How to Train a Boston Terrier Puppy

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Every keeper of a Boston Terrier dreams of making their dog a good companion and part of their family. However, their stubbornness sometimes makes assimilating these dogs into the family difficult. I have created a guide on how to train a Boston Terrier puppy to become a well-behaved member of your household.

How to Train a Boston Terrier Puppy

Training a Boston Terrier puppy is a demanding task that requires dedication and knowledge of how to handle a puppy. There are several pieces of training that you should take your canine through to make it a better companion. 

Graphic image of a Boston Terrier with a ball and dog treats with a text explaining how to train a Boston Terrier puppy

There are three common ways to train your Boston Terrier. These are: 

  • Crate Training 
  • House Training 
  • Commands training 

Crate Training

Boston Terrier dogs are naturally stubborn. That’s why you need to level the playing field in your household. This is a necessary step to building a cordial relationship between you and your puppy. 

Crate training your puppy will teach them to know their place in the house while maintaining their peace of mind at the same time. It instills the natural denning instinct on the dog. The cage mimics the wild where canines have dens for their privacy and security.

As the puppies come to terms with staying inside the crate, it gradually begins to appreciate its importance. You will notice that with time, your dog will feel more secure in this crate. Your puppy will go in there for some private moments or when unwell.

The following steps are standard in crate training a puppy. Depending on your needs, you could alter them a little.

Boston Terrier lying on the front porch with his ball in front of him

Pick the Right-sized Crate

This step is very crucial as it will give the first impression of the dog. The crate must be appealing and of the correct size. If you pick a crate that is too small, your puppy will not move comfortably; it will feel trapped. 

On the other hand, a crate that is too large will make the dog feel lonely and neglected. The crate should be big enough to allow adequate movement. If your dog is still growing, you should get a crate to accommodate them even when fully grown.

Make the Crate Comfortable 

Once you are sure that the crate size is ideal for your puppy, you will need to furnish it to be comfortable and welcoming. Remember that this will be a new environment, and the puppy will spend most of the time they’re alone.

To begin with, place the crate in a spot that is frequented by members of the household. Try to make the inside part of the crate as cozy as you can treat your puppy like a toddler.

Cover the interior part of the crate with a warm blanket to create a den-like environment, then throw in some toys and a bowl of water. The bowl should be sturdy enough not to flip and spill the water inside the “den.”

Lure Your Boston Terrier Inside the Crate 

At this stage, the stubborn nature of the Boston Terrier breed comes to play. It will take a tall order to let the puppy into the cage voluntarily. Use some treats to lure them into their new home. Some pieces of Kibble or rare treats will do the job.

Boston Terrier puppy standing up beside a table

Place these treats at the entrance, and as the puppy begins to trust you, gradually move them further inside the crate. It would be best if you left the crate door open so that it doesn’t seem to be a trap.

At last, they will fully trust you. Add some verbal command and appreciation every time they willingly enter the crate. Add some treats as a token of appreciation too.

Condition Your Boston Terrier to The Crate for Short Periods 

A time will come when you will have earned their trust, and they will begin to enter the crate voluntarily. Work on a plan to start closing the door and leaving them inside. At the start, they will be restless and feel betrayed when you shut the door.

Rebuild the trust by closing the door for some moments and waiting for them to calm down before you open it. Always show them some appreciation with verbal praise. Learn to do this at random intervals until you feel it is okay to leave them there overnight.

Your dog should not spend a whole day inside the crate. They will need some fresh air and time to eliminate. Proper crate training for Boston Terrier puppies is essential as they can develop separation anxiety.

House Training

Puppies are like toddlers or other young creatures. They need to learn how to carry themselves in the household. An untrained Boston Terrier will defecate anywhere in the house. 

Below is a step by step guide on how to house train your puppy to choose a perfect spot for a permanent bathroom.

Begin Training Your Boston Terrier Puppy from a Tender Age

I recommend that you keep your Boston Terrier puppy in confinement or separate room until they are fully trained, and they understand what you require of them. 

You may need to persevere and have some patience when house training your puppy. It takes roughly six months to train this breed of dog well. So, it is better to begin early enough.

Pick an Outdoor Elimination Spot for Your Boston Terrier Puppy

Every time your Boston Terrier puppy feels like using a bathroom, they should go outside attheir usual spot (preferably a leash). You should help them select this spot in the early stages oftheir life.

Person training a Terrier puppy

You may use an old newspaper as a demarcation to remind them each time. When they get used to the spot, they will mark their bathroom with their scent. 

Set and Maintain A Regular Elimination Schedule

Boston Terrier puppies flourish when they have a routine of doing things. If your puppy masters the bathroom schedule, they will train their body to do it at the same time every day. 

You should train your puppy to eliminate after their first meal every morning, after drinking water, after playing, and every time they wake up from taking a long nap.  

Reward Your Boston Terrier with Praises and Treats When They Eliminate Outside

The Boston Terrier breed always aims to please its owner. With time your puppy will begin to follow the schedule whenever they want to eliminate. When it happens, give them verbal praise and reward them with some treats to make them feel appreciated.  

Clear Your Boston Terrier’s Mistakes Without Punishing Them 

It should not surprise you to see your puppy eliminate inside your home while still training. While you will feel pressed against the wall sometimes, you could learn to be more tolerant.

Always clean up the mess and continue using the positive reinforcement methods until they get it right. Do not punish them. Please treat this as an accident and train them not to repeat it.

Basic Commands Training

You need to teach your puppy some basic command so that you two can have a mutual way to communicate. The most common commands to kickstart your training include:

  • Sit
  • Stay
  • Heel 
  • Come 
  • Down
  • Off

Teach them One Command at A Time

Your puppy may be brilliant, yet when you try to introduce them to several commands at once, they may become confused. At times, they may feel discouraged and ultimately want to quit. It would be best if you only moved to the next command after they master the previous one.

Puppy giving high fives

Your puppy will also feel discouraged from doing the same thing several times. Try to limit the number of tries before they learn to follow a command. Over repeating something tothem may feel redundant and boring.

Learning should be progressive even to dogs. Begin your training with the most straightforward commands first before you move to the more complex ones.

Keep Every Training Session Short

Boston Terrier puppies have short attention spans, and they may not master anything after their brain switches off. You should limit your classes to about ten minutes per session.

It is possible to have several training sessions in a day as long as you keep breaking intervals in between the training. 

Use Positive Reinforcement and Do Not Raise Your Tone During Training

Always reward them every time they listen to and follow a command. You can do this by giving them treats and verbal praise. Doing this will motivate them and make the training enjoyable.

However, sometimes you will feel that they are slow in response. Learn to be patient and try to persevere. With time and consistency, they will learn. Always speak tothem in a positive tone even when you feel frustrated.

Make the training environment as friendly as possible. You could even have indoor sessions during harsh weather. Do not make your puppy perceive learning as a punishment.

Make Training Part of Your Boston Terrier Puppy

Just like humans, your dog should never stop learning. Trainthem for the rest of their life. Make a habit of refreshing their memory even when you feel they know every command at your disposal.

Boston Terrier Puppy FIRST TRAINING SESSION

Conclusion

Every training session for your Boston Terrier needs patience and care. You want them to learn fast yet also take care not to push them so much. The above guide gives you the necessary knowledge that you will need to make your puppy a brilliant companion.

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