THE OLDE BOSTON BULLDOG By Neil Rutan

The Olde Boston Bulldog, in the world we live in today, is probably one of the few animals still bred to be, as it was always bred to be a tough, hard, game, little varmint dog, that still loves its family. There are some American (Pit Bull) Terriers still bred as they once were, some American Bulldogs, some Border Collies, some Greyhounds, some Jack Russell’s, some field dogs, hounds of various kinds, bird dogs, and retrievers; hut not all.

Boston Bulldog is bred to be as it always was, tough and healthy. Still a hard working bulldog. Which would you want protecting your child? Let's keep the working breeds working!

I have heard of the Boston Bulldog! What is the difference between the Boston Bulldog and the Boston terrier? My grandfather use to own a Boston Bulldog; it was tough and healthy.

Wendel. a fawn Boston Bulldog 37 pounds, a son of Alamo and a great all around family pet.

There will always be people who breed for nothing but the appearance of the breed, thus the cost of sacrificing the health of the breed. All things being as they should be; such as food, care, and love, I’ll take breeding. Every time a dog that has been bred from parents that were hard varmint hunting dogs. That came from parents that were proven working dogs; I would certainly pick to be the protector of my child against a rabid fox, raccoon, or groundhog. The Boston terrier is the counterpart to the Boston Bulldog. The Boston terrier is bred for show and only show. The

Midnight, a 36 pound female with great determination, one fantastic looking bulldog.

Here at the National Dog Registry we register several different working breeds of dogs; unfortunately almost all the true working breeds have become rare (other than hounds). Show dogs have taken over the limelight in America and many of the working breeds are slowly being bred for looks and not for their ability.

The Boston Bulldog or Olde Boston Bulldog (a more modern name), is a true working dog, bred to take out varmints, hunt groundhog, catch Raccoons (on the ground), kill snakes, stand between your child and the animal that threatens your child, regardless of the danger or peril to its own life. If for no other reason, a dog that will and can save a child's life is worth preserving.

Belle a daughter of Alamo an exciting bitch that had unrenounced determination.

What is the Boston Bulldog? Twenty-five to forty-five pounds of bulldog. Many years ago, in the Boston Massachusetts area, some people decided to breed a smaller fighting dog: Hall's Max, Ravenroyd Rockefeller, Goode's Buster, Weinef s Bessie, Alamo, Bixby's Tony Boy, all names that prelude the modern day Boston Bulldog.

Speculation, a 37 pound female, many people think she is a male with her masculine build.

In 1812 G.T. Stubbs painted a Boston Bulldog that looked just like the Boston Bulldogs of today. Many people feel the original Boston Bulldog is simply a (Pit) Bull bred to be somewhat smaller than most of its counterparts. The term (Pit) is not lost on this old breed; for there is no doubt that this breed was bred to fight, as is the American (Pit) Bull Terrier.

This is Tootie, a 35 pound female, great small varmint dog.

Unfortunately, for the Boston Bulldog, almost as soon as the breed was developed: there were people that decided this breed too, should be shown, hence the Boston terrier of today. No one would doubt the modern day Boston terrier has an influx of French Bulldog blood. There is no doubt that like any breed, the Boston Bulldog has had other blood introduced into it over the years. I think it is likely that modern day Boston terrier blood has, from time to time, been put into it as well as modern day American (Pit) Bull Terrier blood.

There are few people breeding the Boston Bulldog.

Let's for a moment take a good look at the Boston Bulldog. Just what should he look like? He should look like a bulldog!

You say that leaves a wide opening for many different looks.  It does.  However, a bulldog can have many different looks. The Boston Bulldog can have many different looks.

Let me tell you about a few different bulldogs that don't always have the same look. Old breeders just call these breeds: bulldogs.

