Most dogs have to be put in a holiday outfit. A Boston Terrier arrives already dressed. The black coat with the white chest, white muzzle and neat white blaze looks so much like evening wear that the breed has been called the American Gentleman for generations. So when the house fills up for a holiday party, the Boston does not see guests. It sees its guests.
That is the easiest way to shop for a Boston person: picture their dog at the party, from the doorbell to the last goodbye. Below are 11 original Boston Terrier tees, one for each hour of a Boston's holiday evening, plus winter and comfort gifts that suit a small, short-nosed dog, and a short history worth writing in the card.
Made in Boston: a Short History for the Card
The Boston Terrier is one of the few breeds named after an American city, and one of the first breeds developed in the United States. Its story usually starts with a dog called Judge, a bull-and-terrier type imported from England and bought around 1870 by Robert C. Hooper of Boston. Judge, known as Hooper's Judge, is counted as the ancestor of almost all true Boston Terriers. Local breeders spent the following decades making the dog smaller and friendlier, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1893.
Massachusetts named the Boston Terrier its official state dog in 1979, and Boston University adopted the breed as its mascot back in the 1920s. The American Gentleman nickname comes from two things owners will recognize: the tuxedo markings, and a friendly, polite way with people that falls apart the second the doorbell rings.
A Boston's Holiday Party, Hour by Hour: 11 Tees
1. 5:00 pm, getting dressed: Low Center, High Style
A proud Boston Terrier stands square beneath tall, three-dimensional letters that read "LOW CENTER, HIGH STYLE," in warm vintage poster colors. While the humans are still hunting for a clean shirt, the Boston is ready: compact, sturdy, low to the ground and already in black tie. A good first gift for the owner who thinks their dog is the best-dressed member of the family, and is right.
See the Low Center, High Style tee
2. 5:30 pm, the bow tie goes on: Noise with Manners
A Boston Terrier in a bow tie raises a cocktail glass above swirling mid-century lounge lettering that reads "Noise with Manners." It is the breed in two words: a perfect little gentleman who is also, somehow, the loudest guest in the room. For the friend who hosts the party every year, and anyone who loves a retro cocktail-hour look.
See the Noise with Manners tee
3. 6:00 pm, the doorbell: Polite Panic
A Boston Terrier silhouette leaps between the huge words "POLITE" and "PANIC," with sharp bursts of color flying off it. This is the first guest arriving: the dog knows the rules about sitting nicely at the door and follows them for almost a full second. Every Boston owner has apologized for this exact moment. A funny pick for the owner who greets visitors with "sorry, he is friendly."
4. 6:15 pm, the entrance: Make Room
A Boston Terrier steps straight out of the giant words "MAKE ROOM," its paws breaking through the letters. Bostons usually weigh somewhere between 12 and 25 pounds, but you would never guess it from the way one walks into a crowded living room. For the owner of a small dog with a large presence.
5. 6:30 pm, holding court: Hold the Floor
A Boston Terrier stands proudly on top of the words "HOLD THE FLOOR," the letters tilted like a stage under its feet, with orange starbursts around it. By half past six, the Boston has picked its spot in the middle of the room and is working the crowd one pair of knees at a time. For the social butterfly, the storyteller, and the dog owner who never runs out of dog stories.
6. 7:00 pm, dinner is served: Sing for Your Supper
A bow-tied Boston Terrier tips its head back and sings, with musical notes swirling around the words "Sing for Your Supper." Boston owners know the soundtrack well, the grunts, snorts and little talking noises, and dinner is when the full concert begins. For the holiday cook who already knows the dog will be under the table.
See the Sing for Your Supper tee
7. 8:00 pm, the family photo: Quiet Confidence
A seated black-and-white Boston Terrier looks off to the side, alert ears up, in front of two tilted coral and green squares that frame it like a photo crop. No words, no joke, just the breed's classic markings in a clean mid-century print. This is the one for the family photo moment, and the quiet favorite for a Boston person who prefers style over slogans.
8. 8:30 pm, party games: Make It a Game
A wide-eyed Boston Terrier sits in front of chunky red puzzle-like shapes under the arched words "MAKE IT A GAME." Once the board games come out, so does the Boston, who has decided the dice, the cards and the wrapping-paper balls are all for it. A playful tee for the game-night host and the family that cannot finish a round of anything without a dog interruption.
