The Boston Terrier is a small companion dog that is affectionate, playful and energetic. These adorable guys make wonderful pets and are easy keepers, with moderate exercise needs, and a coat that requires minimal grooming.Boston’s are considered one of the few true American dog breeds, but in fact their origins are in the English Bulldog, Bull Terrier, and later, the French Bulldog. All Boston’s trace their linage back to a single sire, Judge, owned by Edward Hooper.
Another surprising fact about the breed (especially given their renowned placid temperament) is that they were originally bred as fighting dogs. The Boston Terrier is a small, compact dog, ranging from about 10 to 25 pounds in weight, and 15 to 17 inches in height. They have small, erect ears, a shortened muzzle and large, slightly protruding eyes.
They have a distinctive coat which somewhat resembles a tuxedo, and can be black and white, brindle and white, or seal and white. The Boston is not a true terrier, despite its name. The AKC recognized the breed in 1893, classifying it in the non-sporting group.
Within the breed there are variances of temperament, some are extremely eager to please, while others may be stubborn and willful. Having said that, Boston’s tend to form strong bonds with their owners and have an uncanny knack of interpreting their moods. They are very sensitive to tone of voice and don’t appreciate harsh words or treatment.Despite their stature, they are not afraid to stand their ground, and will protect their family against any threat.
Grooming a Boston is easy. These dogs shed very little and the coat only needs to be brushed once or twice a week. In addition to brushing you will need to keep the eyes clean, by wiping them daily with a damp cloth.
Although they are not the most active of dogs, you will have to get your Boston Terrier out for a walk every day. Dogs that are insufficiently exercised and lacking in mental stimulation often develop behavioral problems, and in this breed it is likely to manifest as chewing and problem barking.
You should however take care not to overexert the dog, especially in hot weather. Like many short-faced breeds, the Boston Terrier is prone to breathing problems. These dogs do very well in an apartment, as long as they get enough exercise.
Bostons have an above average lifespan, with many living 15 or longer. They do, however, have a number of health issues including, brachycephalic syndrome, skin and heart tumors, and cataracts.
Picking a name for your Boston Terrier can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many puppy names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of cute dog names.
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An activity like dog training is something that various people will be approaching very differently. Some people may be confident trainers, whose pets appear frequently in shows, while others might be new owners of pets, fighting with a pet that is showing the effect of a troubled past. But, there are several key concepts everybody can gain benefit from learning and testing out. You need to use these strategies to learn a couple of things that may aid both you and your pet to experience more fun and to create a stronger bond.
If your pet is a big bruiser, be easy on your hands and be sure of having a good robust leash by utilizing a horse lead rope that would serve as your leash. These come in the standard 6' length in synthetic rope or soft cotton with a very robust snap being attached. They come in lost of pretty colours and are sturdy and robust.
Hear your pet. Don't insist that he would greet someone else, dog, or animal if the dog seems troubled. It is vital to realize that there is a reason he is uncomfortable, and you want to consider that. If the pet is implying that he is troubled, don't force the issue as it can lead to bigger problems down the line.
Always recall that it needs patience and time to train a pet. Some dogs pick up things fast, while others would take longer. Every dog will have a learning pace of their own, so be sure to be aware of your dog's pace. As a dog training advice, try and be as positive as possible when working with him so that he suspects it's a exciting activity to do with you and will look forward to your training activities.
No matter what your skill level and the behaviour of your pet, education is key to good dog training. Knowing dog psychology, especially what influences and incentivizes pets and the impact your behaviour, body language and 'body tells ' can have on that is imperative. This post has provided you with several strategies and recommendations for doing exactly that, which ought really to be enjoyable for you and your pet to try.
You can check out several informative dog training posts at http://www.dog-biting.com/.
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Crate training involves teaching your dog to spend time in a dog crate – a plastic, wooden or wire enclosure. Many dog owners worry that this is cruel, but in fact, once they are used to it, most dogs really enjoy spending time in the crate.
The crate simulates the den environment of a wolf, so not only is crate training humane, it actually draws on natural canine behavior.
