That cute spot, right in the middle of your pied Frenchie’s forehead? It actually has a name. It’s called the “Haggerty Spot” or “Angel’s Kiss” depending who you talk to. Every single Pied we’ve ever had, or bred, has has this spot in some variation. In fact, this spot is one reason we ended up with our first Frenchie, Lucy. (More on that later.)
A happy Lucy.
The spot gets its name, not from the Frenchie world, but by way of a Boston Terrier breeder from the early 1900s.
According to the Boston Terrier Club of America:
One of the old founding lines of Bostons way back in the early 1900’s was owned by the Haggertys. Many of their Bostons were born with the dot on the top of their heads, and the marking became associated with the line. Hence, when you see it, it is ofter referred to as a “Haggerty dot,” “spot,” or a “Haggerty star.” Most lines can be traced to Haggerty stock ‘way back, and the dot pops out once in awhile in just about any of the present kennels. Vincent Perry, a very honoured international all-breed judge, and highly respected Boston breeder who wrote “The Boston Terrier,” a book that went to at least 5 editions, called it “the kiss of God” and considered it the icing on the cake as far as perfect markings were considered.
Other references to the phrase claims the spot brings good luck and is considered the finishing touch for a Boston Terrier.
Boston Terriers are a breed unique to the United States. They were developed in the Boston area, mainly by the coachmen, stablehands, and employees of the affluent society crowd. These breeders started with a mix of English Bulldog and white English Terrier (a breed which doesn’t exist today), and they would “borrow” purebred dogs from their employers to add to the developing line. It has been heavily insinuated that a French Bulldog or two (or three or four or more!) may have contributed to the developing Boston Terrier breed. Both these breeds were in the midst of their initial development in the late 1800s and it would not be surprising if this did happened. As most Frenchie or Boston Terrier owners know, their dogs are often mistaken for the other breed. For those not familiar with both breeds, the easiest way to tell the difference is by the ears. Bostons have pointed, or prick, ears. Frenchies have those famous rounded, bat-ears.
Cocoa, Lucy’s daughter, displays her inherited “Angel’s Kiss”
So how did the spot bring us our Lucy? First, we had a Boston Terrier with a prominent Haggerty Spot. We planned to eventually add a Frenchie, and after he’d been with us awhile, we started our search for a French Bulldog, both for him and ourselves.
While talking to one Frenchie breeder on the phone, she began describing the girl she had available. As soon as the breeder said her girl had a spot in the middle of her forehead, we knew we had to check her out. We, and our Boston, hopped into the car early on a Saturday morning and drove four hours to see if this girl was for us. Naturally, it was love at first sight and Lucy was a passenger for the four-hour trip home.
Sadly, Lucy is no longer with us, she passed last year, but it’ll be interesting to see if her “Lucky Spot” legacy continues past her pied kids and into any future pied grandkids or great-grandkids. It would be just like her to gently remind us – I’m still with you. If the spot does continue to appear, perhaps we’ll start calling it our “Forget-me-not Lucy Spot.”
