Are Boston Terriers Good Apartment Dogs?

Boston Terriers, also known as the “American Gentlemans”, are quite popular companion dogs.

They are intelligent and alert dogs, with a friendly and playful personality. But are Boston Terriers good apartment dogs?

Boston Terriers are great dogs for apartment living. It’s a small breed with a friendly personality and doesn’t bark much. Also, Boston Terriers are low maintenance dogs that don’t require much exercise.

What You Should Know About Living with a Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers are even-tempered dogs and are usually gentle and easygoing.

They enjoy attention and being with people. They are lap dogs who love to snuggle and cuddle.

Boston Terriers are good watchdogs and usually bark to alert you when they see a stranger, although they are not considered aggressive dogs.

Are Boston Terriers Good Family Dogs?

Boston Terriers are great family pets. They have an outgoing and friendly personality which makes them very social dogs that tend to get along with almost everyone, including children and other pets.

They are very loyal dogs who enjoy being with their people and participating in all family activities.

In addition to their friendly disposition, they are playful and happy dogs that generally get along well with children.

The Bostons enjoy having some playtime that allows them to interact with their family. They enjoy games like play fetch which makes them excellent playmates of older children.

But they are very sensitive dogs that, although unintentionally, if not properly treated by children, it’s easy for them to lose the confidence of a Boston. 

But when they are treated with necessary care, they are loyal, fun, and loving playmates.

Do Boston Terriers Need a Lot of Exercise?

Although it can vary from one Boston Terrier to another, they are usually high energy dogs, but not hyperactive. But by being a small dog breed he doesn’t need too much exercise.

They generally need 30 minutes to an hour of daily exercise. Boston Terriers need to be mentally stimulated and release all their energy daily to prevent them from manifesting behavioral problems.

A daily walk is important for a Boston, not only to release his physical energy but to stimulate his mind through the sounds, scents, and sights he finds on the walk.

If possible, having a free run time off-leash in a safe area will help him burn off the extra energy and explore his surroundings.

Boston Terriers are very playful and love to interact with their family. By having some playtime with him, not only allows him to have more physical activity but also helps strengthen the ties between him and his family.

Are Boston Terriers High Maintenance?

A Boston Terrier is low-maintenance. His short coat is easy to groom and isn’t a dog known for shedding heavily. A weekly brushing to remove dead hair and keep his skin healthy is more than enough for a Boston Terrier.

Also, Bostons don’t have the typical dog odor so it’s not necessary to bathe them often. If they don’t get dirty by something in particular, having a bath every few months is more than enough.

In addition to this, a Boston Terrier only needs basic care. Cut his nails every couple of weeks in case he doesn’t wear them naturally, and brush his teeth frequently to avoid bad breath and mouth diseases.

Are Boston Terriers Easy to Train?

Boston Terriers are smart dogs that are always eager to please so they are usually easy to train. But they are also known for having a pretty stubborn side so they also require patience and perseverance to train them.

But they are usually food-driven dogs which can greatly facilitate the training process.

Boston Terriers are quite sensitive dogs so you always have to use positive reinforcement methods to train them. Using punishments and physical corrections with these dogs can backfire and it can be easy to lose their confidence.

It’s often thought that because they are small dogs and have a good and gentle personality, it’s not necessary to train them. But both training and socializing allow a Boston to grow up with a balanced temperament and as a well-behaved dog.

With patience, consistency, and some food, training a Boston Terrier can be easy and quite fun.

Are Boston Terriers Hard to Potty Train?

Boston terriers are not the easiest dogs to housetrain, but they are not the most difficult either. The important things you need to potty train a Boston is to be patient, consistent, and keep constant supervision.

When living in an apartment we can potty train a Boston to go to the bathroom outside or inside on a puppy pad or a grass pad.

Using puppy pads is a good option if it’s not possible for the owner to regularly take his dog out.

But it’s generally recommended that they go out to the bathroom since this allows your dog to go out more times, which offers more physical and mental activity and stimulation.

The first step is to define the place (either indoors or outdoors) where your dog will do his things. Once you have chosen the area you have to be consistent and not be changing it constantly.

After you choose a location, the important thing is to take your dog to the area regularly.

Small dogs have small bladders and tend to go to the bathroom more often. When they are puppies they may need to go every hour, but over time they will be able to hold it more.

You have to start with the routine of going out to potty since the moment the puppy arrives at your apartment. Basically, at first, you have to take it to the potty spot:

• Hourly.
• After each meal.
• When he wakes up in the morning or after a nap.
• After he has been alone for a relatively long period.

Every time your Boston Terrier does his things in the desired place, you have to praise and reward him.

When there are accidents there is no point in scolding or punishing him. If you find him at the moment, you have to distract them with a sound so he stops doing it and immediately take him to the designated place and let him finish there and praise him when he finishes.

In case we find an accident after it has happened, we just have to make sure to clean the area well so no odor remains and the dog is not tempted to do it again in the same place.

With patience and time, your Boston will be letting you know when he wants to go out to the bathroom.

Can Boston Terriers Be Left Alone During the Day?

Boston Terriers tend to tolerate being home alone better than other breeds. But due to their sensitive and social nature, as well as their need to be with their family, they are often prone to separation anxiety.

The maximum time it is recommended to leave a dog alone is four hours. Although there are dogs that can handle up to six hours.

To help a dog better manage his time, it’s recommended to leave him alone for longer periods gradually. The important thing is that they mark the pause and not rush the process.

