in 2007, genetic analysis has become available to the public. The companies claim their DNA -based diagnostic test can genetically determine the breed composition of mixed-breed dogs. These tests are still limited in scope because only a small number of the hundreds of dog breeds have been validated against the tests, and because

210-651: A common foundational breed, making them difficult to separate genetically. For example, Labrador Retrievers , Flat-coated Retrievers , Chesapeake Bay Retrievers , and Newfoundland dogs share a common ancestry with the St. John's water dog – a now-extinct naturally occurring dog landrace from the island of Newfoundland. The theory of hybrid vigor suggests that as a group, dogs of varied ancestry will be generally healthier than their purebred counterparts. In purebred dogs, intentionally breeding dogs of very similar appearance over several generations produces animals that carry many of

280-509: A cross with a higher percentage of terrier than bulldog. Some early anecdotal reports indicate that bulldog to terrier was preferred over bull and terrier to bull terrier, which was likely to have resulted in at least half or more bulldog blood. The bull and terrier was never a bona fide breed; rather, it referred to a heterogeneous group of dogs that may include purebreds involving different breeds, as well as dogs believed to be crosses of those breeds. Those crossbreeds or hybrids are considered

350-616: A desired physical trait. The genetic health of hybrids tends to be higher. Healthy traits have been lost in many purebred dog lines because many breeders of showdogs are more interested in conformation – the physical attributes of the dogs in relation to the breed standard – than in the health and working temperament for which the dog was originally bred. Populations are vulnerable when the dogs bred are closely related. Inbreeding among purebreds has exposed various genetic health problems not always readily apparent in less uniform populations. Mixed-breed dogs are more genetically diverse due to

420-585: A dog breeder in Birmingham , is credited for his role in helping to standardise the bull and terrier hybrid. Hinks introduced new blood, presumably Collies to add length to the muzzle. His version was becoming a more streamlined version of the bulldog and terrier hybrid while still maintaining substance. Hink's son said that, early on, his father also used Dalmatians to create the Bull Terrier's striking all-white coat. Others have suggested that Hinks straightened

490-468: A mix of breeds , differ from mongrels in being intentionally bred. At other times, the word mongrel has been applied to informally purpose-bred dogs such as curs , which were created at least in part from mongrels, especially if the breed is not officially recognized. Although mongrels are viewed as of less commercial value than intentionally bred dogs, they are thought to be less susceptible to genetic health problems associated with inbreeding (based on

560-527: A red cast in lighting), or a combination of the three. Solid colours and colours not mentioned are not accepted by the breed standard. According to the American Kennel Club, the Boston Terrier's markings are broken down into two categories: Required, which consists of a white chest, white muzzle band, and a white band between the eyes; and Desired, which includes the Required markings plus a white collar, white on

630-432: A single recognized breed. Unlike mixed-breeds, crossbreed dogs are often the product of artificial selection – intentionally created by humans, whereas the term mongrel specifically refers to dogs that develop by natural selection , without the planned intervention of humans. The words cur , tyke , mutt , and mongrel are used, sometimes in a derogatory manner. There are also regional terms for mixed-breed dogs. In

700-593: Is prekoplotski avlijaner ( over-the-fence yard-dweller ). In Russia , a colloquial term дворняга (yard-dweller) is used most commonly. In the Philippines , mixed-breed street dogs are often called askal , a Tagalog -derived contraction of asong kalye (”street dog"), while in Singapore, they are known as Singapore Specials. In Puerto Rico , they are known as satos ; in Venezuela they are called yusos or cacris ,

770-515: Is vira-lata ( trash-can tipper ) because of homeless dogs who knock over trash cans to reach discarded food. In Newfoundland , a smaller mixed-breed dog is known as a cracky , hence the colloquial expression "saucy as a cracky" for someone with a sharp tongue. Guessing a mixed-breed's ancestry can be difficult even for knowledgeable dog observers, because mixed-breeds have much more genetic variation than purebreds. For example, two black mixed-breed dogs might each have recessive genes that produce

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840-585: Is a brachycephalic breed of dog. Brachycephaly refers to the shortened muzzle of the breed which results in a pushed-in appearance of the face. Brachycephaly results in deformation of the upper airway tract and leads to obstruction of breathing. Effects of brachycephaly are stridor , stertorous breathing, emesis , skin fold dermatitis , brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome , exophthalmos , pharyngeal gag reflex , cyanosis , and laryngeal collapse. Other issues arising from brachycephaly are risk of complications whilst under anaesthesia, and hyperthermia — with

