Can you name this breed?  “There are several features that are characteristic of the dog that tend to its universal popularity its attractive shape, style and size, its winning disposition, and its beautiful color and markings. From the bulldog he inherits a sweet, charming personality, quiet, restful demeanor, and an intense love of his master and home. He does not possess the restless, roving disposition which characterizes so many members of the terrier tribe, nor will he be found quarreling with other dogs. From the bull terrier side he inherits a lively mood, the quality of taking care of himself if attacked by another dog, and of his owner, too, if necessary, the propensity to be a great destroyer of all kinds of vermin if properly trained, and an ideal watch dog at night. No wonder he is popular, he deserves to be.”

This was how Edward Axtell described the Boston Terrier in 1910, and this post isn’t so much about the breed as it is about the legacy most of us “in dogs,” inherit from our predecessors, and where we can find evidence of it. Axtell spent another 184 pages discussing The Boston Terrier and All About It, and you could spend up to $30 to read his book purchased from Amazon, but for less than $10 a year, you could access this book and so much more from the World Public Library, the world’s largest aggregator of eBooks. Don’t let the “e” fool you. This is a source of a whole lot of books, many written a century ago, and it’s a wealth of knowledge for dog people interested in their respective breeds. The World Public Library is a global effort to preserve and disseminate historical books, classic works of literature, serials, bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other heritage works in a number of languages and countries around the world – and while one doesn’t have to pay to read, it does provide deeper access to material. Check it out. Read about your breed, empower yourself with knowledge. Don’t rely on others to tell you “what’s what.”

Boston Terrier by Glenda Harlan
www.etsy.com/shop/glendaharlan
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