Boston Terriers

Do you already have a Boston Terrier or two? If so, you know how wonderful and spunky these affectionate little dogs are.

Are you considering a Boston as a pet? These family friendly dogs are great with kids and laid back enough to handle a few of your children and their friends running in and out of the house. However, before you bring home a Boston Terrier, be sure you read some of the articles on health, puppies, and obedience to be sure a Boston is the right breed for you and your family.

Don't forget to read Betsy's puppy blog for a real Boston Terrier's point of view. For a little dog, she certainly has plenty to say.

Many people think that crate training a puppy is mean. However, crate training your Boston Terrier is a fast and effective way to housebreak him and the kennel will keep him safe when you aren't able to supervise him.
You should purchase your kennel before your puppy arrives. Don't buy the biggest crate you can find. Your puppy will feel more secure in a crate that is just big enough for him to stand up and turn around. Also, a crate that is too big makes your puppy more prone to having accidents in the crate, since he can choose a potty corner and still stay clean.
Follow these simple steps to quickly crate train your new Boston puppy:

* Put a fleece pad or a towel in the crate.
* Add a favorite toy so the puppy can amuse himself.
* Take your puppy for a walk.
* Place your puppy in the crate and praise him. Give him a treat.
* Leave him in the crate and ignore him if he fusses.
* Take him out after fifteen or twenty minutes, but do not make a big deal about it.
* Immediately, take him for a walk and praise him. Play with him for fifteen minutes to a half hour.
* Put him back in the crate and make a big fuss over him.
* Leave him in the crate a few minutes longer than the last time.
* Repeat these steps, gradually increasing the time he spends inside the crate.
* Eventually, you will be able to leave your puppy in the crate for several hours.

Remember not to make a fuss over your little guy when you let him out, but do make a big deal about him going into the crate. This keeps him from crying and whining when he is crated.

Is your Boston puppy going bald? Most likely, he has mange. Before you start itching your scalp, you will be relieved to hear that you won't catch this type of mange, and neither will your other dogs. This Demodectic mange usually is passed from the mother dog to her pups or can appear in dogs with another illness, such as cancer.

Most cases of this type of mange clear up by themselves, but you can make this itchy time easier by asking your vet for some special shampoo that will soothe itchy skin. Dogs with Demodectic mange should not be bred, since they may pass the susceptibility to this skin condition on to their puppies.(There are other skin conditions, and even allergies, with similar symptoms, so be sure to check with your vet to be sure this is what your balding, itchy puppy has.) For temporary emergency relief, ask your vet if you can wipe your puppy down with non-alcoholic baby wipes that contain aloe.

Another serious hereditary problem Bostons face is bad knees. Many of them are able to just limp through life, but some need expensive surgery to relieve pain. Ask your breeder about any dogs with bad knees in your puppy's background before you buy him. Any dogs with bad knees should not be bred, since the weakness will be passed to the puppies.

A less serious hereditary problem is cherry eye, or a third eyelid. Surgery for this problem is simple and usually is under $200.00, but it is still not a good idea to breed dogs that carry this trait. However, the dogs will still grow up to be wonderful family companions. A breeder should never ask full price for a puppy with this condition because of the added expense.

Finally, some Bostons go blind at a young age from hereditary cataracts. Again, ask your breeder about this problem before buying your puppy, since there is often nothing that can be done.

If you want a Boston Terrier and are willing to consider a dog that is older than 8 weeks, you may be the perfect candidate for adopting a rescue dog. Surprisingly enough, most of these dogs do not have serious medical problems and many are quite young. Many rescue dogs just need some obedience training, basic veterinary care, and a little love and understanding. When that adorable Boston Terrier puppy becomes a gangly 6 to 9 month old adolescent, an inexperienced dog owner often becomes overwhelmed and frustrated. Instead of working with the now spoiled and mannerless puppy to help him become a devoted and loyal companion, the owner calls the local dog rescue.

A new owner's allergies is another common reason that healthy, young Bostons end up in a rescue situation. While no dog is truly hypo-allergenic, some are low allergy dogs. Boston Terriers are definitely not in this category. Some owners have life threatening allergic reactions to their Bostons, while others have generally irritating symptoms. If you are considering adopting a Boston and have allergies, you may want to spend time with a few of these adorable little guys to see how severe your reaction is before you bring one home. If your symptoms are mild, you may have to do a little extra work to keep your new dog in your life. (For more information on living with Bostons when you are allergic, read the section below - "Achoo, Bless You - How to live with your Boston Terrier when you are allergic.")

Once you decide to open your heart and your home to a Boston Terrier in a rescue situation, you will need to locate a rescue in your area. Most rescues prefer to adopt out their dogs to local people, since shipping can be costly. Also, rescues usually require a face to face interview before the adoption is finalized. If your local rescue does not have a dog that meets your needs available, they will probably place you on a waiting list. Young, healthy puppies are placed fairly quickly, while older dogs are less likely to be placed. If there are no young dogs available, you may want to consider adopting an older dog. Although he will probably not live as long as a young dog, you will know exactly what his temperament is like and you will also have a good idea of any health problems he has.

To find a rescue in your area, you can contact the American Kennel Club or visit http://www.btrescue.org/

Being allergic to man's best friend can be extremely frustrating and upsetting. Many allergists aren't interested in helping pet owners live with their dogs. Instead, their solution often is to have the pet owner place the dog in another situation. If you have developed asthma or have other life threatening symptoms, this is wise advice and may be the only solution. However, owners with more mild allergy symptoms rarely give up their dogs. They take allergy shots and pills to lessen symptoms.

Besides taking pills and shots, there are several other things you can do to make living with your Boston Terrier easier.

* Give that dog a bath - Bathe your dog once a week to cut down on dander and saliva on your dog. Preferably, someone who does not have allergies should do the actual bathing. Specially formulated allergen reducing soaps and shampoos have not been scientifically proven to be any better than good old fashioned baby shampoo. In fact, my vet recommends baby shampoo unless my dogs develop skin irritations, such as hot spots or doggie dandruff. For dogs with skin problems, she recommends a medicated shampoo, such as Dermaplex Dry Skin Relief Shampoo.
* Wipe him down - Between baths, ask your vet if you can wipe your dog down with aloe baby wipes. This keeps the saliva and dander to a minimum.
* Good grooming is important - Someone without allergies should brush your Boston's coat with a soft brush once a day.
* No three dog nights - No matter how cozy and warm it feels, do not sleep with your Boston. Give him a cozy pet bed, instead. (Get a pet bed with a removable cover and wash it once a week in hot water.) If you ignore this advice, at least keep your Boston at the foot of your bed and wash the bed linens frequently in hot water.
* Clean up those toys - Dog toys often end up with quite a bit of saliva on them. Wash rubber or stuffed toys at least once a week. If you give your Boston rawhide toys (which is not good for them, so please don't) throw them out after a few days.