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
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.
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:
- 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.
- Praise and get excited, or cheer for them, when they listen. They love praise and want to please you.
- Clicker training. They learn quickly when they can connect a noise to a behavior.
- 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.
- 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.
- Keep their minds mentally stimulated with chew toys and games. This will tire them out and cause them to be less mischievous.
- 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.
- Exercise them often. Daily walks will keep them satisfied and calmer throughout the day.
- Spa music for their ears. Based on my experience with this breed, classical or spa music seem to soothe and calm them down.
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.