Boston Malterrier

The Boston Terrier originated in Massachusetts through the crossing of a white English Terrier and an English Bulldog. Described as the "American Gentleman"because of his tuxedo coat and kind nature, the Boston Terrier is presently the official dog of Massachusetts. In the early 1900s he was either the first or second most popular dog in the United States. Ranked as the 21st most popular today, he joined the American Kennel Club in 1893. A true American dog, the Boston Terrier came to be in America through the mating of "Judge" and "Gyp" whose offspring developed over the years to produce the intelligent terrier we now know. Once called "Round Heads" standardization was the goal of fanciers and breeders over the past 150 years. The Maltese is believed to have originated in Malta, an island off the coast of Italy. They are an ancient breed and can be traced back to 3500 B.C. They were once called, “Ye ancient dog of Malta”. Because they were often carried by ladies, they were described as “the jewels of women.” It is documented that Publius, the Roman ruler of Malta in the first century A.D., owned a Maltese. The Maltese became a lapdog and companion to royalty and to the rich and famous during the British Empire. There are numerous famous paintings and writings by Greek and Roman philosophers, featuring this special little canine. In the 1800's the Maltese was imported into the United States. In 1888 the Maltese was accepted by the American Kennel Club.