TOGRA BOSTON TERRIERS
Breaking
News!!
There's a new Champion in the
House!! Click here to find out who...
Click on the links below to navigate through our site:
Breed Standard – BTCA (Boston Terrier Club of America)
Welcome to Togra Boston Terriers
Crystal Graham (+27 82) 329 3169
Togra was established in 1998 when we purchased our first male Boston, "Ch Lucka". It was not long after that when we purchased our first female.
Serene (Ch Riders Red Lite Lady) was to become the foundation of our kennel. We bred our first litter in 2003 and Serene produced a beautiful litter of 4 puppies.
Serene flew to her championship status without any hassle and remains a formidable opponent to show against in the female classes.
Our first home-bred bitch, Nemo (Togra Allardi), is a definite asset to Togra Bostons. She is out of Serene and her sire (Ch Bonberg Whiff O'Whiskey of Henmari) was specifically chosen for certain of his attributes which he passed on so effectively to his daughter.
In April 2005 we mated Togra Allardi to Czechoslovakian import Don Juan Od Pulnocniho Slunce and the resultant litter of 6 girls and 1 boy were superb in all aspects and made choosing our new prospect very difficult. At last we were able to make up our minds and Togra Bright Crystal stayed with us to further enhance our breeding program.
All matings are planned far in advance, and we at Togra are proud to say that each and every mating is specifically planned for a reason, and we put in a tremendous amount of effort when looking for a suitable Sire. Although there is no perfect Boston, we can freely say that every effort is made to ensure that our dogs are physically and mentally sound.
We would like to thank our friend Karen Milham of Bo – K Bostons in the USA for her never-ending patience, for helping us to become more knowledgeable in the breed, and for allowing us never-ending access to her wealth of knowledge. Kip and Vicky Kennedy of Kennedy's Bostons in the USA have also been so generous with their time and knowledge and we have learnt so much from them too. A special thanks also to the breeders of Serene and Lucka for letting us have these superb Bostons. God Bless you.
Please think twice before breeding your Boston.
A Boston should not be bred because you as the owner, children or family members want to see/have puppies. It is unfair for your Boston, or any dog for that matter, to go through this so that humans can show their children, family, friends and themselves what it’s about.
Our Girls:
Ch
Togra
Allardi “Nemo”
SAVA certified free of Juvenile Cataracts
Nemo pictured at 2 years
S.A.L.K.A. Junior Dog Qualifier
DOB:
30/07/2003
Sire:
Ch Bonberg Whiff O’Whisky Of Henmari
Dam:
Ch Riders Red Lite Lady
Rated "Excellent" under Boston Breed Specialist, Mr Milos Caban
(Germany)
Our latest prospect "Nemo" is a definite asset to Togra Bostons. Nemo possesses a
beautifully compact body with a well angulated hind quarter.
She has a well laid-back shoulder and has excellent overall proportions.
Nemo inherited a beautiful head piece, over all very square with a beautiful broad muzzle of adequate length. Her ear set is good and she has a beautiful dark eye. We have high hopes for this little girl, and we are so fortunate to have bred such a beautiful specimen in our first litter.
"Nemo" is proving to be quite the show girl. Her wins to date:
-
Best Puppy under Dr Bernard E McGivern (USA) on 24th April 2004!
-
Best Puppy under Mr R Gregory (U.K) on 1st May 2004
-
Puppy Group Third under Mr R Gregory (U.K) on 1st May 2004
-
Best Puppy under Mrs D Powell (W.P.) on 2nd May 2004
-
Reserve Challenge Certificate under Mrs D Powell (W.P.) on 2nd May 2004
-
Puppy Group Fourth under Mrs D Powell (W.P.) on 2nd May 2004
Best Puppy under Mrs Erica Thomas-Howe (Australia) on 15th May 2004
Challenge Certificate under Mrs Erica Thomas-Howe (Australia) on 15th May 2004
Challenge Certificate under Mr Percy Green (South Africa) on 14th August 2004
Reserve Best of Breed under Mr Percy Green (South Africa) on 14th August 2004
Reserve Challenge Certificate under Mr M Adler (Argentina) on 21st August 2004
Challenge Certificate under Mrs J. Hubbard (South Africa) on 2 October 2004
Best Junior under Mrs J. Hubbard (South Africa) on 2 October 2004
Reserve Challenge Certificate under Mrs A Ingram (Ireland) on 9 October 2004
Best Junior under Mrs A Ingram (Ireland) on 9 October 2004
2nd Place in June Pretorius Memorial (all breed dogs owned and bred by a lady) under Mr Hans Muller (Switzerland) on 10 October 2004
Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed under Mr Harry O'Donohue (Ireland) on 7 August 2005
Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed under Mr Neil Kaye (South Africa) on 14 August 2005 and her KUSA CHAMPIONSHIP!!
