Boston Terrier

A Boston Terrier should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially made or home-prepared under your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Match the diet to the dog's life stage: puppy, adult, or senior. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

These dogs have a high metabolism. Full-grown Bostons are usually fed two or three meals a day, while puppies may need smaller, more frequent meals to keep blood sugar steady. If your pup eats too quickly, a slow-feeder bowl can help pace mealtimes.

How much to feed depends on the food's type and brand, plus your dog's weight, age, health, and lifestyle. Ask your veterinarian for the right amount and check the food label, which gives recommendations based on these factors.

Some Bostons are prone to becoming overweight, and too many treats on top of regular meals can add up, so monitor how much your dog eats and reduce portions if your pup gains weight. Keeping a Boston at a healthy body condition matters, since extra weight can worsen their breathing. Work closely with your vet to hold a healthy weight and adjust the diet.

Dogs on an approved complete diet get all the nutrients they need and won't require anything extra. If your Boston develops a luxating patella or another health issue, your veterinarian may recommend a supplement.

The Boston's sleek, fine, smooth coat sheds somewhat, though not heavily. Brushing at least once a week with a soft-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt or tool, or a hound glove removes loose hair and reduces the fur that ends up on your floor. A good brushing also distributes skin oils through the coat to keep it healthy.

Bostons need baths only occasionally, unless they get into something messy. They typically need no specific skincare, so ask your veterinarian how often to bathe your dog and contact them if you notice any changes in the skin.

Trim the nails regularly, since overly long nails can cause pain along with trouble walking and running. Ask your vet how often to clean your dog's ears.

Watch for cloudiness in the eyes. Because dogs with bulging eyes, like Bostons, can develop dry eye, a lubricating eye gel or eye drops can help keep the eyes moist.

That short coat also means Bostons can get cold easily, so they may benefit from a sweater or jacket in cold weather.

A Boston's need for exercise varies from dog to dog. For some, a brisk walk once or twice a day is enough. Others need more time to run, play, and let off steam. Simply letting a Boston into the backyard doesn't count; it'll probably just sit at the door waiting to come back in, and throwing a ball or toy will do far more.

Active and playful to the point of rambunctious, Bostons enjoy activities that test their agility, tracking, and obedience, such as flyball and rally. These dog sports are an enjoyable way to channel the breed's energy. Bostons often do best with several short bursts of activity through the day rather than one long morning walk.

Make sure your pup also gets enough mental work. Without enough exercise, attention, and mental stimulation, Bostons can resort to behaviors like excessive barking and chewing to entertain themselves, and a Boston left alone for long stretches tends to get frustrated.

These are lively dogs that need some space to play. They do well in apartments and other small homes thanks to their size, but they still need regular exercise out of the house. Because of their breathing, manage activity carefully in hot, humid weather, keeping play to cooler mornings and evenings in summer.

Gently exposing the puppy to a wide variety of people, places, and situations from an early age helps it grow into a confident, well-mannered adult. Ask the breeder how they approached socialization in your puppy's early weeks, and get further advice from your veterinarian.

The Boston Terrier is intelligent and relatively easy to train. They love to learn, respond well to vocal instructions, and respond quickly to positive reinforcement, though they may have a mind of their own during sessions. Stay patient and positive, and make training into a game to keep them engaged. Treats make a great incentive, and since many Bostons are quite sensitive, follow gentle corrections with warmth and praise.

Bred as companion dogs, the typical Boston has a happy-go-lucky temperament and usually does well in multi-pet households with proper training, socialization, and introductions. They usually do well with children too, with supervision, since this playful breed can be accidentally injured during rough play.

When leash training, a well-fitted harness is a better option than a collar, since it reduces pressure on the trachea, or windpipe, and can help limit a Boston puppy's potential breathing issues.