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Boston Terrier Temperament & Personality Traits

Dr Shamsul Alam Roky
Reviewed by:
Dr. Shamsul Alam Roky
Veterinarian

The Boston Terrier is one of the most popular breeds in the world and is a recognised breed within the top 25 of the popularity list that is published by the American Kennel Club. So, what is it about this little dog’s personality that makes it so popular?

Boston Terriers are fun-loving, lively, affectionate and sensitive dogs that love to play and spend quality time with their owners. They are known for being intelligent, and their comical and charming essence makes them a crowd-pleaser that will steal hearts and laughs.

In this guide, we’ll get you up to speed with the charming personality and temperament of the Boston Terrier.

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Boston Terrier Main Personality Traits

The Boston Terrier is a good-natured dog with so many admirable traits that make it a lovely family pet. Here are some of their top characteristics:

Loyal

One of the reasons Boston Terriers are such a popular breed is that they are intensely loyal and devoted to their owners. They love nothing more than spending time with their humans and will never be far from your side.

However, their intense need for attention and affection can be overwhelming for some owners, as Boston Terriers really don’t like being left alone.

So, bear in mind that you’ll be spending a lot of time with your Boston if you decide this is the breed for you.

Intelligent

Boston Terriers are one of the more intelligent dog breeds and are fairly easy to train.

As with all breeds, your dog’s age will affect its trainability, and it’s best to start obedience training with them from a young age as it is much more difficult to train an adult dog.

As well as being intelligent, the Boston Terrier breed is also very eager to please and quick to learn, so you can even teach your pooch to perform tricks.

Friendly

Boston Terriers are very friendly dogs and love to socialise with people and dogs. They are not known for being aggressive despite their pit-fighting ancestry.

Active

This little dog is known for getting the zoomies due to them having a lot of energy. They love playing and entertaining people and other animals for as long as their little bodies will let them. Because of this, you need to ensure they have a sufficient amount of exercise and keep it fun! Like playing frisbee!
 

Boston Terriers and Your Family

The friendly Boston Terrier lives to make their owners smile, and while they are incredibly fun-loving little dogs, they’re also conscientious and very sensitive to their human needs. But how do they get along with the rest of the family members, big, small and furry?

Can Boston Terriers live with other dogs?

The Boston Terrier dog breed is known for being very friendly towards dogs it is familiar with, but they’re inclined to try and make as many friends as they can when out on a walk.

If you have another dog at home, it’s likely that your Boston Terrier will become its new best friend. However, it’s still important that you socialise your Boston Terrier puppy as early as possible so that it learns how to behave around other canines.

Can Boston Terriers live with other pets?

Boston Terriers tend to get on well with other animals that you may have at home, including cats. The Boston Terrier is happy to keep a cat company, and it’s not that uncommon to see them snuggled up and having a nap with their feline friend.

Can Boston Terriers live with kids?

The Boston Terrier loves to spend time with the whole family, including the kids. It will happily spend time playing games with them and cuddling on the couch.

However, you will need to teach your children how to behave around your Boston puppy, as any dog is likely to react badly to heavy-handedness.
 

Do Boston Terriers Have Any Behavioural Issues?

The Boston Terrier is not known to have any specific behavioural issues. Still, as with many breeds, if they don’t get enough mental stimulation or are left alone too often, it can result in undesirable behaviours like excessive barking.

If your Boston Terrier is consistently engaging in bad behaviour for no obvious reason, then it may be worth taking them to a dog trainer.

The best way to get an idea of what traits your Boston Terrier will inherit is to ask the pet store or breeder that you get your dog from what traits your puppy’s parents have.
 

FAQs

Can Boston Terriers be left alone?

Boston Terriers are prone to separation anxiety, and they don’t react well to being left alone for long periods of time. Due to this, they’re best suited to homes where they will usually have company.

Do Boston Terriers bark a lot?

The Boston Terrier is not a very vocal breed. However, they do require exercise on a daily basis, and if your dog is barking a lot, it may well be because they have pent-up energy.

Are Boston Terriers active dogs?

One thing that Boston Terriers have inherited from their Terrier ancestors is a need for physical activity, and they tend to be quite high-energy dogs. They need to go on daily walks, and they can also make good participants in various dog sports. The Boston Terrier is certainly not a couch potato, and regular exercise is the best way to make sure you have one happy dog.
 

Final Thoughts on Boston Terrier Temperament & Personality

The Boston Terrier has a wonderful temperament and a loving personality that makes it a good choice of pet for most owners and families. Due to their devoted nature, you’ll be spending a lot of time with your Boston, so it’s lucky that they’re such a pleasure to be around.

Learn more about: Boston Terrier Dog Breed Information

Other helpful information

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