I.   American Bulldog One of the best things about the American Bulldog is the fact it has had many different looks: from Johnson Bloodlines to past Johnson Bloodlines. Old Scott blood to modern day Scott blood, Painter dogs old to new.   Cross many of these dogs together and the look is even more varied. (As a footnote a strict standard has been

 

drawn up for these dogs.  Hopefully no one will breed to this standard.) American Pit Bull Terrier If you have ever read any of the books written on The (Pit) Bull terrier, by Richard Stratton, then you have seen the pictures and you know that many of the (Pit) Bulls have totally different looks. This does not mean their heritage is in question, in any way. (This does not apply the American Staffordshire terrier. This breed branched off from the true (Pit) Bull terrier and is now, in my opinion and many others a completely different breed.) The true American (Pit) Bull terrier is bred for fighting. This does not make this dog a bad family dog. Being bred to fight does not make a dog people aggressive. Lack of training, lack of control, fear by-owner, and actually training a dog to attack people: these are the things that make the American (Pit) Bull terrier people aggressive.

Big Ben of Belle a 34 pound Boston Bulldog male, he says “You talkin to me?"

So a Boston Bulldog should look like a bulldog! Not like a poodle, a hound, or a German shepherd. When you look at one you will probably say "Look at that

Squeaker a 36 pound Boston Bulldog with a lot of grit.

little bulldog." Some Boston Bulldogs like pictured on this page, at a glance, look similar to Boston terriers, except larger and more capable.

You must remember breeding for looks are the reason that show type Bulldogs and Boston terriers have trouble whelping. If you are lucky enough to own a Boston Bulldog, then I can say with confidence as of 1995 your dog should be healthy.

Boston Bulldogs look like Boston Bulldogs. They have a varied look they look like little bulldogs. Much more important, how do they act? They act like bulldogs, real bulldogs; hard intelligent family pets.

One of the main questions that people ask is about the standard for the Boston Bulldog. The standard is very simple they should weigh between 25 to 45 pounds and look like little bulldogs. Behind this standard is their pedigree.

If you start breeding for undershot or not undershot, short tail or not short tail, you are going to start breeding dogs together that have these attributes. There are many things that could be put in a standard.  We will just touch on these two. So if you have two litters of puppies that are not related, and one puppy in each litter have a short tail and an undershot bite, one puppy is a male and one puppy is a female, and you breed these two puppies together when they grow up and most of their puppies have a short tail and an undershot bite.

 

 

What we have forgotten when we do this is, this is a dog that is not bred lo stand still and do nothing. This is a dog that is bred to save your child's life, to take on something of equal size or larger and not stop until it is finished one way or the other. If the dog you breed for the short tail or undershot bite does not have all the courage it should have and the other dog may be does not have all the courage it should have, you will loose some courage. Multiply this desire for appearance and you will loose a lot of courage.

This is Alamo, a 29 pound Olde Boston Bulldog that is in the pedigree of many Olde Boston Bulldogs today

So our standard is simple 25 to 45 pounds. So if you breed a couple of dogs that are 25 pounds and you get some 20 pound puppies, we would

  throw this dog out.  No we don’t.   What we do is, love this dog. We may not breed the parents again. If this dog weighs 20 pounds and is courageous and you want to breed it, you breed it to a dog that is courageous but a little larger, say 30 pounds or 35 pounds. The same goes if you get a dog that's weight exceeds the 45 pound standard. However, if you by some chance get a dog that has a health problem, do not breed it. Do not breed a dog that does not have the courage it should have. The true standard is in the heart; not something you can see by just looking.

This is not to say that individual breeders; by breeding to the same line   of dogs for years will not get a certain

look, they will. For instance there was a dog named Striker N.D.R. III, he was a small black brindle and white dog he sired lots of puppies; at least 90 per cent or more of his puppies had the same look.

Alamo was a red brindle dog with white, 90 per cent of his puppies came out red or brown brindle. If one of his puppies were crossed back to a grandson or granddaughter of his or niece or nephew, the puppies normally came out with that coloration, as with Striker N.D.R. III. If his offspring's were line bred they normally came out close to the color of Striker N.D.R. III. However the color of these dogs in no way affected their ability to perform.

