Boston Terrier Training Guide
PUPPIES! Who doesn’t love puppies? Everyone loves puppies and don’t trust anyone who doesn’t! Puppies are simply THE CUTEST beings on the face of the planet. Boston Terrier puppies are even cuter! With their oversized ears, and eyes that they need to grow into. I mean come on seriously how could anyone not want one.
So, we’re going to assume you’re either actively looking for a Boston Terrier puppy, or you may already have one. The internet has now brought you here to us to give you the puppy training advice that you may desperately need. Welcome to the Boston Terrier training guide!
What You Need to Know About Boston Terrier Puppies
These wonderful little balls of energy should be considered in a similar class as Gremlins (you know that 80’s movie – if you don’t google it once you’re done here). The reason we say Gremlins is because well Boston Terrier puppies are comparable. Like Gremlins, Boston Terrier puppies have rules. Keep them active, a tired puppy is a good puppy. Boston Terriers are a high energy dog so if they don’t have something to do they will destroy EVERYTHING. When they are bored they will entertain themselves by chewing on your favourite shoes, ripping apart your couch, or worse. With that being said don’t hold them accountable, they are puppies remember it’s up to you to keep them on track correctly. You are their guidance so if you don’t want this to be an ongoing behaviour be proactive.
Boston Terrier puppies need a schedule, get them into a routine so they have structure. Easy ways to do this is to feed them at the same time everyday, this allows them to anticipate their daily routine. Following the structure, you should keep routines with exercise and playtime as well. Make sure it’s enjoyable for yourself also so you’re enticed to continue the schedule. These routines need to happen the same time everyday even weekends. The first year of your puppy’s life is crucial for their advancing years, which will help prevent less hassle with an adult dog.
The Beginning
It’s very important to note that the first year of a puppy’s life is the most forming years. How you handle their behaviours now will form how your puppy will progress into an adult.
It’s also very important to not have high expectations. Most people think a puppy can be fully trained in the first 6 – 8 weeks, this is not true. It takes roughly about 5 – 6 months for your puppy to get into the swing of things. There are going to be some challenges, make sure you handle each of them correctly. Remember you’re trying to build a trusting bond, this is important to establish in the early months. Try positive reinforcements instead of negative. Negative reinforcement can destructively affect your puppy’s behaviour and make them act out more. Positive reinforcements help gain trust and obedience from your Boston Terrier puppy.
Positive Reinforcements
Positive reinforcements are crucial to your puppy’s health and happiness. If your puppy is treat receptive, have all the treats handy. They’ll associate the good behaviours with treats, which will make them want to be on their best behaviour.
Some examples:
Your taking your puppy on a walk – and they are trying to escape their collar or have decided they don’t want to walk any more. TREAT – use the treat as a distraction from what they’re doing. The treat will get their attention and follow the command you’re requesting.
It’s bed time and you’re crate training your Boston Terrier puppy – they are refusing to get in their crate, you may have to physically put them in there. Which they aren’t happy about – once you get them in the crate give your puppy a treat. Again, this is a way the puppy will associate their crate as a good thing (even if they went in under protest)
Bathroom – every time your puppy goes to the washroom outside – TREAT – this will encourage them to do this more often outside then inside.
These are some examples of positive reinforcements, there are many forms. The point of positive reinforcements is to get your puppy excited to do it again!
Potty Training
Okay so the last thing we want to do is constantly be cleaning up puppy messes. Remind yourself that accidents do happen. When you puppy makes a mess ask yourself if you did everything you could to prevent it. Do not, I mean it DO NOT be aggressive with your puppy about their mess, this will do more harm then good. You do not want your puppy to be scared of going to the bathroom, they won’t notice the difference of outside or inside if you’re yelling at them. Also, unless you specifically see your puppy in the act do not scold them. If you do see them doing the act, firmly say “NO” or “STOP” one-word commands are easy for them to register. This will be effective for other areas of training as well and they will be familiar with their command. With puppy training there are simple tools to help you and your puppy progress to the great outdoors. Make sure you take your puppy out the same door every time, again building the routine. It’s also helpful to note that you should be taking your puppy out several times a day. Boston Terrier puppies are constantly eating as they grow leading, eating means digesting, and the more they digest the more they gotta go, ya know?