Our thanks to all the judges who have seen the potential in this girl!
(pictured at 3 1/2 months)
DOB: 05/04/2005
Sire: Don Juan Od Pulnocniho Slunce (imp CZE)
Dam: Togra Allardi
Rated "Promising" under Boston Breed Specialist, Mr Milos Caban
(Germany)
"Paige" Togra Bright Crystal is the next chapter in our breeding program. Her father, Don Juan Od Pulnocniho Slunce was chosen for his friendly, outgoing, confident character, stunning head piece, excellent front, dark eyes, perfect ear setting, and over-all superb construction. Combined with Togra Allardi's elegance, style, movement and sound construction we hoped to produce a Boston that possessed the excellent qualities of her parents. We feel that we have done this with Togra Bright Crystal. We look forward to not only campaigning her in the show ring, but also further consolidating these points we feel are important to producing a Boston that is sound in mind, body, temperament and movement.
"Paige" has just entered the Show Ring and has started her show career in style!
-
Best Puppy under Mrs Roisin MacDougald (Ireland) on 8th October 2005!
Ch Riders Red Lite Lady “Serene”
Serene aged 4 1/2 years
DOB:
16/02/2001
Sire:
Ch Jobram Buffalo Bill of Riders
Dam:
Ch Riders Logical Song
Rated "Very Good" under Boston Breed Specialist, Mr Milos Caban
(Germany)
Serene is the foundation female at Togra. She has proved her worth with many wins of Best of Breed and Reserve Best of Breed. Winning many CC’s before the age of 9 months, she titled to champion status very quickly. Since coming back into the ring after a year's rest due to maternity duties, Serene has achieved the following:
Best Puppy, Challenge Certificate, Best of Breed - Miss G Acreman (Australia) 25 August 2001
Best Puppy, Challenge Certificate, Best of Breed - Mrs B Simpson (South Africa) 15 September 2001
Best Puppy - Mrs M Berry (South Africa) 6 October 2001
Best Puppy, Challenge Certificate, Best of Breed - Mrs L Lee (Australia) 13 October 2001
Best Puppy, Challenge Certificate, Best of Breed - Mrs J Rooyen (South Africa) 14 October 2001
Challenge Certificate, Best of Breed - Dr V Trewick (South Africa) 14 August 2002
Challenge Certificate, Reserve Best of Breed - Mrs D Cozart (USA) 24 August 2002
Challenge Certificate, Reserve Best of Breed - Mr C Weng Woh (Malasia) 12 October 2002
Reserve Challenge Certificate - Mrs L Norman (Australia) 13 October 2002
Challenge Certificate, Reserve Best of Breed, 4th Mini-Grand - Mrs B Beland (Canada) 23 March 2003
Challenge Certificate, Best of Breed - Mr G Thompson (South Africa) 18 May 2003
Challenge Certificate, Reserve Best of Breed - Mr R Ryrie (South Africa) 7 June 2003
-
Best of Breed - Mrs J Peden (South Africa) 5th June 2004
-
Best of Breed - Mr Percy Green (South Africa) 14th August 2004
Our Boys:
Bertasso
Dimple Haig of Togra "Nuki"
DOB: 20/09/2001
Sire: Ch Lucka
Dam: Bertasso Art Deco
Bertasso Dimple Haig "Nuki" is a son of our Ch Lucka. "Nuki" displays excellent balance between substance and elegance, with a well angulated powerful hind quarter. "Nuki" represents a slightly different type of Boston Terrier than currently seen in the South African show ring.
"Nuki" is offered at stud to approved bitches.
Lucka and Debbie Graham relaxing at home
DOB: 06/11/1999
Sire: Ch Haniso Monty-Thomas
Dam: Ch Haniso Team Ruby-May
Lucka was our very first Boston Terrier, and what an introduction to the breed it was!!!!
Initially we bought Lucka as a show dog, but as our involvement in dogs grew we found out that this breed had so much more potential then just being a “pretty” breed.
