About 30 Boston owners of these dogs organized the American Bull Terrier Club in 1889, and they exhibited their dogs as Round Heads or Bull Terriers until they ran into opposition from Bull Terrier and Bulldog enthusiasts who objected to the similar name for a dog that was so different from both of their breeds. The club decided to switch rather than fight and changed its name to the Boston Terrier Club.
The breed became Boston Terriers, and in 1893 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed and accepted the club into membership. Boston fanciers had a tough road ahead. Their new breed had the required standard of conformation but lacked the consistency that could be achieved only by careful breeding, including prudent inbreeding of the dogs in the limited gene pool. It took years to accomplish, but the breed stabilized as the clean-cut, charming companion of today.