The best time to start crate training in the first night the puppy spends in your home. By now you should already have bought a crate that accommodates your puppy's adult size. Buy one with a sliding panel, and adjust the panel, so the pup has just enough space to lie down and turn around.
Put in a soft towel, rather than a blanket, for the puppy to sleep on. If the pup then ‘has an accident’ in the crate, the towel will absorb any messes.If you bought your puppy from a breeder try to get a strip of blanket with the mother's scent on it. This will be a comfort to your puppy as she settles in.
Put the crate in an area that will allow the pup to interact with the family. Don't put the crate in a secluded spot as the puppy will feel isolated and take longer to settle. Remember that dogs are social creatures by nature.
For the first few weeks, you should put the crate in your bedroom at night. Expect a ruckus at first. Remember, she's just a baby, taken away from her family and put into a place filled with strange sights, smells and sounds.
Don't feel you have to respond to every whimper though. Do this and she'll soon figure out how to get you to come running.
Within a day or two, your pup will be used to the crate and within a few weeks you can move her out of the bedroom. She'll probably kick up a fuss again, but provided you don't respond to her cries, she will get used to the idea quite quickly.
Before too long she'll learn to love the crate and will go there of her own accord.
An often overlooked benefit of crate training is that it makes house training a breeze. Dogs are, by nature, clean animals, so if your puppy needs to go while she's in the crate she'll learn to keep it in.
Remember that your pup will not have the bladder control of an adult dog, so keep her stays in the crate short – no more than an hour at a time.
If she starts making a fuss and wanting to go out, get her outdoors right away. Give lots of praise when she relieves herself outside and your potty training will be much easier.
Visit dogsanddogtraining.com to learnmore about crate training puppies, dog care, dog walking and other helpful dog advice.
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One of the great joys of dog guardianship is spending time in the great outdoors with your best buddy. The sunshine, the fresh air, sight and sounds – what could be better.
But lurking in those woods lies a hidden danger. No, I’m not talking about bears, or wolves, I’m talking about dog ticks!
These gruesome little critters are arachnids, like spiders. But unlike spiders, they're not hunters, they're parasites who feast on the blood of an unwitting host. For whatever reason they seem to have a particular liking for dogs, and if your dog spends time in open fields or woodlands, he's likely to attract these freeloaders.
These parasites have perfected the art of ambush. They cling to a tall stalk of grass and wait for an unsuspecting animal to walk by. Then they hop on board, burrow under the fur and begin feeding.
They even inject a numbing agent into the wound, so that the dog does not detect their presence. And they are voracious feeders. A tick can suck up to 100 times its own body weight in blood.It's therefore very important to check your dog for ticks. In fact, this should be part of your grooming regime.
You'll be looking for one of two kinds of ticks. The first type is round, hard bodied, brown in color, and looks a bit like a small spider. The other somewhat resembles a leech, it is greyish, and may be flaccid or distended depending on the amount of blood it has consumed.
If you do find a tick on your dog it is vital that you remove it immediately. Ticks are a serious threat to dog health and spread a number of serious illnesses, including Lyme Disease. They also attack humans, and as someone who has been bitten, and suffered a bout of tick bite fever, I can assure you that it is no joke.So how do you remove these parasites? Well for starters don't follow any of the folksy remedies like burning, using petroleum jelly or alcohol. These methods don't work.
The right way to do it is with a fine-tipped pair of tweezers. Get a grip on the tick's head as close to the dog's skin as you can, then pull back gently, giving a gentle twist as you do so.You should also use a hydrocortisone spray on the bite spot to take care of the irritation.
Once you've removed the tick place it in a bowl with an ammonia based household cleaner to kill it. Or if you have pity on the poor creature you could just flush it, but be aware that it will most likely go on to feed on some other poor animal or person.
If your dog is often outdoors in fields or woodland I'd recommend that you treat him with a preventative like Frontline or Revolution, one a month. This will kill any ticks already attached and prevent other freeloaders from using your dog as their personal buffet.
Learn more about dog ticks, dog care, puppy care and other helpful dog info at www.dogsanddogtraining.com
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