910-403: Is a celebrated dog, the property of Wm. Disney, Esq. and of a breed between a bull and a terrier, the best of any to attack that formidable animal, the badger. The breed of dogs of this description, has been much encourage of late, and held in great estimation, as being more staunch than the terrier, and not too powerful for the badger ." In 1822, Pierce Egan, a sporting event commentator of

980-451: Is because current accepted breeding practices within the pedigreed dog community result in a reduction in genetic diversity, and can result in physical characteristics that lead to health issues. Studies have shown that crossbreed dogs have a number of desirable reproductive traits. Scott and Fuller found that crossbreed dogs were superior mothers compared to purebred mothers, producing more milk and giving better care. These advantages led to

1050-433: Is being invaded. Boston University has used Rhett the Boston Terrier as their mascot since 1922. The Boston Terrier has also been the official state dog of Massachusetts since 1979. The Boston Terrier is a compactly built, well-proportioned dog. It has a square-looking head with erect ears and a slightly arched neck. The muzzle is short and generally wrinkle -free, with an even or a slightly undershot bite. The chest

1120-508: Is broad and the tail is short. According to international breed standards, the dog should weigh no more than 25 pounds (11 kg). Boston Terriers usually stand up to 15–17 inches (380–430 mm) at the withers . The American Kennel Club divides the breed into three classes: under 15 pounds, 15 pounds and under 20 pounds, 20 pounds and not exceeding 25 pounds. The Boston Terrier is characteristically marked with white in proportion to either black, brindle , seal (seal appears as black with

1190-437: Is derived from having a quarter to an eighth of Old English Bulldog ancestry. Other terriers that were not developed by crossing Old English Bulldogs and earth-working dogs were believed to be of inferior quality and were valued far less. There are earth-working dogs who by default and definition are called terriers because they have the ability to go to ground; however, the best earth-working and hunting terriers were regarded as

1260-470: Is known as a feist . Slang terms are also common. Heinz 57 , Heinz, or Heinz Hound is often used for dogs of uncertain ancestry, in a playful reference to the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company . In some countries, such as Australia, bitsa (or bitzer ) is sometimes used, meaning "bits o' this, bits o' that". In Brazil and the Dominican Republic , the name for mixed-breed dogs

1330-525: Is one of a small number of breeds to have originated in the United States. In the early years, the color and markings were not very important to the breed's standard. By the 20th century the breed's distinctive markings and color were written into the standard, becoming an essential feature. The Boston Terrier has lost most of its aggressive nature, preferring the company of humans, although some males will still challenge other dogs if they feel their territory

1400-415: Is one of the most commonly affected breeds for hereditary cataracts . In 1921 at a ceremony to commemorate the United States' 102nd Infantry, the U.S. Army awarded a gold medal to an honorable war dog: Sergeant Stubby . The Boston Bull Terrier, possessing three service stripes and one wound stripe, was given a rank in the U.S. Army-making him the first dog to ever earn it. The comforting, protective war dog

1470-611: Is recognised by the United Kennel Club (UKC), and American Dog Breeders Association . The AKC does not recognise the American Pit Bull Terrier. After being petitioned in the 1930's to recognise the breed, they relented, however; they recognised these dogs under a different name, the Staffordshire Terrier. The name was later changed to American Staffordshire Terrier, to prevent the dogs from being confused with

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1540-511: Is recognized by Guinness to be the dog with the largest eyes. Lennu , the pet from 2012 to 2021 of Sauli Niinistö , the President of Finland , was present at many of his less formal appearances and well known in Finland. Photos of the pair went viral in the United States in 2017. Bull and terrier Bull and terrier was a common name for crossbreeds between bulldogs and terriers in

1610-473: Is the Airedale Terrier , rat-working terriers, working black and tan terriers and most all other vermin-hunting terriers. James Rodwell described in his book titled The Rat: Its History and Destructive Nature , that the great object, among the various breeders of bull-and-terrier dogs for hunting vermin and rats, was to have them as nearly thorough-bred bull as possible, but at the same time preserving all

1680-612: The United Kingdom , mongrel is the unique technical word for a mixed-breed dog. North Americans generally prefer the term mix or mixed-breed . Mutt is also commonly used in the United States and Canada . Some American registries and dog clubs that accept mixed-breed dogs use the term All-American to describe mixed-breed dogs. There are also names for mixed-breeds based on geography, behavior, or food. In Hawaii, mixes are referred to as poi dogs, although they are not related to

