14 Essential Boston Terrier Puppy Training Tips


If you are the owner of a Boston Terrier, you know that they can be quite stubborn at times. It can be tough to get them to listen to you, but with patience and consistency, it can be done.

In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on how to train your Boston Terrier and get them to obey your commands. By following these tips, you will have a well-behaved Boston Terrier that listens to you every time!

Training your boston terrier puppy. Source: canva.com pro.

14 Tips For Getting Your Boston Terrier To Listen To You Every Time

Here are the fifteen tips to help you while trying to train your Boston Terrier. Rember these are helpful tips, but make sure you find what works for you and run with it if it is working.

As you first start training your Boston, bookmark this page so you can refer back to it. Within a week, you will have internalized these tips while you’re training.

Also, if you ever want a step-by-step plan on how to train your Boston, you can check out Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Training Academy for help.

1. Be Consistent

One of the most important things you can do to get your Boston Terrier to listen to you is to be consistent with your commands.

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If you only occasionally ask your dog to sit, and then sometimes give him a treat when he does and other times don’t, he’s not going to understand what you want from him.

It’s important to be consistent in both what you say and what you do so that your dog knows what is expected of him.

2. Use Positive Reinforcement

Another key to training your Boston Terrier to listen to you is to use positive reinforcement. This means rewarding your dog for good behavior instead of punishing him for bad behavior.

When your dog does something you’ve asked him to do, be sure to give him lots of praise and maybe even a treat. This will let him know that he’s doing what you want and will encourage him to keep it up.

Watch this video from Petco Dog Trainer to learn more about what positive reinforcement dog training is…

Video Explains What Positive Dog Training Is.

3. Keep Training Sessions Short

It’s important not to overdo it when training your Boston Terrier. If you try to cram too much into one session, he’s likely to get overwhelmed and frustrated, which will only make it harder for him to learn.

Instead, keep training sessions short and sweet, and focus on just one or two commands at a time.

Once your dog has mastered those, you can move on to more difficult tasks.

Source: canva.com pro

4. Work Training Into Daily Practice

It is important to work dog training into your daily routine. This doesn’t have to be a lengthy process – even a few minutes of training each day can make a big difference. And, because Boston Terriers are so intelligent, they will quickly catch on to new commands and tricks.

πŸ“– By the way β€” if you want all of this in one place, I wrote The Complete Boston Terrier GuideOpens in a new tab.. 14 years of real-world advice on health, training, and care. Grab it on Amazon β†’Opens in a new tab.

In addition, daily training sessions will help to build the bond between you and your dog. Boston Terriers are full of personality, and working with them on a daily basis is a great way to get to know them better.

So, if you’re looking for a way to improve your Boston Terrier’s obedience and strengthen your relationship with them, be sure to incorporate some daily dog training into your routine.

5. Start With Basic Obedience Commands

The first step to getting your Boston Terrier to listen to you is to start with basic obedience commands. Commands such as sit, stay, come, and down are essential for every dog to know.

Once your Boston has a good understanding of these commands, you can begin to work on more difficult commands.

6. Be Patient

Training a dog takes time and patience, so it’s important not to get discouraged if your Boston Terrier isn’t catching on as quickly as you’d like. Dogs learn at their own pace, so just keep working with him and eventually, he’ll get it.

In the meantime, try not to get too frustrated or angry with him, as this will only make the situation worse.

7. Use Clear Commands

When giving commands, it’s important to be clear and concise so that your dog understands what you want from him. For example, saying “sit” is much better than saying “sit down.”

Using clear commands will help your dog understand what you’re asking of him and make it more likely that he’ll obey.

Donnie and Bella

8. Avoid Using Negative Words

When training your Boston Terrier, it’s important to avoid using negative words like “no” or “don’t.” These words can confuse your Boston and make it harder for him to understand what you want from him.

Instead of using negative words, focus on using positive commands like “sit” or “stay.”

9. Be firm But Fair

When training your Boston Terrier, it’s important that you be firm but fair with him. This means setting clear rules and boundaries that he must obey, but also being understanding when he makes a mistake.

Getting too angry or punitive with your dog will only make the situation worse and make it harder for him to learn what you want from him.

10 . Practice In Different Settings

In order for your Boston Terrier to really learn a command, it’s important that he be able to practice in different settings – not just in your living room!

Take him out into the yard or on walks around the block so that he can practice obeying commands in different environments. This will help ensure that he’ll listen no matter where he is or what’s going on around him.

11. Don’t Use Physical Punishment

Physical punishment should never be used when training a Boston Terrier. Not only is it ineffective, but it can also lead to further behavioral problems down the road.

If you find yourself getting frustrated during training, take a break and come back later when you have calmed down.

12. Make Training Sessions Fun and Interactive

Training sessions should be fun for both you and your Boston. If training seems like a chore, chances are your dog will pick up on this and will not be as enthusiastic about learning.

Try making training sessions interactive by playing games or using toys as rewards. This way, both you and your dog will enjoy the experience, and he will be more likely to retain what he learns. 

13. Set Realistic Expectations

It is important to set realistic expectations when training a Boston Terrier. They are intelligent dogs, but they still need time to learn new things. Do not expect them to pick up on everything immediately; instead, take things one step at a time and praise them for their successes along the way.Β 

Watch this video to learn more about expectations based on your dogs age…

14. Seek Professional Help If Needed 

If you find yourself struggling to train your Boston Terrier, there is no shame in seeking professional help from a qualified trainer or behaviorist. They can provide guidance and support that can make all the difference in successfully teaching your dog new behaviors. 

You can start with Dr. Dunbar’s online dog training academy. This is the best program if you want guidance on what to do but want to train your Boston from the comfort of your own home. check out the pricing and program here: Dog Training Academy.Opens in a new tab.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes our Boston Terriers can be quite stubborn, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on them. With patience and consistency, we can train them to listen to us and become the obedient dogs we know they can be.

And if you need some help with training, be sure to check out Dr. Dunbar’s Virtual Dog Academy. There’s no better place to get started than with the experts!

Donnie Gardner

Donnie Gardner is the founder of Boston Terrier Society and author of The Complete Boston Terrier Guide. He has been raising Bella his Boston Terrier since 2010 and resides in Kansas with his wife, daughter, two sons. He created Boston Terrier Society to help owners make informed decisions about their dog's health, training, and care. πŸ“– Get his book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/06k3klcb

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