It’s impossible not to like a Boston Terrier puppy. They’re cute little companions with tons of energy and personality.
They’re also easy to keep. If you want a low-maintenance dog who loves to play, consider a Boston Terrier puppy for your household. With the right breeding, training and socialization, they’re perfect in any home.
Jump to: Breed History, Appearance, Temperament, or Training a Boston Terrier puppy
Breed History – Boston Terrier
In the late 19th Century, American breeders combined the Bulldog with the White English Terrier to produce the first Boston Terrier puppy. The Boston Terrier breed was further refined with cross-breeding against French Bulldogs and other Terrier breeds.
As you can guess with the bulldogs and terriers, the Boston Terrier was made for fighting, but not long after they were adapted as family companion dogs, and popular ones at that.
Appearance – Boston Terrier Puppy
The result is a tough little creature who’s loving and loyal, smart and athletic. The square-shaped, oversize head is the most noticeable feature, with those big ears.
Boston Terriers look like no other dog. They’ve got the Bulldog’s face and shape, with the Terrier’s size and a combination of both personalities.
The Boston Terrier coat comes with patchy white markings mixed with various dark shades. The coat is short and doesn’t shed too much, and if you keep up with regular brushing, you’ll barely notice the shedding at all.
An adult Boston Terrier will be about 15 to 17 inches in height, measured at the shoulder. The weights are separated into three groups, ranging overall from 15 to 24 pounds.
Social Temperament – Boston Terrier Puppy
This “American Gentleman’s Dog” is affectionate and cheerful, albeit with a strong sense of humor and a craving for mischief. A Boston Terrier puppy is definitely a clown.
The Boston Terrier puppy will want to be involved with the rest of the family in all things, and will bond significantly with every member of the family.
A Boston Terrier puppy will automatically assign himself to guard dog duties, owing to all sides of its mixed heritage. Unlike some breeds, they rarely become nuisance barkers – if they’re mouthing off, there’s usually a reason. They aren’t aggressive without cause and will socialize fine with other dogs.
As goofy and playful as they are, you’ll find your Boston Terrier puppy is naturally suited for games, including fetch. They’re quite able and willing to learn to play dog sports such as flyball, or to learn cool dog tricks.
Always remember when buying any dog, especially a popular breed such as a Boston Terrier puppy, beware. There are “puppy mills” out there breeding any two dogs regardless of health, throwing the pups in a box, and ignoring their needs. Look into the local breeder market before you buy.
Training a Boston Terrier Puppy
Between their intelligence and their loyalty, you’ll find a Boston Terrier puppy is a joy to train.
The effort your Boston Terrier puppy spends in your training sessions will help fill a definite need for exercise and mental stimulation. A trained Boston Terrier puppy will gain confidence quickly, because they’re quick to learn. Meanwhile, of course, the time spent training, is time spent bonding.
Never scold or punish your Boston Terrier puppy, except by briefly ending social interaction with him when he does the wrong thing. That’s adequate punishment for most training mistakes. Positive feedback leaves a strong impression on a Boston Terrier puppy, and they’ll remember how they earned it.
Some other notes about training a Boston Terrier puppy:
- Obedience training with Boston Terriers is easy. They’ll learn fast, and they’ll enjoy it.
- On the other hand, house training is not as quick or easy with Boston Terrier pups as it is with some other breeds.The book “Secrets to Dog Training” can expand on my own house training instructions, and clicker training absolutely fascinates them.
- Home training can become too easy for a Boston Terrier pup, boring them. Feel free to challenge them.
- The main problem behavior known to arise in Boston Terriers is digging where they shouldn’t. This is mainly the result of boredom, pent-up energy, and separation anxiety. I’ve written a page with many ways to stop or redirect digging problems.
- Make sure to start early with leash training so that they don’t use their adult strength to hurt themselves by pulling.
In short, training a Boston Terrier puppy at home is a no-fuss, no-muss affair. Enjoy it, and your dog will too. For the very best results, read over my advice about obedience training, puppy socialization, and potty training your dog, and then consider a life-long asset like “Secrets to Dog Training,” the system that has served me well for years.
Return to my dog training homepage, or read about other popular dog breeds.