1750-613: The Victorian era . The sport of bull baiting required a dog with attributes such as tenacity and courage, a wide frame with heavy bone, and a muscular, protruding jaw. By crossing bulldogs with various terriers from Ireland and Great Britain , breeders introduced "gameness and agility" into the hybrid mix. Little is known about the pedigrees of bull and terrier crosses, or any other crosses that originated during that time. The types and styles of dogs varied geographically depending on individual preferences. Breeders in one area may have preferred

1820-528: The forelegs , up to the hocks on the rear legs . For conformation showing , symmetrical markings are preferred. Due to the Boston Terrier's markings resembling formal wear , in addition to its refined and pleasant personality, the breed is commonly referred to as "the American Gentleman." The Boston Terrier's large, prominent pair of eyes is a distinguishable feature. The breed's round eyes are set widely apart, are large in size, and located squarely in

1890-515: The 1820s, first introduced the name Bull Terrier (not to be confused to the 1880s Hinks' Bull Terrier). Subsequently, Bulls-eye was introduced in The Adventures of Oliver Twist (1838), presumed to be a bull terrier owned by the villain Bill Sykes. Another notable bull and terrier was named Billy , weighing approximately 26 pounds; "his most notable feat was killing 100 rats in 5 min 30 sec at

1960-420: The 19th and early 20th centuries. The American Kennel Club cites Hooper's Judge as the ancestor of nearly all true modern Boston Terriers. Judge weighed about 32 pounds (15 kg). Judge was bred to Edward Burnett 's bitch named Gyp (or Kate). Gyp was a white bulldog-type female, owned by Edward Burnett, of Southboro, Massachusetts. She weighed about 20 pounds (9.1 kg), was stocky and strong and had

2030-628: The Beagle, but would only render the terrier more determined in his pursuit of them. ~ John Henry Walsh , The Dog, in Health and Disease, by Stonehenge (1859) In the 19th century, breeders crossed Bulldogs and English White Terriers to produce fighting dogs that were the forebears of the modern Bull Terrier breed. When blood sports were banned in the early 1800s, breeders continued with their clandestine dog fights in discreet venues, such as basements and warehouses. A major shift in canine genetics occurred during

2100-439: The Bull Terrier continued to change over time, and by the 20th century its egg-shaped head had become more prominent, soon to be standardised along with the various colours that had been introduced. Author David Harris describes in his book The Bully Breeds , two illustrations of prize fighting dogs. The first was Trusty appearing in an 1806 issue of Sporting Magazine , and the second was Dustman appearing in an 1812 issue of

2170-532: The Cockpit in Tufton Street, Westminster, London, UK on 23 April 1825." Mongrel A mongrel , mutt , or mixed-breed dog is a dog that does not belong to one officially recognized breed , including those that result from intentional breeding . Although the term mixed-breed dog is sometimes preferred, many mongrels have no known purebred ancestors. Crossbreed dogs, and " designer dogs ", while also

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2240-634: The English Staffordshire Terriers. The American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier were once the same breed, and many still consider them to be. Today, there are some dogs which have been duel registered as both an APBT through the UKC, and as an AmStaff through the AKC. Geneticists have been able to further refine the sparse historical aspects of breed formation, and the time of hybridisation. A 2017 genome -wide research study suggests

2310-589: The Victorian era from very active breeding... There are rather few 'ancient breeds'. "   —Krishna Veeramah, B.Sc., Ph.D. In Ireland, they used the old Irish bulldog with different terriers and some insertion of hunting sighthound / terrier crosses. In England , there were several varieties such as the Walsall and the Cradley Heath types. Phil Drabble reported that among the various types of bull and terrier,

2380-476: The Victorian era, at which time the appearance of certain dogs were being actively altered. The early bulldogs of the 1800s were described as having a "round head, short nose, small ears and wide, muscular frame and legs." In the 1830s, the ban on bull baiting was being strictly enforced, and with it, a noticeable decline in the popularity of the original bulldogs. Breeders had already begun crossing bulldogs with terriers for clandestine pit fighting. James Hinks ,

2450-544: The bull and terrier hybrids, five of which were recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in the following order: Bull Terrier , Boston Terrier , American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff), Staffordshire Bull Terrier , Miniature Bull Terrier . All five breeds have also been recognised by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), and Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI). The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT)

2520-500: The bull and terrier is the result of selective breeding for the purpose of hunting , dog fighting and baiting . In "Popular and Illustrated Dog Encyclopaedia" (1934–35), Major Mitford Price wrote, "The original Bull Terrier, or Bull-and-Terrier, as he was then styled, bred for fighting in the pits, bore a far closer resemblance to the Bulldog of that day than to his terrier forebears: for there exists scores of old prints as evidence that

