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Are Boston Terriers hyper
Are Boston Terriers supposed to be hyper? In general, the Boston Terrier does tend to be hyper. This is especially true when they are young. This hyperactivity tends to be in short bursts followed by rest periods.
Boston Terriers are very social and love to play. Male Boston Terriers are a little more full-on than females. Every dog, even of the same breed, is an individual and some will be more hyper than others.
Often a Boston Terrier will be more hyper if they are not receiving the exercise and mental stimulation they require. They are fairly high energy and also very intelligent and require an hour of exercise a day but would be more than happy to go for much longer.
Without the opportunity to release all that pent up energy and to challenge their minds they can develop behavior problems. This can include barking, digging, destructive behavior and escaping to explore on their own.
For a guide to Boston Terrier exercise needs and ideas see here.
When will my Boston Terrier calm down
As stated, Boston Terriers can be hyper especially when they are young. They tend to slow down the older they get and begin to lay around more. As a puppy, they can be full-on, but it is usually in short bursts. Puppies will sleep and rest around 18 to 20 hours a day.
When they reached 1 to 2 years old a Boston Terrier will mature but will still be high energy. From around 7 to 8 years of age, they are technically becoming a senior dog. They will still be very active but will be a little more laid back.
It is still important for a senior Boston Terrier to receive daily exercise to keep them healthy, manage their weight, and keep their joints supple.
How to tire out a Boston Terrier
To tire out and settle a Boston Terrier, daily exercise is crucial. It is better to be consistent and exercise them every day than to do big workouts at the weekend and nothing all week. This is likely to cause an injury.
Mental stimulation and enrichment are also crucial for a Boston Terrier. In fact, mental exercise can tire a dog just as much as physical activity. A lot of hyperactivity is the result of an over-aroused and excited mind.
These are some suggested way to burn energy and tire your Boston Terrier –
Daily Walk
The daily walk is not only an opportunity to burn pent up energy. It also provides mental stimulation by way of the sights, sounds, and smells they come across. It is also a good opportunity for social interaction with other dogs they meet along the way.
Ideally, you should walk for Boston Terrier for a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour. This can be just one walk or two walks if your schedule allows.
If your Boston Terrier has good recall and comes on command, walks at the park off the leash are ideal. This will give them the opportunity to burn off more energy and explore stimulating their minds. This is known as decompression walking.
Alternatively, you can use a retractable leash or long line to allow them more freedom while maintaining control.
Purposeful activity and free play
There are many other ways to exercise your Boston Terrier including playing games, giving them toys, and any activity that involves you. Boston Terriers love your attention and spending time with you. Some suggested activities for a Boston Terrier include –
- Play with toys – for suggested toys for Boston Terrier see here
- Flirt Pole – for more on Flirt Pole see here
- Fetch or Frisbee
- Backyard agility
- Tug of war
- Jolly Ball
For more exercise ideas for a Boston Terrier see here.
Mental stimulation and enrichment
As stated, mental exercise can tire a dog just as much as physical activity. Boston Terriers are smart and failure to challenge their minds can lead to boredom.
Boredom is one of the main causes of behavioral problems in dogs such as barking, destructive behavior, and even escaping. These are some suggested ways to provide mental stimulation for your Boston terrier –
- Puzzle toys – see here for suggested puzzle toys
- Learning new commands and tricks
- Chewing see here for the psychological benefits of chewing for dogs
- Food enrichment – see here to learn more
- Enrich their environment – see here to learn more
How to calm a Boston Terrier
In addition, to increase exercise and mental stimulation, there are many other ways to calm a hyper Boston Terrier. As stated, hyperactivity is often a result of an over-aroused and excited mind. These suggestions will help to relax the mind and put your Boston Terrier in a calmer state.
Catch the aroused state early
Over excitement is a state of mind. A hyper Boston Terrier is the outward manifestation of an over-aroused state of mind. The trick is to catch the state of arousal before it gets to a high level. A dog doesn’t go from calm to hyper excited in one step. The state of arousal goes up in stages.
Calm your energy
If you are speaking and interacting with your Boston Terrier with excited energy it will excite them. If your energy is calm and you speak to them in a calm monotone pitch it will keep them calmer.
Gentle belly rubs and massage
Compassionately rubbing your Boston Terriers belly, has a similar effect, that a back massage has on their human owners. This rubbing sensation has the ability to calm your dog down so much, that they will fall asleep.
This should be done in a calm manner and not turned into a game. This will excite your Boston Terrier. If you are in need of some sleep (or maybe need to make an important phone call), try calling your Boston Terrier over to you, putting them on your lap (or a soft area right next to you), and begin to gently rub their bellies’ until you notice that their eyes have been closed for around 5 – 10 minutes.
Gently rubbing your Boston Terriers muzzle and stop area
Rubbing the stop is also very calming for a dog. The stop is the area on the bridge of the muzzle between the eyes. This area has many nerve endings. Rubbing here releases endorphins to their brain giving them a fell good calming effect.
Another similar spot is where the ears join the head. Rubbing here has the same result as rubbing the stop area.
Use the Calm Hold technique
A calm hold is a technique used to settle and calm a dog. Simply place your hand on the side of your dog’s shoulder just holding them still. Don’t make eye contact with them and you don’t even need to say anything.
You can hold your Boston Terrier by the collar if you wish to hold them in place with your other hand on the shoulder. If you wish you can say something like “Relax” in a calm monotone unemotional tone. Once your Boston Terrier has relaxed you can remove your hand. This video also shows a similar technique you can try.
Use dog meditative music
There is plenty of music designed specifically to relax and calm a dog. You can either purchase dog relaxation music on Amazon or there is plenty of free dog anxiety music on Utube.
ADAPTIL Calm Home Diffuser for Dogs
This is a diffuser you plug into a power outlet that releases dog appeasing pheromones that give then a calm feeling. To us, these scents are odorless and are only perceived by dogs and provide a strong signal of security and comfort. The diffuser will cover an area of up to 700 sq. ft. It comes with a diffuser head and a vile that lasts up to 30 days. Replacement viles are also available on Amazon.
This is a well known homeopathic remedy that has been around for 80 years. It is quite commonly used by humans to feel relaxed, calm and stress-free. As a dog groomer, I have used Rescue remedy with great success when working with highly anxious dogs. Easy to use as you just put a drop or two on the tongue.
Summary – How to calm a hyper Boston Terrier
It is not uncommon to hear a Boston Terrier owner ask when will my Boston Terrier calm down or how do I calm down my hyper Boston Terrier. They are high energy, intelligent and can be independent dogs.
The above suggestions may be able to help you keep your Boston Terrier in a calmer state of mind. However, the most important thing you can do is provide them with sufficient exercise, both physical activity, and mental challenges. Let us know in the comments what has worked for your Boston Terrier
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