Having papers does not necessarily guantee it's a pure bred. I believe you were given AKC papers right, U2gardner? There can be big differences in sizes between bostons, but they are still bostons, my Rocco is a larger one at 27 pounds. I organize a BT meetup and we have some BT's that weigh 30 lbs, and beleive me they are all boston as well. Sure Rocco may not be show dog material for being 2 lbs bigger than the standard allows, but he is all boston. I got a boston for companionship, not to be show dog. I think unfortunately there are unethical breeders out there that are in it to make lots of money and not to better the breed. As the saying goes, buyer beware.