2590-503: The bull and terrier was a heterogeneous group of dogs that may include purebreds involving different breeds, as well as dogs believed to be crosses of those breeds. By 1874, in Britain the first Kennel Club Stud Book was published, which included Bull Terriers and Bulldogs. Some believe that the courage of most terriers, both past and present, to bear the bites of badgers and other prey they are meant to corner, dig for, or attack

2660-573: The bull-and-terrier only as "bull-terrier". Hinks was still developing his new bull terrier, nicknamed White Cavalier , which he presented at the Birmingham show in May 1862. The term pit bull terrier was sometimes applied, though later applied when naming the American Pit Bull Terrier , a modern standardised breed. The term "pit bull" is a ubiquitous term that is often misused to infer that

2730-469: The bulldog's earliest known ancestors. One example of how changing terminology over the centuries has caused confusion is the ubiquitous misuse of descriptors. For example, mastiff is a common descriptor for all large dogs, which created a cloud over the earliest origins of the bulldog. The Alaunt was once believed to be the likely ancestor of bulldogs and mastiffs, both of which came from Asia; others believed bulldogs descended only from mastiffs. Over

2800-586: The bulldog's tendency for bowed legs by adding Pointer blood, or possibly Greyhound . Hink's son recalled, "In short, they became the old fighting dog civilized, with all of his rough edges smoothed down without being softened; alert, active, plucky, muscular, and a real gentleman." Hink's early Bull Terriers were white which gave rise to congenital sensorineural deafness (CSD), a genetic condition linked to coat colour phenotypes in English bull terriers with genetic variations that go beyond coat colour. The appearance of

2870-424: The centuries, hybrid bull and terrier crosses have been labelled with several aliases, such as half-and-half , half-bred , pit dog , bulldog terrier and pit bulldog . The most popular name was bull-terrier , a name later applied to the breed James Hinks was developing in the latter half of the 19th century. There are also many paintings, texts, and engravings created during or prior to this period that labelled

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2940-530: The cross. The assessment, which analysed a particular group of individual English bulldogs, used DNA rather than pedigrees to confirm that genetic diversity actually still exists. It further confirmed a substantial loss of genetic diversity in the breed resulting from a small founder population of about 68 individuals. The impact of focused selection for breeding dogs with specific physical traits created artificial genetic bottlenecks . "   The vast majority of dogs that people have as pets really arrived from

3010-405: The early 1800s. Other names included half-and-halfs and half-breds. It was a time in history when, for thousands of years, dogs were classified by use or function, unlike the modern pets of today that were bred to be conformation show dogs and family pets. Bull and terrier crosses were originally bred to function as fighting dogs for bull- and bear-baiting , and other popular blood sports during

3080-399: The elderly, other canines, and non-canine pets, if properly socialized. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 11.8 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds . Curvature of the back, called roaching, might be caused by patella problems with the rear legs, which in turn causes the dog to lean forward onto the forelegs. The Boston Terrier

3150-509: The extinct Hawaiian Poi Dog . In the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands , the common term is potcake dogs (referring to the table scraps they are fed). In South Africa, the tongue-in-cheek expression pavement special is sometimes used as a description for a mixed-breed dog. In Trinidad and Tobago , these mixed dogs are referred to as pot hounds ( pothong ). In Serbia , a similar expression

3220-480: The following: "In this analysis, all of the bull and terrier crosses map to the terriers of Ireland and date to 1860-1870. This coincides perfectly with the historical descriptions that, though they do not clearly identify all breeds involved, report the popularity of dog contests in Ireland and the lack of stud book veracity, hence undocumented crosses, during this era of breed creation (Lee, 1894)." It also confirms that

3290-520: The forerunner of several modern standardised breeds . In the mid-1830s, when enforcement of the ban on bull baiting had begun, the popularity of the original purebred bulldogs declined, and a major shift in canine genetics was occurring. The appearance of certain dogs were being altered by crossbreeding to better suit function. Not only were appearances of dogs changing, so was the terminology used to describe various breeds and dog types as recorded in ancient records. Such changes began casting doubts over

3360-490: The general public routinely use the term "pit bull" in casual and official papers as though it denotes a single, recognised breed. Bulldogs of the 1800s were described as having a "round head, short nose, small ears and wide, muscular frame and legs." Their temperament has been described as being more aggressive and ferocious than other dogs of the time. It is believed their ancestors may have been mastiffs of Asian descent because of their aggressive tendencies and strength, but

