Were Boston Terriers "Fighting dogs" ???
What does their history say?
In the early book "The Boston Terrier" by J.V. Mott, first published in 1906, this misunderstanding is addressed.
"To correct an idea that has become somewhat prevalent, it can here be stated that the dog is in no sense a fighting dog. While he is plucky, as might be expected from his ancestry, he is not quarrelsome. " (ref; J.V. Mott, 1906 - The Boston Terrier, Chapter 1)
"To correct an idea that has become somewhat prevalent, it can here be stated that the dog is in no sense a fighting dog. While he is plucky, as might be expected from his ancestry, he is not quarrelsome. " (ref; J.V. Mott, 1906 - The Boston Terrier, Chapter 1)
Most history about the Boston Terrier states that they came from fighting dogs. What EXACTLY does that mean?
Boston Terriers were bred FROM fighting dogs. They were not bred FOR fighting. That is the big difference, and that is what is most often misunderstood.
It is often said that the Boston Terrier was "bred to be a fighting dog but he was too friendly so he failed miserably and became a companion instead". This is a nice story that seems to have surfaced a few decades ago, but it has no basis in fact according to the early history books about the breed.
One thing that is certain about genetics, is that if breeders WANTED a fighting dog, they could have absolutely selected traits for a fighting dog, and created very successful fighters from the Bull & Terrier crosses that were so popular and were the foundation of so many breeds in the early years. It is true that the popular Bulldog/Bull Terrier crosses were often used for pit fighting and even Judge was rumored to have descended from a fighting dog in England, but these were not yet the Boston Terrier, and the breed itself was designed with a different purpose. Their history of being "from" fighting dogs is often mis-read to interpret their purpose, not their history. So the belief they were meant to be a pit fighting breed continues to circulate.
The purpose of the Boston Terrier, according to all of the early history books, was to be a sharp looking companion dog. They had a very stylish appearance and many owners found that since it was a breed that originated in the U.S., that the average breeder could get an easy start in breeding successful show dogs without the expense of importing. This made the breed very popular and conformation was very competitive in the early years. There are many advertisements for stud services that boasted of show wins, but there is no evidence of fighting records and wins as are advertised by other fighting breeds during that time.
This is not to say there were no owners who might have competed with their Bostons privately as fighting dogs in the early years. Anything is possible in the confines of an owner's own stables. Some were also used as ratters, which they were quite good at due to their terrier-like attributes, and that skill could also be useful to their families. But the PURPOSE of the Boston Terrier was NOT to create yet another fighting breed. It was to create an all around companion dog.
Additional Facts About The Boston Terrier and Its History
Can Boston Terriers Have Long Hair?
Can Boston Terriers Have Long Tails?
Are Boston Terriers With Longer Noses Healthier?
Did Bostons Used To Be 40-50 Pounds?
Is There Anything Wrong With White Headed Bostons?
Are Boston Terriers With Blue Eyes Okay?
Were Boston Terriers Fighting dogs?
Are Merle Bostons Purebred?