Boston Terrier Classification

[Freedom]

The "terriers" in the Terrier Group were originally kept to hunt vermin, especially mice, rats, rabbits, stoats and weasels. The Boston Terrier is an American breed, originally developed from a cross between an English Bulldog and a white English terrier, and was developed for fighting. So it does not fit the purpose definition of the AKC Terrier Group.

Today most of the dogs in the terrier group are kept as companion animals, though a few are still working dogs.

[Karen]

Exactly - while their foundation breeds included terriers who were indeed bred to "go to ground," the Boston Terrier was only ever bred as a fighting dog, then as a companion dog, so is stuck in the "non-sporting" group!

[emc]

Thanks for that interesting bit of dog history. So now I'm wondering why was the name "terrier" picked, something more suitable might be "Boston Bulldog" or something like that.

[Freedom]

From the white English terrier that was used.