5 Ways To Take Care Of Your New Boston Terrier Puppies
If you're reading this, then there's a high chance that you just welcomed Boston Terrier puppies into your family. If that's the case, then congratulations! You definitely won't regret having these little angels. The Boston Terrier is widely known as the "American Gentleman" for donning black and white markings that look like a tux on them! Not only that, but they're also incredibly gentle, amiable, but also highly sociable, making them a true Gentleman but also a child at heart.
They may be great for your family, but taking care of a new Boston Terrier puppy is no easy feat! There are lots of factors you have to consider first and other details you should remember. With that said, we're gonna give you a detailed yet digestible guide so that you can fulfill your dog parent duties very well even if it's your first time!
5 Ways To Take Care Of Your New Boston Terrier Puppies
If you have acquired your Boston Terrier from a credible breeder, then you might probably know their existing conditions and temperament. Or maybe, you did your research beforehand! Whatever the case is, the number one rule to know before welcoming a Boston Terrier puppy in your life is to familiarize yourself with the facts.
Boston Terrier Temperament
By nature, Boston Terriers are lively and extremely friendly with other pets, children, and even strangers sometimes if they have undergone the right socialization process. They are quite full of antics and very expressive as well, especially with their huge doll-like eyes! So don't be surprised if they will often stare at you for almost an hour, they might just be sending telepathic signs for you to get them food or just some playtime.
This terrier breed is quite emotionally attached to their owners and will often have separation anxiety when left on their own. This is why it's better to have a Boston Terrier if you have a huge family that stays at home or you have other pets that can be their playmate. If you live alone in a small apartment, they will often feel depressed so make sure to know if your living conditions are ideal for their breed first!
More than anything else, Boston Terriers are great family dogs that will definitely be your couch potato buddy as well as an active playmate zooming through the field with all their love in the world. In short, these dogs really are angels!
Boston Terrier Challenges
Now that you know their general temperament it's time to finally get their challenging traits. They can be pretty stubborn at times in training but can be agreeable with positive reinforcement. This terrier breed is also pretty gassy! This is mostly because of their head structure that shortens their respiratory tract. Because of this they often breathe in a lot of air and as a result, release a lot of gas in their other end.
Not to worry though, because this can be regulated through their diet. Here's a detailed guide on their flatulence problems and what ways you can implement to "combat" this challenge. Boston Terrier puppies can also drool a lot! They are also pretty loud at times, not just because of their barking (fun fact: they mostly bark when they feel danger) but also because of various noises.
Technically, they can be like a sound system, wheezing, sneezing, grunting, huffing, snorting, sniffing, and of course snoring! Most Boston Terriers are "talkers" in a sense because they will always communicate with you through a series of huffs and grunts. Here's a cute video of a Boston Terrier "talking" to their owner!
Boston Terrier Health Issues
You have to be fully aware of what possible conditions your Boston Terrier may acquire to give them an ideal lifestyle for them! More often than not, they can have gassy problems, breathing problems, and eye problems. We've compiled 11 Boston Terrier health issues as well that you might wanna look closely so you can be better informed of their health.
Having a new dog has its sets of possible challenges and in order for you to charge on, you have to be armed with facts. There's no such thing as a perfect and problem-less dog, they all have their unique traits and flaws. You just have to make sure that they are given all the love and care in their life. After all, a Boston Terrier's life may be fleeting, but the heartwarming joy they give you can last for a lifetime!
Puppy socialization is extremely important and this often starts with the breeder. Mostly the socialization process starts as early as 3 weeks of age to 12 weeks old. This is an important stage because it teaches them how to adjust to a new environment, inhibit their biting tendencies, and eliminate unnecessary aggression or fear in them.
Boston Terrier puppies that are well-socialized are more adaptable when they become adults. You can start by exposing them to different environments, pets, or people. You can introduce new sounds, sights, and smells. Here's a comprehensive list as cited by the American Kennel Club (AKC) that you can check as well.
Another thing you could do is to give them lots of positive reinforcement with every small win they have! Boston Terriers are pretty emotional and having you give them praise can boost their confidence and security. They can also read your emotions so make sure to be firm and confident when you introduce them to new dogs or people because they will often feel secure or wary depending on what you project.
You can also go to puppy classes once you have begun their vaccination. This is a great way for them to be more exposed to other dogs and people as well. This is also beneficial to you if you're a first-time dog owner. The bottom line here is that you have to support them all throughout the socialization process and make sure to not overwhelm them.
Always take baby steps out of their comfort zone, and celebrate their small wins to make them feel happy and secure.
Boston Terriers don't need a lot of maintenance and this is in fact one of their advantages. They don't shed a lot as opposed to other terrier breeds and you can just give them low to medium maintenance for their grooming. Alongside this, they also don't require a lot of food. Give them only 1 1/2 cups of high-quality dog food every day and night, and you're good to go!
Despite their small size, Boston terriers tend to be lively and energetic, requiring an energy dose to keep up with their agility. While Boston Terrier puppies require a larger calorie intake to foster their growing needs, the calorie count for adult Boston terriers largely depends on their activity level. Here's a Boston Terrier food guide that you might want to look at for reference if you don't know where to start.
The trick here is, you just don't have to overdo any of it. Don't overfeed them because they are prone to obesity that may lead to patellar luxation and can also cause gassy problems. Don't let them overexert their energy because they can also overheat and will create other health issues for them.
Boston Terriers are generally low maintenance but pretty high maintenance when it comes to their emotional needs! So while you can be pretty lax about their routine, you always have to give them the validation and love they need.
Training Boston Terriers may be a chore for some but definitely rewarding in the end. They are highly intelligent and can easily understand the instructions you give them. However, they can be easily hurt as well if you keep on scolding them.
It's also important that you can set boundaries in your house to properly train them. Let your Boston Terrier out frequently for their bathroom needs and praise them every time they achieve it. If they might do something undesirable, give them a firm "no" rather than shouting at them or hitting them.
Positive reinforcement is the key to training them but you also don't have to overdo it! It might be pretty hard at first but always train them firmly and with the right dose of affection. Instead of responding with anger, just withhold your affection and when they perform well, give them a treat, cuddle them, or just praise them!
Last, but definitely not the least, you have to keep a regular schedule for checkups for their healthcare. Boston Terriers can acquire different health issues and once you see the signs of problems, you can then go to the vet to prevent it from worsening.
Dogs have different healthcare needs as they grow old. According to Pets.WebMD, these are the ideal frequency for their check-ups:
- From birth to one-year-old: checkup for three to four weeks so that they can acquire the right amount of important vaccines
- One to seven-years-old: checkup only once a year and vaccinate them for possible parasites or any other health concerns
- After seven years: checkups can be twice per year because their health can become vulnerable as they grow old
Caring for a Boston Terrier or any kind of dog actually will always be a hard task. However, like all dog parents, you just want the best for them! It's only natural of course, and keeping in mind these five essentials can be highly beneficial not just for them but also for you! If you want to learn more about the Boston Terrier's health, here are detailed guides you might want to check out.