tain well-defined rules that if faithfully carried out, will redound 

 to the credit of this breed and the honor of the breeder. The 

 prospective sire is first to be considered. Many breeders rush 

 for a champion, regardless of many very important considera- 

 tions, several of which might most certainly prohibit his being 

 selected. Whilst it is true and generally accepted that the sire 

 does impress his personality or individually upon his offspring, 

 it is equally true that his ancestry is of even greater moment, 

 and often is the determining power. The ancestry of the bitch 

 is generally but erroneously considered of but little, if any, im- 

 portance. This is wrong, for, on the contrary, her breeding is 

 of the utmost importance, and good results cannot be expected 

 unless due weight is given this most important factor. Occa- 

 sionally a bitch will seem to throw pups exclusively after the sire, 

 they not possessing any likeness whatever to herself or to her 

 ancestors. Fortunate, indeed, is the breeder who possesses such 

 a jewel, but they are more often heard of than seen. Start, then, 

 with a well-bred bitch, although she herself may not be a typical 

 specimen, and then select as a sire a dog who is strong in points 

 where she is lacking, not only in himself, but in his ancestry, 

 for Boston Terriers are proverbially given to "throwing back' 

 more than any other breed. For example, if you have a bitch 

 that is weak in muzzle, breed her to a sire who is very strong 

 in this respect, but if upon inquiry you find that his strong 

 muzzle was an accident and that his ancesters were very weak 

 in muzzle, look elsewhere, for disappointment will most surely 

 attend. The principle is the same when, regardless of breeding 

 on either side, a bitch is taken to a very small dog with the full 

 expectation that the pups must of necessity prove small. The 

 fallacy of this expectation has been so often exemplified, and at 

 such great cost to many breeders that it need not be further 

 dwelt upon. 



Again, a prize dog is used regardless of ancestry on either 

 side, simply because his prestige as a champion will give the 

 pups a higher market value. If we are to be influenced entirely 

 by mercenary motives, we had better at once relinquish the hope 

 of ever being able to improve the breed or of bringing credit to 

 our kennels. It has been this money-making motive that has 

 been the curse of the breed and it is to be devotedly hoped that 

 no more additions of this stamp of breeders will be made to the 

 ranks of the Boston fancy. You should study carefully the an- 

 cestry of both parents and select the sire best adapted to your 



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