dog care

Do Boston Terriers Snore and Why?

Your little Boston Terrier brings you great joy, that is, until they curl up to go to sleep. Then, you can’t believe the noises that come out of them! It sounds like grunting sometimes and snoring other times. Do Boston Terriers snore? Why are they so loud about it?

Boston Terriers are indeed known for their loud snoring. The reason they snore so audibly is because of their shorter face. Their abridged muzzle can interrupt breathing, which then leads to snoring, grunting, wheezing, and other noises.

What exactly do wheezing and grunting sound like? Should you be concerned that your Boston Terrier snores so loudly? Keep reading, as we’ll answer those questions and more in this article. You won’t want to miss it.

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Why Do Boston Terriers Snore?

You may not have thought about snore volume as a factor when adopting a dog, but now you wish you had. If anything, you would have assumed that because the Boston Terrier is a smaller dog that their snores would be equally tiny. Instead, they’re anything but. What causes the Boston Terrier to snore so noisily?

It’s their face shape. The same refined features that made you fall in love with your Boston Terrier are what’s causing them to snore so loud. With a shorter muzzle, the Terrier can’t breathe as clearly as other breeds with a longer muzzle. Thus, when they slip off to dreamland, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll hear those loud, characteristic snores.

Terriers aren’t the only small dog to snore like a dickens. If you own or are thinking of adopting a French Bulldog (or Frenchie), a Shih-Tzu, a Bulldog, or a Pug, you can expect snoring that rivals the Boston Terrier’s. These dogs are all brachycephalic, which just refers to their snout size.

By the way, if you’re wondering why your Terrier is always so gassy, that has to do with the shape of their face as well. Without quite as much muzzle as other breeds, when your Boston Terrier chows down, they end up swallowing a lot of air with their food. The air is then released out of their rear end. Fun stuff!

What Other Sort of Noises Do Boston Terriers Make?

Snoring isn’t all you’ll hear from your Boston Terrier. Sure, there’s the trademark whining and barking of all dogs, but the Terrier has an assortment of other unique noises they’ll emit as well. These are also due to their smaller muzzle.

Grunting

The grunt is a guttural sound that’s lower in volume than a snore. We people can grunt, and so can our Boston Terriers. Although it may sound like a noise of discomfort, it often isn’t. Instead, your Terrier may grunt to tell you they’re happy.

That said, if you hear a lot of frequent grunting, you might want to give your pup the once-over or consider a vet appointment. They could be sick, injured, or uncomfortable.

Wheezing

Unlike grunting, which is a nice noise in disguise, wheezing is not. Any dog can wheeze, but it’s more common in smaller-snouted breeds like your Boston Terrier. An obstruction in the dog’s airway causes them to make a sound that’s almost like whistling. This is wheezing. Airway obstructions can occur in the large bronchi or trachea.

If your Terrier wheezes for seconds at a time, then it’s not considered a medical emergency. Prolonged wheezing does necessitate immediate attention from a vet, though.

Snuffling

Another noise from your Boston Terrier to keep an ear out for is snuffling. This almost sounds like your dog is sniffing at something, but heavily and intensely. If your Terrier begins sneezing after snuffling, then it could be due to irritants in the air. These can include pollen, carpet powders, perfumes, and dust.

The best course of action is to move your Terrier to an environment where the air is a bit cleaner and clearer. If the snuffling and sneezing persists, get in touch with your vet right away.

Snorting

A little snort here and there from your Boston Terrier is nothing to worry about. You should be aware of the pharyngeal gag reflex, which is also referred to as reverse sneezing. This can lead to snorting as well, but often very forcefully. Your dog begins inhaling and exhaling as fast as they can, almost like they’re breathing in a sneeze instead of letting it out.

Reverse sneezing is a situation that again warrants a vet’s immediate attention. Not all snorting is a reverse sneeze, though, so use your discretion.

Is Loud Snoring Normal for Boston Terriers?

Given that some of the other noises your Boston Terrier makes could be indicative of a health issue, that has you worried about just how loudly they snore. Should you contact your vet to get your dog looked over?

While regular checkups are always a good thing, there’s often no need to take an extra trip to the vet just because your Terrier snores. Again, it’s all due to the breathing obstructions caused by their face shape.

