Boston Terrier: "The American Gentleman" with lowbrow roots

The big-eyed, compact, black-and-white dogs known as Boston Terriers are not really terriers by American Kennel Club standards - they're categorized in the Non-Sporting Group - but the Boston part is right. Nicknamed "The American Gentlemen," the dogs are known as lovable, energetic and loyal companions - ironic considering they are thought to have been originally bred to be fighting dogs.

While they can trace their roots to Beacon Hill, they were likely first bred by servants, and were an Old English Bulldog and English White Terrier mix. And they were snubbed by the American Kennel Club until 1893, at which time they became the first breed admitted to the American Kennel Club that originated in America.

Today, they have the distinction of being the official dog of Massachusetts. They were also named Bicentennial Dog of Massachusetts - a proclamation signed in 1975 by former Gov. Michael Dukakis - and Bicentennial Dog of the United States - through legislation pushed by former Massachusetts Congressman Tip O'Neill.

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