Re-Intro and Questions

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21 January 2009 @ 11:28 am

My name is Tiffany, I just joined this group a couple of weeks ago. We just got our very first Boston, Hurley, and are totally smitten. My husband and I live in Idaho with our other pet, a rabbit named Waffles. I grew up on a farm where we raised Appaloosa show horses and Rottweilers, but this is my first experience with a house dog. Definitely a learning curve, but things are getting better!! :)

So, my first question - while puttering around Petsmart the other day, my husband was told by one of the associates there that Bostons are one of the harder breeds to potty train. Any truth to that? I mean, we haven't had it easy, but it is getting a lot better. I just didn't put much stock into that statement, what has been everyone else's experience?

Question number 2 - What is a good treat for puppies? I want to give him something special for a reward when he does good things, but I want something that won't upset his stomach or anything. Any suggestions?

Thanks so much, I'm so excited to be a part of this community!

Right now I am at: 83401

I am feeling: amused

amused

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eicnan on January 21st, 2009 06:49 pm (UTC)

He is so cute! I've only had one Boston but sadly he's been the hardest of all my dogs to potty train. But he did catch on, it just took longer so there's hope!

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givmewings on January 21st, 2009 07:23 pm (UTC)

Yeah, Winston was definitely stubborn about the house training, but they will learn! Just stick with it & try to keep them on a fairly regular going outside schedule -- don't give up! They do catch on :)

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it_came on January 21st, 2009 08:10 pm (UTC)

My two bostons have been a breeze to house train. I have a 1 year old male and a 9 month old female. The male was 4 months old when he came to us and he took very easy to potty and crate training. Lot of treats were involved and now he let's us know when he's gotta go!

The female we purchased at 8 weeks and had her on puppy pads for a few weeks until she started ripping them up and playing with them. We started letting her out of the house about every hour-hour 30 min. and she took it quick.

Praise and treats work wonders. As far as treats, we gave em those little filet things from Purina, they were small and they loved em.

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bird on January 21st, 2009 08:55 pm (UTC)

Eloise was very hard to potty train. i have heard in this community and elsewhere that Bostons can be hard to potty train, which i found out after the fact, but made me feel better! the other commenters have offered great advice. Eloise came to us slightly paper trained, which made life easier, but she was just diabolical about sneaking to poop in different rooms. all i can add is that you need to watch your baby constantly, and the second they start to go in an inappropriate place, yell NO!!! and surprise them. then move him to the appropriate place and when he goes there, praise him like crazy. they dont need to be surprised that many times before they learn.

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eldritchhobbit on January 21st, 2009 08:59 pm (UTC)

I hadn't heard that about potty training. We crate trained Virginia, and she learned to go outside and using dog litter pretty easily. We break up regular Milkbone dog biscuits or Meaty Bones into small halves as treats, and she loves them. I remember we bought treats made especially for puppies when she was little, but I can't remember the brand offhand. I'm sorry! It was something mainstream sold at Petsmart, I'm sure.

Hurley is absolutely adorable. Congrats on bringing him into your family! I hope you'll post more pictures soon.

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astridlynn on January 21st, 2009 09:22 pm (UTC)

Bostons are very smart dogs - so when it comes to potty training, that can work in your favor or against you. Personally, Charlie was pretty easy to potty train. The most imporant things are to give him plenty of opportunity to pee outside and be consistent.

As for treats....the only thing I can recommend is to AVOID Greenies. It's true what they say about them being a hazard, especially if the dog doesn't chew them completely before swallowing them. It can then get lodged in their stomachs or intestines. I used to give Charlie one every evening after he ate his supper, until it cost me a week's paycheck and an entire day at the vet's office. (Thankfully he didn't need surgery.)

Charlie likes most treats, with the exception of the cheap bacon strips (dog treats) from the gas station. His favorites are rawhides "chewies", but he doesn't get them very often and only under supervision now.

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tiffany23 on January 22nd, 2009 06:10 am (UTC)

Thanks for the advice everyone!

And thanks for the tip on Greenies, I had actually been eyeing them on the shelf, good info to know! I will avoid those now for sure!

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alwaysgenevieve on January 21st, 2009 09:44 pm (UTC)

ive never heard that about bostons being hard to potty train. I have had 5 bostons so far and all have been really easy.

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bitchsaid_yea on January 21st, 2009 11:14 pm (UTC)

My Bostie wasn't hard at all to potty train.

Your Bostie has THE cutest face!!

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sweetdemonica on January 22nd, 2009 04:02 am (UTC)

my first boston was easy to potty train and my second one was a little more difficult, but i wouldnt say she was "hard". we were very patient and consistent. neither of them potty trained themselves like our maltese did.

as far as treats it seems each boston likes different things and is sensitive to different things. Mine like the good ol regular Milk bones

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nympha on January 22nd, 2009 11:49 am (UTC)

Mine was hard but my sisters was not. I was trying to potty train mine in a house with 2 small children and another Boston. (I lived with my sis and her family at the time) My sister had her Boston all to herself with no distractions when they got theirs, no kids or anything yet so I think that was a huge part of it. Good Luck!

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booksaremyhabit on January 23rd, 2009 05:43 pm (UTC)

your baby is so so cute!
Bostons are easy to potty train..mine were both trained completely in two weeks.

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