528 The Dog Book 



Kennel Club was so urgently requested to prohibit from all shows. Of 

 course the American Kennel Club took no such action, basing the decision 

 on the ground that it did not recognise standards, that being a matter with 

 the show-giving club to do in its published schedule and conditions. 



Recently we wrote somewhat in support of this reduction of weight on 

 account of the adaptability of the small size for pets, for which we were 

 taken to task by some breeders of influence on the ground that the Boston 

 terrier is a man's dog and not a ladies' pet. Most readily do we admit that 

 it originally was so, but the trend in this breed has been altogether a mer- 

 cenary one. Entirely fictitious values were created for these terriers some 

 years ago, and it will be remembered what a mixture of type was the result 

 of the rush of the Boston fancy to New York shows to reap the golden har- 

 vest. Very naturally buyers picked out attractive and pretty dogs and 

 the smaller Bostons have always been the ones that sold best, so that those 

 who were in the fancy only for what they could make out of it bred selling 

 dogs. Some came too small to show at the fifteen-pound limit and these 

 breeders were the ones who got the low-weight classes complained of as 

 above stated. Other shows put them on as well and finally the wish to 

 legitimatise these good-selling dogs and render them eligible for Boston 

 Terrier Club prizes became so strong that the low limit was put at twelve 

 pounds. 



That these changes were made with any idea of benefiting the breed 

 no one will attempt to maintain, the object being purely mercenary. That 

 we will admit to the advocates of the Boston being a man's dog. On the 

 other hand, however, the very advocates of this claim make no use of the dog 

 in any way except as a house pet. To come down to the hard-pan truth 

 the dog was originally a pit terrier. That was his only vocation as a man's 

 dog, and it would be impossible to find one man in the club who would now 

 make use of him in that way. That day is past entirely, and the only thing to 

 consider is the future of the dog. The present limit is not likely to be the 

 final one unless some very decided action is taken, for the same causes 

 which brought about the extra classes outside the former limit will be likely 

 to develop again, and dogs as low as ten pounds will soon be plentiful 

 enough to permit of guaranteeing classes and, unless restricted, shows will 

 give them. Those opposed to any further reduction in standard weights 

 should now take action looking to that end, while they can get sufficient 

 support in their own club, otherwise a gradual change of opinion will put 