There are some instances in which snoring could be a symptom of a larger, underlying problem. If the snoring has suddenly gotten stronger or louder, it could be due to an obstruction in the nose (besides the Boston Terrier’s natural obstructions), an infection, a reaction to a medication, or allergies.

If your vet rules out the above, then you know your Terrier is healthy, even if they continue snoring.

Can You Reduce the Snore Volume of Your Boston Terrier? How?

Okay, so there’s nothing wrong with your Boston Terrier for snoring loudly, but man, it sure is driving you crazy! You wish your dog had a volume switch that you could turn all the way down. A mute button would also be nice.

In reality, your pup has neither. Does this mean you’re forced to listen to their especially noisy snoring every time they take a nap? After all, sometimes their snoring impacts your own ability to sleep, and other family members have had similar complaints as well. Is there anything you can do to quieten your dog down a bit?

As a matter fact, there is. These lifestyle changes aren’t guaranteed to reduce snoring, but they’re worth a shot.

Don’t Exercise Your Terrier in Hot Weather

Have you ever stepped outside for a jog on a humid day? It feels like you’re moving through soup. Within minutes, you’re drenched in sweat and can barely breathe.

The same can be true of your Boston Terrier. They already don’t breathe perfectly in the first place due to their breed. Any situation that would worsen breathing should be avoided, as it will only lead to more snoring later.

Maintain Indoor Air Quality

Your Boston Terrier doesn’t need to have allergies to react to irritants in the air by snuffling, sneezing, and snoring. The best way to keep the air in your home clean is to invest in a HEPA filter and a humidifier. Vacuum often, don’t light candles, and keep air fresheners out as well.

Wash Your Dog’s Bed Frequently

Where does your Terrier sleep the most often? If it’s in their own bed, then you want to toss the bed into the washer at least weekly. If it’s your bed, then make sure you’re changing your sheets just as regularly. This will keep allergens and other potential irritants from settling on the bedding and deepening your Boston Terrier’s snoring.

Teach Your Dog to Sleep in a More Optimal Position

There are certain positions your Boston Terrier can sleep in that may reduce snoring volume. One of these is curling up on their side. Their airways are the most open, which means quieter snoring and perhaps even less of it. It may take some time to train them to sleep this way, but it’s worth it. A round-shaped bed may help.

Have Them Use a Pillow

Another way to open up those airways? Try a doggy pillow! Your Terrier will feel like they’re sleeping in the lap of luxury while you’ll enjoy a quieter household day and night.

Conclusion

Boston Terriers have a smaller snout that’s conducive to loud snoring. This can be jarring if you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep, but there are ways to reduce the noise. By switching beds, adding a pillow, and keeping the home clean, your Terrier may snore less.

While snoring is often not a health issue, it can be at times. It’s always a good idea to see a vet if your Boston Terrier is snoring very loudly. Good luck!

Author Nicole Malczan

Are Boston Terriers Smart?


Boston Terriers are known for their determination, friendliness, and entertaining personality. But are they smart? Being an owner of a Boston Terrier and treating many Boston Terriers over the past years, I’ve come across many different intelligence levels in various dog breeds. I’ve researched how they compare in intelligence and obedience to other dog breeds.

Boston Terriers are highly intelligent dogs. They are also very stubborn, which can make them more difficult to train than other breeds. A Boston Terrier owner must be patient when training and disciplining. However, they are considered smart.

 

How smart are Boston Terriers?

According to “The Intelligence of Dogs” book written in 1994 by psychologist and dog trainer, Stanley Coren, Boston Terriers were listed at 100 out of his 136 intelligence list. This would consider them as “average intelligence.” This means that Boston Terriers are able to learn a brand new command with 25 to 40 repetitions. They are also capable of obeying a known command on the first attempt 50% of the time.

Phoenix

Phoenix

Professor Coren claims that 51% of a dog’s intelligence stems from its genes, while 49% is based on environmental factors. Stanley Coren developed criteria for ranking dog intelligence based on instinctive, adaptive, working, and obedience. Together, they evaluate the problem solving capabilities, obedience, memory, social training, and observation. He contacted obedience trial judges from the American and Canadian Kennel Club to help evaluate and rank dog breeds for his list. Read on as to why I disagree with this study.

 

What is the criteria for rating a dog’s intelligence?