Lucka was the jack of all trades, you name it, and he did it. We trained him for protection work, we trained him to do tracking, agility, he came hunting with us, but most of all he was our very best friend in hard times.
Lucka took his time in becoming a Champion, but being a slow maturing dog he finished with great style. He produced a few really nice litters, some of whom have been exported to Germany. He currently has a few offspring making their contribution to the breed in South Africa by passing on Lucka's beautiful head, dark eyes and beautiful ear placement to their progeny. Being a lightweight he went largely unnoticed in the breed ring at first against the heavyweight boys, but he very slowly notched up his points and finally finished in Grand Style taking his last two CC`s as well as Best of Breed in the last two shows he competed in.
His style and elegance were very difficult not to notice, as was his very exceptional head piece that took time to develop.
In Memoriam
Cowboy aged 7 months
DOB: 28/04/2001
Sire: Ch Lucka
Dam: Bonberg Venus of Bertasso
Cowboy was sired by our Ch Lucka. He possessed an exquisite, correct, square head, with dark round eyes and correct ear size and placement. Even though Cowboy was fairly substantial in build, he was still a superbly elegant male. He was going to play an important part in the future plans of Togra Bostons, but was sadly taken from us last year. We miss his lively, playful character and his intelligence. He was THE TRUE GENTLEMAN.
The Boston Terrier originated in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1865 pit fighting between dogs was still a popular form of entertainment. It is very difficult to believe that these “American Gentlemen” were once used for pit-fighters. The Boston Terrier history started when Robert C Hooper, of Boston Massachusetts bought a dog from Mr. William O’Brien that was a cross between a English Bulldog, and a white English Terrier. He was a strongly built, high stationed dog of about 32 pounds (14.5kg). He was dark in colour, brindle, with a white stripe in the face. His head was square and blocky, and he resembled the present Boston Terrier in that he had a nearly even mouth. Robert C Hooper used a female called Gyp (Kate) owned by Edward Burnett of Southboro, Massachusetts. Gyp was a white bitch. She was 20 pounds (9 Kg) had a fine three-quarter tail, and was quite low stationed. She was of stocky build, showing considerable strength in her make-up. Her head was good, being short and blocky. This breeding produced Wells’Eph a low stationed, evenly marked, dark brindle.
Wells’ Eph was then bred to Tobin’s Kate. The bitch was small of size, she was smaller headed, golden brindle, had a straight three-quarter tail and weighed 20 pounds (9 kg). They produced Bernard’s Tom, whelped in 1877.
As time passed these dogs were referred to as stableman's or the barber's dog where the very wealthy got together at Breed’s Hill of Boston to gossip etc. at a local tavern. These employees used or borrowed their rich employer's purebred dogs, bred them to other dogs, and arranged to find new homes for the puppies. Most of these offspring would end up in the fighting pits, to demonstrate their courage or to fight other dogs, rats, bulls, etc. These people didn’t know genetics, but they did know by doing this and using the dogs, certain traits could be passed from one generation to another. Despite these dogs fighting in pits they were also devoted to their master and were family dogs.
In 1891 breeders came together and applied to the American Kennel Club to register their distinct breed, known as Round Heads. They bred and exhibited their breed under the name of 'Round Heads'. The chosen name for the upcoming new breed was a big problem. But breeders would not give up all their hard work during the past years. In 1891 the Boston Terrier Club of America was organized and the name of the breed changed from 'Round Heads' to 'Boston Terrier'.
In 1893 and after two years of trying to get the breed recognized, The American Kennel Club admitted the breed to recognition for registration in the Stud Book and also as a Club of the American Kennel Club.
There was a lot of hard work ahead for the breeders to standardize the breed so that the breed can be bred to a more even lot. The French bulldog was of great help in establishing the desired type.
In 1920 breeders started to pay more attention to the body proportions and markings on the body, because if we have to go back to the 1900’s you will probably find Boston Terriers weighing at 30 pounds (14 kg). During that time pit fighting was still legal in most states. The breeders then decided to start breeding a companion dog that is notable to his master and family. If we have to go back to 1950 you will see that the Boston Terrier is much like the dog we know today. The Boston Terrier was considerably inbred to be the companion that he is today.
There are very few dogs that have the character and temperament of the Boston Terrier.
The Boston Terrier is a gentle companion and family dog.
References:
Designer Bostons - Deide Carpenter
The Official Book of the Boston Terrier – Murial P LeeThe Boston Terrier - An All American Breed - Lee Weston