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Boston Terrier Temperament | Quick Guide On Behavior

So you’re thinking about getting a Boston Terrier, or simply just want to know more about the breed? I know when I was looking for Boston Terriers I had a lot of questions regarding this amazing breed of dog.

Below I’m going to answer the common questions people ask before getting a Bostie, such as, how is their temperament, are they smart? Are they good with other animals and kids? And how much do they bark?

Overall, Boston Terriers are great dogs with a great temperament compared to other pets. They are lovable, eager to please, gentle, smart and if you have a family Boston Terriers will be the perfect addition. Below I will be going into more detail about some of the common questions people ask about this gentleman of dog breeds.

black and white bostie

Are Boston Terriers Smart?

If getting a smart dog is one of your top concerns, then with Boston Terriers you are in luck, because yes, Boston Terriers are generally very intelligent dogs. On a rating of 1/10, I would give their intelligence an 8/10.

This does not mean however that every Boston Terrier will just be the smartest dog ever but with consistent early training these dogs will be able to do more than just sit and shake. You will find they are very eager to please their owners in return making them easy to train.

Just How Smart Are They?

As mentioned above, I would give Boston Terriers an 8/10 in overall smartness. Boston Terriers are always attentive to their owners’ needs, they seem to always be paying attention to see how they can please their owner. Doing so, they are willing to try to learn almost anything.

Most Boston Terriers I have seen or owned myself are able to quickly pick up simple commands such as sit, shake, and fetching. With more advanced training I do not see why they can’t easily do more due to their drive to please their owners.

Do Boston Terriers Bark A Lot?

Yes, Boston Terriers like most smaller breeds will usually bark quite a bit especially when startled and playing. Boston Terriers are very engaging with their owners and will use barking as a form of communication.

However the older the Dog gets the more likely it will begin to bark less and less. If you believe your dog has a barking problem there are methods to train your Boston Terrier not to bark.

Quick Tips To Help Excessive Barking

  • Try removing stimulates around your dog to see what could be causing your dog to bark so much.
  • Be patient with your dog and do some Positive Reinforcement Training, dogs respond well to this type of training. Simply make your dog stop barking by saying “stop”. Once they stop reinforce them positively with a treat. After some time they will correlate “stop” with not barking and getting a treat.
  • If the above doesn’t help you can try some dog calming remedies that you can buy online. These are very safe and use natural ingredients to help calm your dog.
  • The last and least recommended way is a Bark Collar, these are extremely effective but will cause some pain to your pet when they bark.

Are Boston Terriers Good Dogs?

Yes, Boston Terriers are good overall dogs whether you have a big family or by yourself. Boston Terriers are fun, energetic, sweet and smart. They are non-aggressive and overall well behaved. Boston Terriers have a great overall temperament and personality. I have always enjoyed having a Boston Terrier as a pet due to the fact they have a very active personality.

Brief History of the Boston Terrier

In 1965, Robert C Hooper decided to breed an English Bulldog and White English Terrier. This offspring was known as “Hoopers Judge“. Later down the road this dog bread with a French Bulldog and produced what is known as today’s “Boston Terrier”. It was immediately known for its smart and calm temperament which along with the tuxedo looking look gave it the nickname “American Gentleman”.

Fast forward to today Boston Terriers are ranked 21st in popularity according to the American Kennel Club, this is mostly due to their family-friendly demeanor and great intelligence. Boston Terriers have a great reputation for being excellent dogs for almost anyone. Now every dog has their own personality and some are better than others.

 

Are Boston Terriers Good With Kids?

Yes, Boston Terriers are good with kids and make good family dogs. They love to play and have lots of energy. Boston Terriers make great dogs that love to play fetch, go for walks, cuddle with kids, and can also be protective over their kids. Now just like any dog the earlier you introduce them to small kids the more kid-friendly they will be.