It looks like a mutt to me! Has a Boston terrier breeder ever seen that dog? Maybe it is mixed with something. People who say they don't breed for looks in one breed often do and do not realize it.

 

Perhaps they like one look better than another look. So they breed dogs together often that have the same look.

People which hunt or use their dogs to work with, normally breed those dogs together that have the highest degree of gameness. If the dogs they breed have the same coat, or size it is not by design. If they both have great courage and go after the target; that is by design.

Boston Bulldogs are not for everyone. You might think that this is a strange statement to make by someone that loves these dogs. The reason we make this statement is because we do love these dogs.

Boston Bulldogs are high drive dogs, they love children and make great house pets. They are bred to do a job that requires high drive. You might have your Boston Bulldog from puppy to adult and not see this. It all depends on the environment your dog grows up in.

If you live in town in a house where there are no other animals, you may never see this courage, however in the world we live in today, this is not likely.

If you live on a farm where there are lots of animals, you will without doubt see your Boston Bulldog take a great interest in these other animals. If you are not aware and keyed in to this you could learn the hard way.

If you are a hunter and you have used your Boston to catch raccoons, groundhogs, or other small game your dog will consider all animals from a hunting viewpoint. If you have socialized your puppy with other animals, you may never have a problem with those small varmints, but animals they are not accustomed to could present a problem.

Every Boston Bulldog has its own personality, so no one can say for sure how your Boston Bulldog will react in different situations.

Cotton 38 pound grandson of Alamo Squeaker, a female Boston Bulldog grabbed a domestic hog by the front leg. Squeaker weighed 36 to 37 pounds. She came up under the front leg after trying to come straight in and getting shook by the hog she became aware of her mistake and compensated for it by changing her attack. Her attack was non stop. There was no jumping in and out and barking, there was no faking.  This is how every Boston Bulldog should catch a hog. Needless to say when Squeaker grabbed the hog there was a lot of noise from the hog and a lot of confusion. She had to be taken off the hog. She had found the sweet spot, where to grab, and was not about to stop on her own.

This is just a true example, but this should give you an idea of what you have when you own a Boston Bulldog. Be prepared for different situations to confront you and your Boston Bulldog. Have your Boston Bulldog under control.

Interesting, how much the print from the 1800's looks like the picture of Cotton in 1995.

We will give you another example.

Years ago the old dog Alamo somehow got loose from where he was tied. His owners were on vacation and a neighbor lady was taking care of the dogs. Alamo would not let her catch him.  He knew the lady but had no intention of giving up his freedom. Every day when she came to feed the dogs he was there, ate his food but would remain just out of her reach. The owners had not mowed the grass before they left and with the rain the grass was growing rapidly. A week

 went by and the owners of Alamo came home. They tied Alamo back up, because he loved them and came right up to them. When the owner’s boys mowed the grass the next day they were greatly surprised. There were small varmints every few yards down deep in the grass, for you see Alamo was a determined hunter.

The occasional Boston terrier that weighs more than 25 pounds is a rare thing.   If you own a Boston terrier that weighs more than 25 pounds, it does not make your Boston Terrier a Boston Bulldog, it does however, give you the chance to merit register your Boston terrier as an Boston Bulldog. Merit would be indicated on your registration papers.

Confusing, you say! It can be, however let us either enlighten you or make you more confused. Looking at the picture of Ralph, who was merit registered, started out as a Boston terrier registered with a show organization.

Not many people can say about their breeds today that the dogs today are as healthy and capable as they were at the onset of their breeding. The Boston Bulldogs are like they were at their onset, not diminished by the show ring and the breeding for looks.

Some Boston terriers are the same size of the Boston Bulldogs, this is true; does it make the Boston terrier and the Boston Bulldog the same dog? No

 

Another Boston Bulldog of old

(Here is Ralph's Story) Ralph's parents were bred somewhere in Kansas. When Ralph was born his litter registration papers were sent for and received, but not as a Boston Bulldog, his litter was registered as Boston terriers. Ralph reached the age he needed to be sold (probably 8 to 12 weeks old). Then Ralph was sent to a pet store in another state.

