Irish Bostetter

The name Irish Bostetter is a combination of the names of its two parent breeds: the Boston Terrier and Irish Setter. The Boston Terrier originated in Boston, Massachusetts. His owner, Robert C. Hooper, bred his English Terrier with a Bulldog, and the result was the Boston Terrier we know today. The most famous of the breed was Stubby, a canine hero of World War I. In fact, Stubby's 18 months in the trenches earned him meetings with presidents, including Calvin Coolidge. The Irish Bostetter’s other parent the Irish Setter, is from Ireland and was originally a mix of Pointers, Spaniels, Bloodhounds, and other Setter varieties. They were bred for tracking and retrieving game birds. The Irish Setter began as a shorter, dual-colored dog, but eventually was bred as a solid white or red color in the 19th century. The red version became the most popular, inspiring the Irish Earl of Enniskillen to declare in 1812 he would only keep red Irish Setters in his renowned kennels. The red color consequently became the standard in North America. The AKC officially recognized the Irish Setter in 1878 and it has been one of the most beloved breeds in the United States since the 1970s. The hybrid of the Boston Terrier and Irish Setter may have existed for decades given both parent breeds long history in the United States. However, Irish Bostetters have only recently become recognized as a designer hybrid.