One big mistake that most dog owners make is bringing any dogs home and hope that it will get along well with their other dogs. This often leads to aggression between the existing dog and the new dog.
Are Boston Terriers good with other dogs? And, if so, which breeds are the best match for your Boston?
Quick Navigation
Are Boston Terriers Good with Other Dogs?
The Boston Terrier’s temperament is usually outgoing and friendly towards other dogs. They will usually bark as a greeting.
Boston Terriers were originally bred for fighting competitions. However, they turned out to be one of the most loving, lively and friendly dogs toward most other breeds.
Some of these breeds include Chihuahuas, Labrador, and Golden Retriever.
If you’re curious what breeds get along well with your Boston Terrier, I provided below the different breeds that are the best match:
- Chihuahua
- Dachshund
- Chinese Crested
- English Springer Spaniel
- French Bulldog
- Golden Retriever
- Great Dane
- Greyhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Irish Setter
- Labrador
- Miniature Pinscher
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Pug
- Saluki
- Whippet
Other breeds that get along well with your Boston Terrier:
- Border Collie
- German Shepherd
- American Cocker Spaniel
- Bassett
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Miniature Poodle
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Standard Poodle
- Yorkshire Terrier
Dog Breeds That Don’t Get Along With Boston Terriers
Some dog breeds may not get along well with your Boston Terrier’s temperament. If this happens, it’s the dogs’ safety that should be your immediate concern. Here is a list of dog breeds to avoid pairing up with your Boston:
- Airedale
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Boerboel
- Bulldog
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Pitbull
- Shar Pei
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Factors in Determining Compatibility Between Dogs
If you’re planning to get a second dog to accompany your Boston Terrier, it’s important to know particular factors to ensure compatibility between your two dogs.
Take note that some dogs are not willing to accept other canines. Ensure the safety of both dogs before you bring the latter one into the house.
Below are the different factors in knowing if two dogs will get along well.
Breed
As mentioned earlier, it’s very important to choose breeds that best match your Boston Terrier. If you’re bringing a puppy, your dog might not be able to control its instinct to chase and hurt your new dog.
In the case of the Boston Terrier, it’s best to start socializing with other animals at an early age as this breed of dog is not really aggressive in nature.
In some aggressive breeds like the American Pit Bull Terriers, there’s a high percentage that they won’t get along with other pets. However, aggressive breeds of dogs also respect your decision as to their family. If you teach him that having another dog is fine, he accepts your decision.
Opposite Gender
Getting a new dog of the opposite gender to your resident dog is the best choice. For example, if you have a male dog, introduce a female dog. This way, your male dog doesn’t feel challenged when it comes to his authority at home.
Aside from gender, age also matters. Introducing a female puppy to your adult resident dog is even better. Female puppies don’t inflict threat to your adult male resident dog, so this combination is an ideal pick.
Size
Even if Boston Terriers, in general, are friendly, dogs with large sizes can hurt him if they play roughly. No matter how friendly the two dogs are, if there’s a big difference in their size, one can hurt the other.
In this case, talk with professionals about breeds or study the breeds to make the right choice. There are some cases where it can work, but you need to supervise them quite often.
Consider Other Pets
What other pets do you have at home? It’s either they’ll get harmed or the one to cause harm. Cats, for example – the predatory behavior of cats may trigger if introduced to a new dog, especially a puppy.
Once a cat reaches the age between 12 to 18 months, it loses interest in making new friends.
A cat might pounce the new puppy and get rid of it or it will run away and hide. Either of the two, make sure the two are safe from each other.
How to Make the Two Dogs Get Along
Fostering a good relationship between the new and old dogs requires a little effort. Here are some tips to making your dogs get along well.
- Introduce the dogs to a place that is new to both of them. As mentioned earlier, the resident dog might be territorial. Making them meet in a completely new place will prevent territorial aggression.
- Keep both dogs on a leash. Make sure they don’t feel impeded by the leash.
- The first meeting might involve sniffing and circling around. Don’t stop them. Encourage them using a pleasant voice and avoid scolding as this practice will suppress their emotions when you’re around.
- They should be harmonious even without your presence. If they ignore each other, don’t force them. They’ll get to know later when they feel comfortable.
- Provide each one their own food and water bowl. This reduces the rivalry between them.
- Supervise them during playtime, don’t leave them outside of your presence. If you see them interacting nicely with each other, praise them. This will encourage positive behavior towards each other.
Related Questions
Do Boston Terriers Need Another Dog?
Not necessarily. However, it would be a lot more fun if your Boston Terrier has a playmate. Make sure that you’re getting a breed that’s compatible with your Boston Terrier or raising them both together from a young age is even better.
Is It Better to Have 2 Dogs?
Two dogs are better than one. Just like humans, they can be each other’s companions and support when you leave them alone at home. They keep each other calm, collected and cool by being playmates.
Conclusion
You can get a lot of breeds that can perfectly match your Boston Terrier such as Golden Retriever, Dachshund and Greyhound. It even gets along well with your other pets like cats. Thanks to the Boston Terrier’s friendly and outgoing temperament in general.
Getting another dog isn’t a bad idea at all.
