Boston Terrier
Temperament, & Facts
Sergeant Stubby
Boston Terrier, breed of dog developed in the latter half of the 19th century in Boston. Bred from the English Bulldog and a white English terrier, the Boston Terrier is one of the few breeds to have originated in the United States. It has a terrier-like build, dark eyes, a short muzzle, and a short fine coat of black or brindle, with white on the face, chest, neck, and legs. At maturity, it stands 15 to 17 inches (38 to 43 cm) tall at the withers and weighs 12 to 25 pounds (5 to 11 kg). The breed is characteristically gentle and affectionate.
| Boston Terrier breed facts | |
|---|---|
| other names | Boston, American Gentleman |
| area of origin | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| breed group | nonsporting |
| height at withers | 15–17 inches (38–43 cm) |
| weight | 12–25 pounds (5–11 kg) |
| life span | 11–13 years |
| Did you know? | A Boston Terrier mix known as Sergeant Stubby was the most decorated dog to serve in World War I. He was a stray found at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where the 102nd Infantry, 26th “Yankee” Division, was training in 1917. The unit quickly adopted him as their mascot, even teaching him to salute on command. Smuggled aboard the troop ship to France, Stubby boosted morale and performed numerous acts of courage in his 18 months of service. He warned soldiers of gas attacks and incoming missiles (he could hear the whistle of the shells sooner than the troops), located the wounded caught in no-man’s-land, and even captured a German spy, pinning him down long enough for Allied soldiers to arrive. Although injured several times, Stubby always returned to the trenches. After the war, he became a celebrity and was the subject of the animated feature film Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero (2018). His taxidermic remains are on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. |
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