His criteria are based on the following:

• Number of repetitions needed to learn a new command: more intelligent dogs were able to learn new commands with fewer repetitions. • Success rate your dog obeys a known command on the first attempt: for example, whether your dog obeys a command on attempt 1 vs. attempt 20.

While this was an extensive study that closely monitored the behavior of many different breeds, I do have to question whether they took into consideration the difference between “intelligent” and “obedient” or “trainable.” This is why I disagree with this list. Just because a dog is easily trainable does not exactly correlate to intelligence. If a dog is passive or obedient, that does not mean he/she is smarter. For example, cats are highly intelligence, yet they are extremely untrainable. There is obviously a difference between trainability/ obedience vs. intelligence that is not taken into consideration.

If you are curious as to who is in the top three, it is: Border Collies, Poodles, and German Shepherds.

 
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Are Boston Terriers Obedient?

Boston Terriers were originally bred from Bulldogs and Bull Terriers. From the Bulldog, they developed their sweet, charming, and loving personality. From the Bull Terrier, they developed their lively mood, quality to take care of themselves if attacked by another dog, and ability to be great destroyers if not properly trained. Boston Terriers are also known to be very good with kids and other dogs because of their friendly nature. However, due to them being social, playful, and excitable, it is more difficult to train them and keep them focused.

Fortunately, Boston Terriers love to please their owners, so using the correct training techniques and positive reinforcement will surely help them become more obedient.

Boston Terriers are extremely stubborn and do not respond well to negative approaches or punishment. A scolded dog may withdraw and hide, while a dog praised for progress will continue to do that behavior for more treats or affection.

 

How can I make sure my Boston Terrier is obedient?

The following are ways to help train your Boston Terrier and ensure the correct behaviors:

  1. Use treats as a reward. They will do anything for their treats, and once they learn that if they do the behaviors you want and earn treats while doing so, they will keep doing that behavior.
  2. Praise and get excited, or cheer for them, when they listen. They love praise and want to please you.
  3. Clicker training. They learn quickly when they can connect a noise to a behavior.
  4. Be patient and consistent. Because Boston Terriers are not as focused as some of the other breeds, it takes time and consistency on the owner’s behalf.
  5. Do not scare or yell at them. This will affect them in a negative way and they will not listen when negative reinforcement is used.
  6. Keep their minds mentally stimulated with chew toys and games. This will tire them out and cause them to be less mischievous.
  7. Socialize them often. The more people and dogs they meet, the more they will know how to interact and cooperate with the world around them.
  8. Exercise them often. Daily walks will keep them satisfied and calmer throughout the day.
  9. Spa music for their ears. Based on my experience with this breed, classical or spa music seem to soothe and calm them down.
 
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Advice From A Boston Terrier Mom

When I first got my Boston, Phoenix, I honestly did not think he was smart. He did not listen when I called his name, refused to be potty-trained, and did whatever he wanted to do. I came to realize that he actually is very smart, just stubborn and lives life on his own terms. He eventually started to listen when I called his name, and seemed to learn quicker once he saw my other dogs doing what I told them to do. Once he observed his new siblings, he started to copy their behaviors and became more obedient. I am able to bribe him with treats, as he will listen to almost any command if there is a tasty reward for him.

Boston Terriers love to observe those around them and WILL pick up on the habits and behaviors of other dogs around them, whether good or bad. They are easily adaptable, overly social, and extremely loving. It seems to be difficult for them to focus, making it a longer process to learn. If you have another dog that obeys commands, this will make the process of training your Boston easier.

Boston Terriers require a lot of attention and affection. If you have little extra time in your life and are not able to make your dog your priority, I would not suggest getting this breed. However, if you do have the ability to make them one of your top priorities, they are such fun and loving dogs, you will never be bored a day in your life if you have a Boston Terrier to come home to!

 

Patience, time, and affection will ensure your Boston Terrier be as smart as can be

While a Boston Terrier size is relatively small, they are considered intelligent. However, their temperament and lack of of focus may cause them to be less obedient than many other dog breeds, making them “seem” less smart. As a Boston Terrier parent, it takes time and patience to get them to cooperate when training. Having another dog that already obeys commands will make this process easier. Boston Terriers require a lot of affection and attention, and will definitely give that back two fold. Overall, they are highly intelligent if given the correct environment, love and training.