In selecting a stud dog be certain his tail is O. K. The bitch can very well afford to carry a longer one, and usually whelps better on this account.  I know of nothing more discouraging in the Boston terrier game than to have a litter of choice puppies in every other respect, but off in tails.

While writing on the subject of tails, it may not be out of place to note an interesting fact in connection with this at the earliest history of our little dog.  Mr. John Barnard became the possessor of Tom, afterward known as Barnard’s Tom.  This was the first Boston terrier to rejoice in a screw tail.  Mr. Barnard did not know what to make of it, so he took the pup to old Dr. Saunders, a well known and respected veterinary surgeon of the day, to have the tail, if possible, put into splints and straightened.  I guess there have been quite a number of pups, descendants of Tom, whose owners would have been only too glad to have had their straight tails put in splints, if, thereby, it would have been possible to produce a “screw”.

I think the subject of sufficient importance to again call the attention of breeders to the necessity of the extreme care in breeding seal brindles.  The demand started some years ago for very dark color has placed upon the market many dogs devoid of any brindle shading.  At the last Boston Terrier Club specialty show a beautiful little dog, almost perfect in every other respect, was given the gate on account of being practically black.

In my former chapter on Color Breeding, I urged the necessity of using a red or light mahogany brindle on black stock.  If either sex come black, never use any other color than these to mix in.  Enough said!

One is constantly hearing from all parts of the country of the prevalence of bitches missing.  Where they are bred to over-worked stud dogs no surprise need be manifested.  In case of a “miss” have the bitch bred two or three times to the dog next time.  If she misses then, the next time let her run with the dog for several days.  I have written this before, but it will bear repetition.

Do not acquire the habit of getting rid of the matrons of the kennel when six or seven years old.  Many bitches give birth to strong pups when eight or nine years old.  I write, of course, of those in strong, vigorous condition, that have always had plenty of good outdoor exercise.

Remember, there is no spot on this broad land where the Boston terrier does not make himself thoroughly “at home.”  What more can one wish?

CHAPTER XIV.

CONCLUSION.