My husband and I have seriously started to think about getting a new pet. We both have allergies, although I think they’ve decreased over the years. Still, having said that we’ve begun to look into a few different dog breeds that we think might be suitable for our small home and our lifestyle.
One of the dogs that’s made the short list – excuse the pun – is the Boston Terrier. We have a house so I suppose we could get any type of dog, however it’s a small house with a small yard so I think a small to medium sized dog would suit us better.
So I’ve been spending time reading articles such as the Boston Terriers Dog Guide Article to get a better idea of the terrier temperament, personality, health issues and it’s over all needs.
They are actually companion dogs who thrive on attention. If you’ve also been thinking of getting a terrier don’t get one if you can’t spend a good amount of time with your new pet. I’m home all day so I’d be able to give a Boston Terrier all the attention it needs.
They are also supposed to be quite intelligent and playful. A good mix. I like playful dogs and one that’s said to be intelligent should be easy enough to train, unless of course it gets stubborn as these dogs sometimes can be on occasion.
These dogs have large bulging eyes which I believe is part of their attraction. Of course their large eyes are also the source of most of their health problems. Some of their eye problems can be prevented or minimized with care and attention, but others go with the territory. I would think that anyone who owns a terrier should be on the lookout for the first sign of eye trouble and get it treated if possible as soon as possible.
If we get a terrier or another type of dog it probably won’t happen until Mid-November onward. We have a lot going on here at home over the summer what with all the house guests we are expecting and then in early November I’ll be going out of town for a while. I think it’s best to get our new pet, if we get one, when the house will be settled and we don’t have holiday plans.
Do any my readers have experience with Boston Terriers? If you do have you seen any eye problems?
For what it’s worth I have horrible allergies, but I grew up with a miniature poodle and that didn’t affect them much because of the lack of shedding. My understanding is that it’s not the hair, it’s the dander, but I guess dogs that don’t shed (but require haircuts/grooming) produce less or something.
Anyway, poodles get a bad rap as some froofroo snotty pet or something, but that’s only by people who’ve never been around one. They are one of the most intelligent dogs (not just my opinion, they truly are known for being intelligent), and they were originally bred as retrievers (remember, the standard poodles came first, and are still around). I actually saw my family’s miniature poodle get back to nature one time at the lake letting perch go that we had caught. She went running in to the water, stuck her head under with her eyes open trying to find them… and as it was still a little stunned, she got some and she would bring them back to the beach and attempt to chew them like a bone, holding it between her front paws. It was hilarious, but freaked my mom out because she normally didn’t swim except from my mom to the steps in the pool when we’d bring her in on hot days. But instinct kicked in and it was hilarious.
Anyway, she was the greatest… my mom actually had one as a teenager and in to her 20s as well, and I guess that one did everything… jumped off the docks, swam with her and her brothers and sisters, etc.
Other than that, border collies and Australian shepherds are my favs. My boss has a border collie and it’s probably the smartest dog I’ve ever known. My sister has an Australian shepherd who’s also extremely smart, but he’s a bit of a nervous wreck and wants to be at my sister’s side all the time because he’s been abandoned a number of times before she got him.
Both of those breeds are the types you see doing the agility tests on TV and leaping for frisbees, etc. Awesome dogs, but if you don’t have a lot of space, might not be for you.
As for terriers, I guess they can be good, but I’ve known a handful that still have a bit of viciousness in them.
I have one, and it’s adorable. I actually find terriers to be a perfect companion. Just make sure that you train the dog very well and pay enough attention to your pet. As a pet owner you also have to learn more about its character traits and medical history.
I have HORRIBLE allergies but have not been bothered by our 2 cairn terriers that my wife and I have. They’re just like Toto from the Wizard of Oz. Totally cute and allergy free!