Boston Colors

This Topic is some what of a BIG controversy.

"All photos on this site are owned. No one has permission to use them, unless permission is granted by the owner of picture. Credit and linking to this site or picture owner's site after permission granted is a must!"

I have personally experienced Color Predjudice in the Dog World.  I used to show Collies a million years ago, color was a bone of contention then too.  It used to be, only the Sables (the color of Lassie) were excepted and would win the class. If there were no sables, then the next accepted color would be a Black Tri.   Blue Merles, Sable Merles and Whites with colored Heads were looked down upon, as well as, sometimes Culled (killed at birth) out of litters. 

 The Color controversy is no stranger to the" World of Dogs" especially the "Show Dog World". As well as in Collies other breeds experience this too, such as Dobermans, Labradors, Rat Terriers, Newfoundlands, Chows, Dachshunds, and Bostons just to name a few, and that is just the tip of the ice burg of color controversy in dog breeds. I know of this issue in the "Horse and Cat Show Worlds too".

It is my choice, as well as view, that as long as there are no genetic health problem linked to a color ( like deafness, or Blindness, etc., which are certain color related problems) that everyone has the right to like and dislike what ever color of dog they choose. 

 Of course everything  about a breeding program should be to breed for the betterment of the breed!  HEALTH and BREED STANDARDS should be first and foremost! Color should be the icing on the cake.

Breeders that have the "Other Colors" should educate new puppy owners on the color and any problems linked to it.

Dilute colors such as Blue, Fawn, Pearl, Champagne, etc., CAN have a lower hair count. There is a condition called Alopecia, that can cause hair thinning and loss. Breeding for a higher hair count, is a must in a dilute color program.

The History of the Native American Boston Breed states that, "The White Terrier and the English Bull Dogs (Who come in many, many colors) were bred together to make the Boston Terrier". Of course the White Terrier was mainly all white and the English Bull Dogs came in various colors. Many of the original Bostons or "Round Heads", as they were first called, where different shades of Brindle. In many of the old pictures I have seen, the first Bostons look very much like Staffordshire Terriers (who also come in many different colors Blue & Chocolate included).

JP Barnard, the Father of the breed, once possessed 13 White Boston Terrier Dogs. There is a painting from the turn of the century by artist Gustav Muss Arnolt. A dog of the Arroyo line. The white body was an acceptable color in the very early days.

Dogs that exhibited white markings or patches were used in the very early development of the breed. Over 100 years later you can see an occasional Boston with too much white; this comes from these early ancestors. The BTCA standard accepts Black, Brindle and Seal (black with some brown hairs visible in sunlight) only. The BTCA decided that the colors  red, chocolate, liver, brown, fawn, blue or white are not acceptable colors in the Boston Terrier standard. (That was a choice made by people who only preferred Black/ White, Seal and Brindle Colors.  The "other" colors were there too in the foundation lines of the Boston Terrier.) " The establishment of type was the most difficult task for early breeders. It was the French Bulldog that was of great help in establishing the desired type. Since the French Bulldog was the result of inbreeding some English Bulldogs belonging to the lace makers of Nottingham, this genealogy made the French Bulldog the perfect choice to assist in the improvement of the Boston Terrier breed. Occasionally you will still see a Boston Terrier that is a throw back to the French Bulldog crosses that were done by the early breeders. It is amazing that out of all of these early breedings, varying so greatly in size and color, the forefathers of our breed were able to produce as much uniformity as they did. This is not to say that these dogs were anywhere near the quality of today's Boston Terriers. They had much improvement ahead in establishing type in body, head, color, markings, and size." (Parts Taken from the History of the breed on the BTCA Site.) Frenchies have a Rainbow of colors in their breed.

Here is another interesting bit of color information about some of the original dogs bred to form the Boston breed.                  

Taken from  Molosserworld of Boston Terriers.

Many breeders in the early-to recent stages of the Boston breed, would "cull out" (Kill) puppies of any color other than Black/White, Brindle/White and Seal/White (black with a reddish cast in the sun). It hasn't been until recent years that some breeders have decided not to cull these beautiful puppies, just because of color. They are bred to standards in every other way, except the 3 acceptable "Show Colors".

There are breeders now, working very hard to have these "other"colors added to the Boston Color Codes on AKC registrations. Breeders, who produce these "other" colors, must register their puppies under the acceptable color codes, when that is not the true color they really are. 