3430-429: The lack of genetic diversity. If the dog breed is popular, and the line continues, over hundreds of years diversity increases due to mutations and occasional out-breeding. This is why some of the very old breeds are more stable. One issue is when certain traits found in the breed standard are associated with genetic disorders. The artificial selective force favors the duplication of the genetic disorder because it comes with

3500-446: The latter being a contraction of the words callejero criollo (literally, street creole, as street dogs are usually mongrels); and in Chile and Bolivia , they are called quiltros . In Costa Rica , it is common to hear the word zaguate , a term originating from a Nahuatl term, zahuatl , that refers to the disease called scabies . In the rural southern United States, a small hunting dog

3570-811: The latter caused due to an inability to effectively reduce body temperature via panting. Bostons frequently require caesarean section to give birth, with over 80% of litters in a UK Kennel Club survey delivered this way. A UK study found Boston Terrier bitches to be 12.9 times more likely to experience dystocia . The breed is predisposed to the following dermatological conditions: atopic dermatitis, allergic skin disease , demodicosis , hyperadrenocorticism , mast cell tumour , pattern alopecia , and zinc-responsive dermatosis. A study in North America of veterinary records of almost 10,000 Boston Terriers and over 1,000,000 dogs found 0.36% of Boston Terriers to have hip dysplasia compared to 3.52% overall. The Boston Terrier

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3640-508: The low risk category". Data from Denmark also suggest that mixed breeds have greater longevity on average compared to purebreds. A British study showed similar results, but a few breeds (notably Jack Russell Terriers , Miniature Poodles and Whippets ) lived longer than mixed breeds. In one study, the effect of breed on longevity in the pet dog was analyzed using mortality data from 23,535 pet dogs. The data were obtained from North American veterinary teaching hospitals. The median age at death

3710-432: The more haphazard nature of their parents' mating. The offspring of such matings might be less likely to express certain genetic disorders because there might be a decreased chance that both parents carry the same detrimental recessive alleles, but some deleterious recessives occur across many seemingly unrelated breeds, and therefore merely mixing breeds is no guarantee of genetic health. When two poor specimens are bred,

3780-523: The offspring could inherit the worst traits of both parents. This is commonly seen in dogs that came from puppy mills . Several studies have shown that mixed-breed dogs have a health advantage over purebred dogs. A German study finds that "mongrels require less veterinary treatment". Studies in Sweden have found that "Mongrel dogs are less prone to many diseases than the average purebred dog" and, when referring to death rates, that "mongrels were consistently in

3850-473: The old Bulldog, as well as the Bull-and-Terrier had the unexaggerated (in comparison with the absurd modern standards) Bulldog head, and the legs, straight and longer, of the terrier. At the same time that the new Bull-and-Terrier made its appearance, the Bulldog fanciers began breeding their animals heavier and lower to the ground, so that the Bulldog acquired a new type. Six distinct breeds descended from

3920-498: The origins of dog breeds. Purebred dogs have been, for the most part, artificially created from random-bred populations by human selective breeding with the purpose of enhancing desired physical, behavioral, or temperamental characteristics. Dogs that are not purebred are not necessarily a mix of such defined breeds. Therefore, among some experts and fans of such dogs, mongrel is still the preferred term. Dog crossbreeds , sometimes called designer dogs , also are not members of

3990-496: The outward appearances of the terrier as to size, shape and colour. The terrier as used for hunting is a strong useful little dog, with great endurance and courage and with nearly as good a nose as the Beagle or Harrier . From his superior courage when crossed with the Bulldog, as most vermin-terriers are, he has generally been kept for killing vermin whose bite would deter the Spaniel or

4060-419: The pit bull is a bona fide breed of dog, when it actually refers to a diverse group of dogs that may include purebred dogs of many breeds as well as dogs that are assumed to be blends of those breeds. These types of descriptors vary, depending on the recognised breeds and observers' perspectives. Despite anecdotal misinformation and incorrect visual identification, dog owners, animal shelters , veterinarians and

4130-520: The progeny of bulldogs bred to earth-working dogs (terriers), with the offspring known as bull-terriers or half-bred dogs, among other names. Walsh also wrote of the Fox Terrier (or, rather, of its cross-breed ancestor): "The field fox-terrier, used for bolting the fox when gone to ground, was of this breed [bull and terrier]." Not only is the Fox Terrier the progeny of the bull-and-terrier, but so