9. 9:30 pm, the music gets louder: After Hours
An orange Boston Terrier sits on a spinning vinyl record under the curved words "AFTER HOURS," with teal accents and starbursts like an old record sleeve. Late in the evening, when someone puts the holiday records on, the Boston is still awake and still at the center of it. For the vinyl collector, the music lover and the friend who is always the last one dancing.
10. 10:30 pm, the guests leave: Stay with Me
A black-and-white Boston Terrier sits with one paw resting on a departing person's leg and looks up, pleading. There are no words on the print, and none are needed: every Boston owner has watched their dog try to stop the last guest from leaving. A sweet, simple gift for the owner whose dog takes every goodbye personally.
11. Midnight, dreaming of Christmas: Sleep Less, Dream More
A Boston Terrier climbs a tall stack of feather pillows lettered "SLEEP LESS, DREAM MORE," while a bearded old man in red snoozes at the bottom, in the style of an old storybook. It is the perfect end to the night: the party is over, everyone is asleep, and the Boston is the last one still up, probably snoring by the time you turn off the tree lights. If you only buy one Boston tee for Christmas, make it this one.
See the Sleep Less, Dream More tee
Gifts for a Short-Nosed Dog in Winter
Boston Terriers are a brachycephalic breed, with a short muzzle and a fine, short coat. That shapes what they actually need in December:
- A warm coat or sweater. A thin coat and a small body lose heat fast on winter walks. Look for one that covers the chest and is easy to put on over the ears.
- A harness instead of a collar. Many owners of short-nosed breeds walk them on a harness so there is no pressure on the throat.
- A cozy covered or bolster bed. Bostons love to burrow and lean, and a bed with sides or a blanket to tunnel under is usually a hit.
- A puzzle toy or snuffle mat. Bright, busy little dogs need a job on days when the walks are short and the house is full.
Holiday Notes for a Boston Terrier Home
- Party pace: short-nosed dogs can overheat and get out of breath, even indoors in a warm, crowded room. Give the dog a quiet, cool spot with water when the evening gets busy.
- Holiday travel: many airlines restrict short-nosed breeds from flying in the cargo hold. If the dog is coming along for the holidays, check the airline's pet policy early.
- The table: keep chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and anything with xylitol out of reach, since all are toxic to dogs.
Washed Tee or Soft Tee, and Getting It There by Christmas
- Fabric and fit: the Washed Tee ($35) is 100% cotton, 250 gsm, relaxed straight unisex cut, true to size, S to 5XL, three colors per design. The Soft Tee ($32) is a lighter 155 gsm, regular fit, S to 3XL. Tees are printed to order, so we cannot take returns for a wrong size; compare with the size guide before ordering.
- Delivery: printed and shipped in the USA, about 5 to 7 business days in the US including printing. Order by early December to be safe, since carriers get busy after Black Friday on November 27. See the shipping page.
- Multi-tee offer: 2 or more tees ship free in the US, and 3 or more get 15% off automatically.
Want more? Browse funny Boston Terrier shirts for the zoomies and the snoring, or see every design in the full Boston Terrier collection. Shopping for another flat-faced charmer? Try the French Bulldog Christmas gifts guide, or the Black Friday gifts for dog lovers guide to shop early.
More for Boston Terrier people: Boston Terrier mom shirts, 17 designs for the woman whose tuxedo dog is the whole point, and Boston Terrier dad shirts, 17 designs for the man who runs with a little gentleman.
Shopping for her any time of year? Boston Terrier gifts for her grades a Boston subject by subject, from public speaking to conduct, with 11 more tees.
FAQ
What is a good Christmas gift for a Boston Terrier owner?
Something warm and something funny: a sweater or coat for the dog, a harness, a cozy bed to burrow in, a puzzle toy, or an original Boston Terrier shirt about the tuxedo, the doorbell chaos and the dog that never wants guests to leave.
Why is the Boston Terrier called the American Gentleman?
The nickname comes from the breed's tuxedo-like black and white markings and its friendly, polite manner with people. It was developed in Boston in the late 1800s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1893.
Do Boston Terriers get cold in winter?
Many do. They are small dogs with a fine, short coat, so a lot of owners use a sweater or coat on winter walks and keep a warm bed away from drafts.
Is there a deal on more than one tee?
Yes. 2 or more tees ship free in the US, and 3 or more tees get 15% off automatically at checkout.