Friendly, good-natured temperament. Good with kids and other pets. Not many grooming needs Playful and lively, but not hyperactive. Small but resilient.
Can have behavior problems if not trained well. Sometimes tricky to housetrain. Can drool frequently or suffer from bad gas (seriously). Can tend to make lots of noise (not just barks, but also wheezing, snorting, huffing, sniffling, and snoring). Can be vulnerable to certain health problems (see section below).
A place to live where they can spend much of their time indoors (they do not tolerate heat or cold well). A place to live where they won’t be constantly left alone (they suffer from separation anxiety easily) A trainer who’s willing to be patient, gentle, and light on punishment (Bostons can be a sensitive breed). Frequent checkups with a vet. An owner who’s willing to take special efforts at home to protect the dog from likely health issues.
The exact amount of food your dog will need depends on how big it is and its activity level. Bigger, active dogs may require the full 1 1/2 cups, but you don’t have to give this much for smaller, less active dogs. Resist the urge to feed the dog outside of its main meals. Boston Terriers are vulnerable to both obesity and flatulence, which extra meals and decadent treats can make worse.
Note that excessive exercise is something you’ll want to avoid, as this can put stress on Bostons’ weak hearts. During heavy exercise, watch for signs of fatigue, like gasping, coughing, bluish gums, and an obvious desire to stop moving. These are all signs that the dog should be moved indoors and given a chance to rest.
Coat: You only need to do this if and when the coat looks dirty or shaggy. Brush gently in the direction of the hair with a natural fiber brush or a hound glove. Bathing: Bathe the dog only when needed — for instance, if it’s been playing in some mud or you notice that it smells bad. Washing too frequently can strip the natural oils from the coat. Use a mild soap made for smooth-coated dogs. Nails: Either have a professional groomer handle this or use a rotary sander on very low speed to tap gently at the tips of the nails. Nail clippers can hurt the dog if you clip too close to the base. Teeth: This is the only grooming task you’ll need to do frequently, as Boston Terriers are vulnerable to dental problems. Two to three times a week, use a baby toothbrush or a washcloth wrapped around your finger to apply special dog toothpaste to both sides of the teeth.
Play with your terrier. Bostons love games like fetch, tug of war, chase, and play-wrestling. Remember, however, that this breed is small and light — play gently. Be aware that gentle nipping during physical games is normal. Cuddle with your dog. Boston Terriers are very affectionate and love close contact. Beware of this breed’s tendency for drooling and flatulence. Don’t cuddle with your dog places where it’s not normally allowed to go (e. g. , if your dog isn’t allowed in bed, don’t cuddle with it there). Pet your dog. Boston Terriers respond best to positive reinforcement, so you may want to use this form of affection as a reward when training it.
Instead, use positive reinforcement, which Bostons respond very well to. When your dog gives you the behavior that you want, reward it with affection, play, or a small treat. Withhold your affection for bad behavior, rather than responding with anger.
Try not to leave your dog unsupervised indoors before it’s house trained. If you have to leave, use a crate or kennel. Dogs almost never soil the place that they sleep. Let your dog out frequently. Ideally, you’ll want to give it a chance to use the bathroom after it wakes up, before it goes to bed, after meals, and before and after you put it in a crate. Praise or reward your dog every time it goes to the bathroom outdoors. As noted above, Bostons respond well to positive reinforcement. If you catch your dog in the act, use a stern “NO” to get it to stop. Don’t scold or hit it. This can confuse the dog, making it more difficult to housetrain.
The general principle is that you’ll want to introduce your dog to new people, animals, objects, and places gradually and one at a time. Make your dog feel safe by staying near it and offering plenty of affection when it reacts well. Things to socialize your dog to include: children, other dogs, new places, cars, loud sounds, people who use a cane or wheelchair, odd objects like umbrellas, and so on.
Prevents unwanted puppies. Results in a less-aggressive temperament. Prevents undesirable sex behaviors like humping, urine marking, and female “heat” behaviors. Prevents many types of cancer.
Birth to one year: About every three to four weeks. Your dog will get many important vaccines during this period. One to seven years: About once per year. Your dog will get tests for common problems like heartworm and other parasites as well as a few more vaccines. After seven years: About twice per year. As dogs get older, they become more vulnerable to health problems, so treatments can become more frequent if the vet notices something wrong. You’ll also want to take your dog in whenever you think it may be sick or you notice a significant change in its behavior.
Gasping or wheezing for air A reluctance to move or exercise Bluish gums Fainting
A professional cleaner will thoroughly clean your dog’s mouth to remove tartar and bacteria buildup. Even the area under the gum line will be cleaned. This usually requires general anesthesia — in other words, your dog will be temporarily knocked out. Believe it or not, this is actually a very important part of a dog’s health. Left untreated, dental disease can cause the dog to lose teeth, put extra stress on its kidneys, and even shorten its lifespan. [12] X Research source
One easy way to cut down on eye injuries is to keep your Boston Terrier from riding in the car with its head out the window. This is a frequent source of eye injury — it’s easy for things to unexpectedly get blown into the dog’s face.
Patches on the skin where the dog seems to be balding Red, irritated patches Foul-smelling patches Frequent itching or scratching