AKC does let the "Other Colors" compete in AKC events  except "Conformation", and has begun to register some with their true colors (due to some really hard work by vigilant breeders). There is a now Colored Boston Club, called the All Colored Boston Terrier Club or the ACBTC. It is an International Club, and has been participating in Shows, Events, and Education for over 2 1/2 years now. Great Progress has been made, especially with Colored Boston Terriers being able to be shown Conformation in the IEOBA and UCA Shows.    

Two respected Boston Breeders, studied Boston Color Genetics, and working as a team have documented several different colors, in countless shades and hues.   My Preference,  choice of colors, and type for my breeding program may differ from yours, but this is America is it not? We all have the right to like or dis-like.  I happen to love Blue, and Chocolate in most of the breeds I see. That feeling goes for my Bostons too.  My Plan for my Boston Program is to breed Healthy, good conformation, great disposition, competitive and family Bostons. Bred to Boston standards in every way, except on occasion, I will have the colors that I personally prefer, as well as the BTCA Tradional accepted colors.

 Please do not judge, take what you will from my opinions, and know that that is just what they are ~~My opinions.  

Here are some color pages 

http://homepage.usask.ca/~schmutz/dilutions.html#Dilute          

Here are some examples of the "Other Colors" in Bostons.

                Red/White/brindle                       Blue/White                        Lilac or Champagne

           Boston Baby Buddies                  Boston Baby Buddies                                    Yeate's Rocky                                             

Can you pick out the dilute Boston Puppies? Does their color make them any less a Boston, then the puppy next to them?

Lilac/Champagne and White

Lilac/ Champagne Puppy with her Red Sister ~ Boston Baby Buddies

Our Very Own Lilac owned by Boston Baby Buddies

Lilac with a lilac colored nose and the lilac blue/green eye

Lilac's are born with blue eyes which turn to have a greenish tint, unless they are blue eyed like the red puppy's eye below.

This eye did not change, it stayed blue which can occur in any color Boston. 

Blue Cream Brindle and White

My Beautiful Blue/White Creme Brindle ( hard to see his brindling)

Scooter owned by Boston Baby Buddies

Blue and White

Beautiful Pork Chop-BLUE AND WHITE (water baby)

Photo by Cheryl

                                \

Blue/White Boston Baby Buddies Puppy

Blue/white Boston Baby Buddies

All Blue Litter Boston Baby Buddies and Boston T Rose 

A Blue's eye rim and nose color is dark Grey, not black. Also eye color is a bluish/grey/green

This puppy's nose color has not filled in yet, and in an adult would be considered a Dudley nose.  

This is a puppy with a full colored grey nose pigment for a Blue

Red/Brindle and White

Red/White Brindle-Doopy

owned by Boston Baby Buddies

Red and White

Beautiful RED AND WHITE

Who says Bostons dont like water? photo by Cheryl

Red's eyes and nose color, self coloring or red on nose and eye rims

Also example of a nice round eye and an eye that needs improvement. Both have pretty good up noses

True Seal and White

Same true Seal/White puppy at birth and 7 weeks Looks Black/White but shines with Red Tint in the sun 

Can you pick out the Newborn True Seal/White Puppies?

Cream and White

Honey Gold Cream with his Black/White Brother

Boston Baby Buddies Honey Gold Cream

                                  Our very own cream/whte Blondie Girl owned by BBB  bostonbabybuddies@yahoo.com

Fawn and White

Boston Baby Buddie's SPOILED little Fawn/white girl

Boston Baby Buddies Fawn and White Boy

New born litter of Fawn and White owned by Boston T Rose Kennels

Pretty Purplish Brindle and Fawn/White owned by Boston T Rose Kennels 

Fawn eye, lip and nose color.

Fawns should have black pigment on they nose and around eye rims, as well as some masking.

Beautiful Chocolate Puppy by Bostonbabybuddies.com

chocolate nose and lip color

           awsome picture of a RED-Chocolate Comparison

Curtesy of Cypress Farm Kennel 

Bostons also come in 2 coat patterns called "Splash", a mostly all white dog with color splashes. Splashes can be any color of the Boston Terrier Palate, and Brindle, striping on the coat. 

Here are some examples of Splash

Black/white and Fawn/white Splashes ~ Boston Baby Buddies

Black White Splash Girl Boston Baby Buddies

Newborn Red/Chocolate Splashes~ Boston Baby Buddies

Lilac Splash owned by Cypress Farm Kennel

Here are some examples of the Brindle Patterns in different Colors. 

Boston Baby Buddies' Brindle Puppies of the past and present.

New pictures will be added when I get permission from owners.