Victorian Boston Bulldog ~ Breed History
The Victorian Boston Bulldog, quite simply put, is a re-creation of the Round Headed Bull and Terrier (later named the Boston Terrier) of the Victorian era which ended in approximately 1901.
Dogs up until the Victorian era were simply a creature of purpose. They had a job to do and aside from nobility, they were seldom kept if there wasn’t a defined need for them. It is reported that Queen Victoria had a special fondness for dogs and strongly supported the punishment of those convicted of animal cruelty. This likely helped the to change the status of dogs in society. During this era dogs still remained important for work but now, more so than ever before, they served as a leisure activity for the more common man and began to take their place as a companion rather than being only livestock. Breeds were further defined and new breeds emerged in the quest to create the perfect dog. They became an element of one’s social life with several activities centered around them. This lead to the first dog show in 1859 in England and the first in America rumored to have been not far behind. The dog show created a venue for dog breeds to become increasingly popular. Attendees could find a breed to suit them, a breeder from which to buy and a place to compete and prove your dogs worth. Dogs began to be in demand and dog breeding became a much more worthwhile endeavor. Although many breeders bred dogs simply to have good useful and versatile companions, the influence of those breeding for profit must be noted. Unlike today, it was more acceptable back then to breed dogs for profit. As a result, what sold the best is what many breeders would strive for. This had an undeniable influence on the development of some breeds, the Boston Terrier being no exception. As it is known, the Bull and Terrier came about from crossing the English Terrier and the English Bulldog and from the use of other similar type dogs. The man largely credited for motivating the breeding of the Round Headed Bull and Terrier (later known as the Boston Terrier) was John P. Barnard. The dogs grew wildly popular and to avoid confusion with the Bull Terrier, the name was changed to the Boston Terrier. The Boston Terrier Club was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1893. The dogs became increasingly refined and more terrier in type. As this happened the older breeders such as John. P Barnard and Mr. W. C Hook (pedigree supervisor) opposed the movement and voiced their opinions near the turn of the century. “It is a well known fact that on account of inbreeding certain very important points of the Boston Terrier have become almost obsolete, namely, the broad flat skull, rose ears and short tapering tail, all bulldog characteristics, and to my mind the only way to again bring them in to prominence is to infuse the original bulldog blood into our stock, which is now too strongly terrier.” -Mr. W.C. Hook. “The Boston Terrier in my mind should be very close in appearance to a small bulldog, with the exception of the lay-back of the bull. I differ in this with the Boston Terrier Club, and claim that in trying to make the breed fine they will lose the skull and bone and the characteristics of the breed.” -John P. Barnard “In general, the tendency is toward more pronounced terrier characteristics. The standard of perfection published a few years ago called for a heavier, broader, more muscular build than is desired now. We have, however, two of the best informed of the old breeders and exhibitors (Mr. Hook and Mr. Barnard), men who assisted most materially in the formation of the breed, both | asserting that it is a dog of bulldog type as opposed to that of the terrier, yet the dog has been changed altogether from what they said it should be.” -James Watson
The Boston Terrier is now far from the vision of these early advocates of the breed. It is rumored that the bully type continued to be developed by its fanciers but fell to the wayside in the shadow of the ever growing popularity of the small Boston Terrier. With many bred and raised on farms they were avid varmint dogs. The early infusion of fighting dog blood likely kept many of them with a courageous and tenacious spirit, which would have made them perfect for the job. They were a dog of practical applications, a boost to a person’s social life and a dedicated companion. Today you will find re-creations of the early Round Headed Bull and Terrier . The Rutan line of dogs first developed by the late Mr. Neil Rutan and succeeded by his son Nathaniel Rutan are very much the farm bred sort. They leaned heavily towards workability and health above all else, with less attention being paid to the details of the physical features of the dog. As working dogs are, they are bred to be courageous and unfading in the face of adversity - able to be put to task on almost anything. Being a dog with a strong drive, they may sometimes be more than the average urban dog owner prefers to handle. However, in the hands of someone who wishes to socialize and work the drive their dog is bred to have, they would be an ideal companion. These dogs are called by the name given to them by Neil Rutan, the “Olde Boston Bulldog”. Other versions of the Olde Boston Bulldog have been developed, but with more emphasis on the appearance of the dog and typically less of a rugged working type by comparison the the Rutan lines. From this development of new Olde Boston Bulldog lines there came a divide between those that preferred to show and exhibit and those that supported the Rutan type of dog. Some on each side claimed that the other was not producing true Olde Boston Bulldogs. After many years of confusion and discussions between several breeders it was decided that the name “Olde Boston Bulldog” rightfully belonged to the Rutan type of dog. Although some still choose to use the name even though they do not breed for the same Rutan style goals, it is the belief of several breeders, as well as the Rutan type breeders, that the name being created by the Rutan family, defines the tough and more rugged Rutan style dog. As a result the Victorian Boston Bulldog Club was formed by the breeders who would endeavor to re-create the dog spoken of my Mr. Barnard and Mr. Hook, and to define this type as notably different from Rutan’s Olde Boston Bulldog. Although the blood of the Olde Boston Bulldog may still be used with a Victorian Boston Bulldog, they differ in their end goals and purpose. The Victorian Boston Bulldog Club was also founded to fill the need for a defined breed club, bringing much needed unity and a venue for organized progress. Promoting continued genetic health, a solid type with a new thorough breed standard, breed education and an internal structure that would include the votes of its members so as to protect itself from misrepresentation. A Victorian Boston Bulldog of today was possibly previously called an Olde Boston Bulldog up until the formation of the Victorian Boston Bulldog Club, when the name changed to separate the two definitive types. For further information on the Victorian Boston Bulldog please visit: |
