Do-do
Roseville,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, October 28, 2012
You know diddly about DNA testing and just think what you hear is everything there is to know. Well, it isn't. I've made a living designing and interpreting tests such as these and I know what I'm talking about. It isn't as simple as whippin up a box of Jello instant pudding. It just looks that way on Forensic Files. A considerable proportion of DNA tests are inconclusive - but can be reported as "suggestive of" or "consistent with" which is essentially the same as inconclusive.
You read the books on Boston Terriers and know their origin. Very good. If you are looking for a specific breed and plan on spending a substantial amount of money, the next stop should be a dog show prefereably specfic for that breed. Those shows are fun and you can learn a lot!
But you got your brown Boston er. Boxer? 30 lb whatevvah. I'm just hoping you didn't pay more than $150 is my point. The reason for my response is to illustrate to potential buyers that you simply don't go shopping for a specific bread (or type) of dog on line. It doesn't work. You have get up off yer duff get in the car and go look. Your experience is one of way too many and increasingly so.. as people are looking for ways to make a cool buck. Just run the category "dog breeders" on this site alone - you'll see what I mean...some of these reports are real lulus!
mwheeler
Grass Valley,#3Author of original report
Fri, October 26, 2012
In the research I did regarding a "brown" boston I found that they are in fact true Bostons, but they are not Standard Bostons (or Non Traditional), therefore could not be used as a show dog. Since our goal was to have a family dog, we saw no reason for having this "non-standard" dog.
The DNA test was done by a reputable company, to which I did the research on as well, and even asked the vet. As normal DNA tests, they do swabs of the dogs saliva which will tell you what the dog is made of. The history of a Boston Terrier will give you more information regarding how Boston's were created which is a Bull and Terrier family (which includes Boxers, Bull Dogs and Pit Bulls) and will also verify that you can in fact have a Brown (or as the AKC refers to them red) but they are not recognized to be shown.
Bottom line, you should probably do more research on Bostons and their full history before you start criticizing a BT owner.
Do-do
Roseville,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, October 26, 2012
Another example of breeders who go with what the folks want. Real Bostons aren't brown. They get that way from being outbred to boxers, and lately to that nasty (but ever so popular) pit bull breed - because people dont really want a Boston, they want a stylized pit bull.
You never went to the place to see what this brown "Boston" was bred from and probably never asked; and payed how much for a mutt? Just looking at a web site?
I wouldn't believe that DNA test either. For one thing, did you inquire about how that DNA test showed that this dog was all Boston? What were the criteria used? Was there a second opinion - DNA testing is not slam dunk for establishing breeds especially in breeds that are of mixed origin to begin with and is especially indeterminate in breeds that have been more recently outbred - and lack enough specific characteristic DNA (as Bostons have been with the development of the brown color and the teacups).
Posts like this emphasize how dog breeding has literally become a real money mill - forget the puppy mill part - that's just a distraction.