The Boston Terrier is the dapper, tuxedo-marked "American Gentleman," one of the first breeds developed in the United States and a longtime favorite for its friendly, easygoing temperament. Compact, lively, and affectionate, the Boston combines a terrier ancestry with a thoroughly companion-oriented nature: it is people-loving, playful, and adaptable, equally happy in a city apartment or a family home. Behind the comical bat ears and expressive face is a smart, sociable dog that genuinely wants to please, which makes it one of the more trainable small breeds.
That friendly, biddable nature is the key to training one. The Boston is intelligent and eager to please, so reward-based training is effective and enjoyable, and the breed takes well to obedience and tricks. The main things to plan around are the familiar small-companion challenges of house-training, an occasional stubborn streak, and, importantly, the breed's flat-faced (brachycephalic) build, which means exercise and heat must be managed carefully. It is sensitive too, so harshness backfires. Lean on the breed's biddability, be patient with house-training, exercise sensibly for a flat-faced dog, and you get a delightful, well-mannered companion.
This guide covers what works with a Boston Terrier, week by week, built around how a friendly, people-oriented companion breed actually learns.
What Makes Training a Boston Different
Four breed traits shape your approach.
1. Friendly and biddable. The Boston is people-loving and eager to please, more cooperative than many small breeds, so it takes well to reward-based training and enjoys learning. This sociable, willing nature is the breed's biggest training asset.
2. House-training can be slow, with a stubborn streak. Like many small breeds, the Boston can be slow to house-train and may show an occasional stubborn moment. A strict, consistent schedule and patient, reward-based methods, without scolding, are what get you there.
3. Brachycephalic, so exercise and heat need care. The Boston's flat face means it can struggle to breathe in heat or during hard exertion. Keep exercise moderate, avoid the heat, use a harness rather than a collar, and watch for labored breathing. This shapes how you exercise and train the breed.
4. Sensitive and sociable. The Boston reads your mood and wilts under harshness, so keep training gentle and upbeat. It is friendly with people and usually other dogs, which makes socialization pleasant, and it thrives on being part of the family.
Week-by-Week Training Plan for Your Boston
Below is the framework we use at TailorPup for a Boston-specific 12-week plan. Run it at home; the order and emphasis are the point.
Weeks 1 and 2 : Foundation, Socialization, and House-Training
Engagement is easy with this friendly breed. Run three to four short sessions a day with high-value rewards, socialize broadly, and start house-training on a strict schedule from day one. Use a harness from the start, and keep activity gentle given the flat-faced build. Our puppy basics guide covers the foundations.
Weeks 3 and 4 : Core Commands and Tricks
Bostons learn well. Lure sit, down, and stay, mark, and reward, adding cues once reliable, then add trick training, which this clever, willing breed enjoys and which provides good mental work.
Weeks 5 and 6 : Leash Work and House-Training
Use a harness, never a collar that presses on a flat-faced airway, and stop-and-stand for any pulling. Keep house-training patient and consistent, rewarding every success outdoors and avoiding all scolding for accidents, since the breed can be slow here.
Weeks 7 and 8 : Recall and Manners
Build recall indoors and in fenced areas, paying every success well. Work on polite greetings and settling, and keep exercise sessions short and cool, watching the Boston's breathing, since the brachycephalic build limits hard exertion.
Weeks 9 and 10 : Mental Work and Sensible Exercise
Channel the breed's intelligence with tricks, puzzles, and short training games, which suit a companion dog well and do not strain its breathing. Keep physical exercise moderate and in cool conditions, and use mental work to satisfy the dog without overexertion.
Weeks 11 and 12 : Generalization
Prove the skills in the real world: calm leash walking past distractions, reliable house-training habits, commands in busier places, and settled, friendly behavior. These last two weeks are about consistency and proofing the house-training, recall, and manners rather than new skills.
Common Boston Training Mistakes
Three mistakes show up repeatedly with this breed.
Mistake 1 : Overexerting a flat-faced dog. The Boston's brachycephalic build means it can overheat and struggle to breathe during hard exercise or in warm weather. Keep exercise moderate and cool, use a harness, and watch for labored breathing. This is a genuine welfare issue, not just a training note.
Mistake 2 : Losing patience with house-training. The Boston can be slow to house-train, and scolding makes it worse. A strict schedule and patient, reward-based methods are what work. Accept that it may take longer than with a larger breed.
Mistake 3 : Using harsh handling. The friendly, sensitive Boston responds to corrections with anxiety rather than obedience, and it simply does not need them given how biddable it is. Keep training reward-based. The full list is in our Boston Terrier training mistakes guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Boston Terriers easy to train ? Yes, by small-breed standards. They are friendly, intelligent, and eager to please, so reward-based training works well and they enjoy tricks. The main challenges are slow house-training and managing exercise for a flat-faced dog rather than the learning itself.
Why is house-training my Boston Terrier so hard ? Small breeds have small bladders and the Boston can show a stubborn streak, so progress can be slow. A strict schedule, frequent opportunities, and patient reward-based methods, without scolding, are what get you there.
How much exercise does a Boston Terrier need ? Moderate: around 30 to 45 minutes of gentle daily activity plus mental work, kept cool because of the flat-faced build. The breed is lively but should not be over-exercised or worked hard in the heat, where breathing becomes a concern.
Do Boston Terriers have breathing problems ? As a brachycephalic breed, they can, especially in heat or during hard exertion. Keep exercise moderate and cool, use a harness, watch for labored breathing, and choose carefully bred dogs with more open airways. This shapes daily care and exercise.
Is positive reinforcement effective for Boston Terriers ? Yes, ideally. The friendly, sensitive, biddable breed thrives on reward-based training and trick work, while harsh handling creates anxiety and undermines the cheerful temperament.
Are Boston Terriers good with other dogs and children ? Generally yes. The breed is sociable and friendly, usually good with respectful children and other dogs, which makes socialization pleasant. Supervision and gentle introductions, as with any dog, are still wise.
Are Boston Terriers good family dogs ? Excellent ones. They are friendly, adaptable, and affectionate, good with families and well suited to apartments. They simply need patient house-training, gentle handling, and sensible, cool exercise for a flat-faced breed.
Why TailorPup Was Built for Boston Terriers
A generic plan ignores what really matters with this breed: slow house-training and the exercise and heat care a flat-faced dog needs, alongside its friendly biddability. That mismatch is why standard advice can leave Boston owners with house-training struggles or an overexerted dog.
TailorPup builds a 12-week plan around your specific dog: its companion nature, its age, and the behaviors you are seeing. For a Boston that means leaning on its biddability with reward-based training and tricks, a patient house-training schedule, and sensible, cool, brachycephalic-aware exercise.
Daily 12-minute sessions plus weekly adjustments based on your dog's progress. Free for 7 days, no card required.
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Related: Boston Terrier Training Mistakes · Recall Training · Puppy Training Basics · Leash Pulling