Some of the things that can help your dog cope better with the time he spends alone are:

• Take your dog for a walk before he will stay alone and right after you return. This allows him to burn off his energy and will most likely spend much of his time sleeping.
• Leave his favorite dog toys at hand. Interactive and puzzle toys can keep him busy for long periods, in addition to keeping him mentally stimulated.
• Take your dog to a doggie daycare where he can spend the day playing with other dogs instead of being alone in the apartment.
• Ask a friend or neighbor to come to visit your Boston in the middle of the morning and, if possible, take him on a short walk. There are also professional Dog Walkers and Dog Sitters services that you can turn to.

It’s important to keep track of how our dog is handling the time that he is alone. In these cases, Pet Cameras are a great way to see if your dog is fine when you are not at home.

Do Boston Terrier Dogs Bark a Lot?

The dogs of the Terrier group are usually known for being breeds that bark a lot. But, curiously, the Boston Terrier is usually a quiet dog, although this doesn’t mean that he never barks.

There are cases when a Boston Terrier can develop unpleasant behavior like compulsive and excessive barking. This type of behavior usually manifests itself when they don’t have the necessary exercise and cannot release all their accumulated energy.

The most common reasons a Boston Terrier barks are:

• To alert his owner that something unusual is happening. They are territorial and protective dogs and often bark to alert their family and protect their territory.
• Bostons often bark when they play. It’s a way of expressing their joy and excitement. This bark is usually different from the protective bark.

Is a Boston Terrier a Good Apartment Dog?

A Boston Terrier can be an excellent companion for apartment living. It’s a dog that almost doesn’t bark, needs little maintenance, and although he’s a high energy dog, he needs little daily exercise.

It’s a perfect dog to live in an apartment, both with a family with children and with seniors.

Tips for Raising a Boston Terrier in an Apartment

1. Socialize Your Boston Terrier Early

All dogs need to be socialized, and Boston Terriers are no exception. Although it’s never too late to start socializing a dog, it’s recommended to start between 8 and 12 weeks of age.

Socialization consists of introducing a dog to new things and experiences in a pleasant and positive way. He needs to know various sounds, sights, and smells, as well as learn to relate and interact with other dogs and new people in different circumstances and places.

Socialization helps prevent behavioral problems and helps a dog grow with self-confidence and to know how to behave in various social situations.

By living in an apartment where we constantly interact with our neighbors, socializing helps ensure that our dog is friendly and well-behaved to different people.

2. Give Your Boston Terrier Time and Attention

Boston Terriers are dogs that love people and need the attention of their families. They need to spend time with their family daily to be happy and not become anxious or depressed.

Some ways you can spend time with your Boston are:

• Sped some playtime daily with your Boston Terrier. They enjoy games like fetching or chasing around the apartment. Here you can find some fun indoor activities ideas.
• Spend some time of the day training your Boston Terrier. In addition to being fun, training time helps strengthen the bonds between you and your dog.
• The Boston love affection and to cuddle. A time for petting and resting with his owner makes a Boston very happy.
• Taking a walk outside is not only for exercising your dog. It’s a time to spend time together exploring the neighborhood.

3. Balcony Potty Training

Training your dog to go outside to do the bath is always the most recommended. But sometimes it’s not possible to be going outside regularly.

Dogs are fairly clean animals that don’t like to go to the bathroom in the place where they live. For this reason, some dogs don’t like to use puppy pads inside the apartment.

In case of having a balcony, using natural grass pads on a balcony is a solution that helps dogs to go to the bathroom without having to go outside.

You just have to take the necessary precautions. Boston terriers are small dogs and can jump quite high.

Precautions must be taken so that your dog cannot jump or pass through the balcony railings. If necessary, there are some balcony guards for pets that allow conditioning a balcony so that your dog is safe.

4. Puppy Proof Your Apartment

Conditioning an apartment for a dog is similar to baby-proofing your home. You must make your apartment a safe place for your Boston Terrier.

Some of the things you have to consider are:

• Keep toxic things like medications and cleaning products out of your dog’s reach.
• Bostons are curious and are known for eating everything they can find. Trash cans should be kept closed and out of reach.
• Dogs explore their surroundings with their mouths, either licking or chewing. Make sure they cannot bite or lick electric cords, power cables, and chargers using special covers.
• We must make sure that we don’t have poisonous plants for our puppy. Here you can find a list of toxic plants for pets.

5. Keep Your Dog’s Vaccinations up to Date

To get your Boston Terrier out for a walk in the neighborhood or to play in the common area of the building or apartment complex, he needs to be up to date with his vaccinations.

If a dog goes out when he doesn’t have all of its vaccinations up to date, he can easily get sick.

By interacting with other dogs or by smelling other dogs’ waste, a puppy that doesn’t have his defenses strong can acquire various diseases that can even cost him his life.

As soon as your puppy arrives home, it’s necessary to take him to the vet to deworm him, and in case he has not been previously vaccinated, start with his vaccinations immediately.

Final Thoughts

Boston Terriers can be great roommates. Not only because they are small dogs, they adapt well to living in a small space, but also because of their easygoing personality.

They are low maintenance dogs that require little exercise and are perfect playmates for children and good companions for young and senior people.

Having a dog is a long-term commitment and you must be sure that you can provide everything a dog needs to have a healthy and happy life in an apartment.

Resources

• Boston Terrier Temperament & Personality by Canna-Pet

• How to Care for a Boston Terrier by WikiHow