Overall Boston Terriers are not an aggressive breed and for the most part, unless they have a bad history of abuse or some other special situation they will not bite or attack a child. I have never heard or seen a Boston Terrier behave in this manner.

As for me and my family, I can tell you that our Boston Terrier is great with my kids and they love him in return. I have seen them pull on him and be a little rough but he always just takes it or if he is annoyed enough he will leave and go somewhere else.

Remember that Boston Terriers can be a little hyper when they are young, especially males, so if you have small ones at the home just pay attention. Sometimes they can accidentally scratch or play too hard with small kids.

Are Boston Terriers Good With Cats?

Yes, but this really depends on several factors such as cats history with other dogs and the dog’s history with other cats. The earlier you introduce your Boston Terrier as a puppy to your cat the better chance they will get along.

Most of the time after a while, both pets will leave each other alone, but due to Boston Terriers playful and energetic nature, they may unintentionally upset the cat causing the cat to become aggressive and attack. This is the case I see most when introducing dogs with cats.

Here are some quick tips when introducing your Boston Terrier with a Cat

  1. Place the cat in a cage with the dog on the opposite side of the room.
  2. Then once the initial meeting calms down, let your dog go to the cage and sniff the cat.
  3. After that put your dog in a cage and let the cat check out the dog.
  4. Put Dog on a leash and let the cat free.
  5. Slowly let the dog get closer to the cat.
  6. Once you feel like nothing bad will happen let both loose in a small room while you are between them.

Are Boston Terriers Hyper?

Yes, Boston Terriers are generally hyper dogs especially when they are young. As mentioned above male Boston Terriers tend to have more energy than females. Part of this is the fact that they are very social and love to play.

They tend to slow down the older they get and begin to lay around more. Just remember Boston Terriers just like other dogs will require plenty of walks or a backyard to burn off the extra energy. This breed will tend to go through spurts of being hyper throughout the day but will settle down in the evening.

credit to dogmal.com

Quick Tips To Help With A Hyper Dog

    • Try taking frequent walks, not only will this help burn some energy, your dog will have to enjoy it as well.
    • Dog Parks – This can be a good opportunity for both you and your dog to socialize and will let your pup run and play with other dogs.
    • Another option if your pet still has way too much energy is to try some relaxation remedies available here. These are natural and will help over-hyper dogs.
    • Getting another dog can help Boston Terriers burn off some energy because they will play with each other.

Are Boston Terriers Good With Other Dogs?

Boston Terriers are good with other dogs, for the most part, this can be a hard question to answer as this can really depend on the dog itself. In general, Boston Terriers are not aggressive breeds so they will have an easy time getting along with other breeds. The best thing to do is to get them around other dogs as soon as possible. This will help establish a way to behave when encountering other pets.

Boston Terriers love to play and can make good companions to other dogs who are non-aggressive breeds as well. We had a Boston Terrier and Basset Hound who loved to play with each other all the time. Even when the Boston Terrier was older she still would run around, play, and get along with other dogs.

To sum it up, almost all Boston Terriers are great with other dogs, unless there is a negative history. It really depends on the other breed involved to determine whether or not they will get along.

Here are some quick tips when introducing your Boston Terrier To Another Dog

  1. Place the new dog in a cage with your Boston Terrier on the opposite side of the room.
  2. Then once the initial meeting calms down, let your dog go to the cage and sniff the new dog.
  3. After that put your dog in a cage and let the other dog check out yours.
  4. Put your Dog on a leash and let the other dog free.
  5. Slowly let your dog get closer to the other dog and allow them to sniff each other slowly but only for a minute.
  6. Repeat the process several times until there is no aggressive behavior being shown by either dog.
  7. Once you feel like nothing bad will happen let both loose in a small room while you are between them.

Final Words

As you can tell, Boston Terriers have great temperaments and will make a good pet for you and your family. I personally own a Boston Terrier and don’t regret it at all. He is fun, smart, playful, and very friendly.

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