4200-429: The same alleles , some of which are detrimental. If the founding population for the breed was small, then the genetic diversity of that particular breed may be small for quite some time. When humans select certain dogs for new breeds, they artificially isolate that group of genes and cause more copies of that gene to be made than might have otherwise occurred in nature. The population is initially more fragile because of

4270-474: The same breed in different geographical areas may have different genetic profiles. The tests do not test for breed purity, but for genetic sequences that are common to certain breeds. With a mixed-breed dog, the test is not proof of purebred ancestry, but rather an indication that those dogs share common ancestry with certain purebreds. The American Kennel Club does not recognize the use of DNA tests to determine breed. Many newer dog breeds can be traced back to

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4340-420: The same magazine. Trusty was a fawn coloured bull and terrier that showed more bulldog traits than terrier, and was reputed to be undefeated, having won 104 dog fights. Trusty was purchased by Thomas Pitt, 2nd Baron Camelford and presented to Jem Belcher, a champion prize fighter of England. Unlike Trusty , Dustman appeared to have more terrier traits than bulldog and was used for badger-baiting . "DUSTMAN

4410-821: The skull. The breed's genetic makeup produces a short tail. These short tails can take the shape of a corkscrew, or curl, or they can be straight. Generally, Boston Terriers' tails do not exceed 2 inches (51 mm) in length. Boston Terrier is a gentle breed that typically has a strong, happy-go-lucky, and friendly personality with a merry sense of humor. Boston Terriers are generally eager to please their owner and can be easily trained. They can be very protective of their owners, which may result in aggressive and territorial behavior toward other pets and strangers. Both females and males are generally quiet and bark only when necessary. Their usually sensible attitude toward barking makes them excellent choices for apartment dwellers. They enjoy being around people, get along well with children,

4480-434: The term "mastiff" was used as a general reference for large dogs. Whether or not they were crossed with Pugs to make them better at bull baiting remains controversial. It is assumed that bull and terrier hybrids were crossed with several varieties of bulldogs and terriers, the types of which depended on location. A 2016 genetic assessment verified that bulldogs were descendants of mastiffs, but it also discovered pugs in

4550-464: The theory of heterosis ), and have enthusiasts and defenders who prefer them to intentionally bred dogs. Estimates place the prevalence of mongrels at 150 million animals worldwide. In the United States, the term mixed-breed is a favored synonym over mongrel among people who wish to avoid negative connotations associated with the latter term. The implication that such dogs must be a mix of defined breeds may stem from an inverted understanding of

4620-594: The type from Cradley Heath was recognised as a separate breed to be named the Staffordshire Bull Terrier . In the 19th century, the Walsall type was carried by immigrants to the United States, where it served as an important component for the genetic basis of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed, through specimens such as the dog Lloyd's Pilot and the Colby bloodline, strongly combined with Irish strains. The anatomy of

4690-478: The typical blocky head now shown in Bostons. From this foundation of the breed, subsequent breeders refined the breed into its modern-day presentation. Bred down in size from fighting dogs of the bull and terrier types, the Boston Terrier originally weighed up to 44 pounds (20 kg) (Old Boston Bulldogs). The Boston Terrier Club was formed in 1891; it was admitted to membership in the American Kennel Club in 1893. It

4760-559: Was also rewarded a medal by France. Sergeant Stubby died in 1926 with the legacy of being the United States' "greatest war dog." Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC has had a live Boston Terrier mascot named Blitz since 2003 that attends home football games. In 2012, a high school student named Victoria Reed took the advice of her veterinarian and submitted a photo of her Boston Terrier, Bruschi, to Guinness World Records . With each eye being 1.1 inches, or 28 mm, in diameter, Bruschi

4830-436: Was determined for purebred and mixed-breed dogs of different body weights. Within each body weight category, the median age at death was lower for purebred dogs compared with mixed-breed dogs. The median age at death was "8.5 years for all mixed breed dogs, and 6.7 years for all pure breed dogs" in the study. In 2013, a study found that mixed breeds live on average 1.2 years longer than purebreds, and that increasing body weight

4900-490: Was negatively correlated with longevity (i.e. the heavier the dog, the shorter its lifespan). Another study published in 2019 confirmed this 1.2 year difference in lifespan for mixed-breed dogs, and further demonstrated negative impacts of recent inbreeding and benefits of occasional outcrossing for lifespan in individual dogs. Studies that have been done in the area of health show that mixed-breeds on average are both healthier and longer-lived than their purebred relations. This

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