It just so happened that a Boston Bulldog fancier and breeder walked in to the pet store and saw Ralph for sale. What caught his attention was Ralph's size, he asked the sales clerk if he could take a closer look at Ralph.

At this point Ralph was 12 weeks old and weighed about 10 pounds. At 12 weeks old and 10 pounds he was already larger than most Boston terriers. Also Ralph's nose was not so pushed in that he could not breathe. The deal was made; $500.00 was paid and Ralph went home with the Boston Bulldog man. All of Ralph's paperwork was sent for including an extended pedigree. This was the beginning of the Boston Bulldog Ralph merit registered.

The great Shady Lady hard at play with another Boston Bulldog.

As Ralph grew he was watched and monitored closely, he was encouraged to pursue small game at an early age. He was weighed often; at about 8 months old he weighed 25 pounds. Also at this age he would catch and kill rats. At this point an individual registration form was sent in as well as a certified weight and picture of Ralph. Ralph was merit registered as a Boston Bulldog. This is important as to how this was accomplished. First off: Note Ralph's appearance, he certainly does not look like a show winning Boston terrier. Ralph topped out at about 35 pounds. Show dogs can not go above 25 pounds.  Ralph's nose and muzzle are long enough that he has no trouble with air intake. Ralph has the overall look of a small bulldog that is large enough to take care of business.

Most merit registered Boston Bulldogs are simply noticed someplace; they can be anywhere and are probably in every state in the United States. Dogs that do not fit the size and standard of the show-dog are the dogs that are the most like the true Boston Bulldog.

Ralph is not as hardy as Boston Bulldogs that are not merit registered. No Merit Registered Boston is.

If you breed a merit registered Boston Bulldog to another merit registered Boston Bulldog you will get merit registered puppies this is not what is wanted.   We want strong hardy dogs that do not have any of the health problems of the modern day show dogs.

If you are going to be a breeder you need to read this next section very carefully. A merit registered Boston Bulldog registration number will look like this:
  1995-MOOOOA

The M in this means merit
The A in this means Alpha
A number for a Boston Bulldog that is not merit registered will look like this:

1995-0000

no blaring weakness" the Boston Bulldog gets new blood, the look does not change and faults can be bred out.

If you breed a merit registered dog

1995-MOOOOA

to a non merit registered dog

1994-0000

you get a registration number that looks
like this:  1995-0000A1 {not a real number)

What this number shows you is that a dog with this number is not merit
registered, but by having (A1) after the number it still tells you what this animal may have to offer you and your breeding program.

Night Shadow, 36 pound female

If you want new blood in your dog an (A 1) dog will certainly give you that.

If you cross a dog with the code (Al) after its registration number to a dog that is not merit registered (say 1993-0000) you will get puppies that have an (A2) after their registration number. It will look like this (1995-0000 A2) All of this is technical: however bear with us, as we wade through this as this may-mean more to you if you decide to become a breeder or expand your breeding program.

 

Ralph at 16 weeks old, when grown 35 pounds a merit registered Olde Boston Bulldog.

If you cross an (A2) dog with a non merit registered dog you will get an (A3) dog.  If you cross an (A3) dog with a no merit registered dog you will get an (A4) dog.
If you cross an (A4) dog with a non merit registered dog you will get an (A3) dog.

This has to stop somewhere!

If you cross an (A5) dog to a non merit dog, you will get an non merit dog.

As we stated earlier no Boston Bulldog that is merit registered will not be as hardy a dog as a dog that is not merit registered.

Why will merit registered not be as strong? Non merit Boston Bulldogs are never bred for show, they are bred for their ability. They go in and tangle with animals that are as large as they are or larger. Their performance is their very life!

A dog can trot and walk around a show ring forever and not be tested in its physical endurance. True not everyone wants a dog with great physical endurance, (I'm not sure why).