Boston Terrier Can your Boston Terrier actually learn a new trick in 48 hours? Not just kind of learn it, but actually nail it well enough to show off at Sunday dinner?
The answer is yes. And honestly, probably more than one.
Boston Terriers are one of those breeds that people consistently underestimate. They look like little clowns in tuxedos, and sure, they act like it too. But underneath all that goofiness is a genuinely sharp, eager-to-please dog who picks up on cues faster than most owners realize.
The key is keeping sessions short, rewards frequent, and expectations realistic. You’re not training for the Westminster Dog Show. You’re spending a fun weekend bonding with your dog and walking away with some seriously impressive party tricks.
Ready? Let’s get into it.
The Basics Before You Begin
Before diving into specific tricks, a quick note on setup. Keep training sessions to 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Boston Terriers have big brains and big personalities, but their attention spans are delightfully chaotic.
High value treats are non-negotiable. Think tiny pieces of chicken, cheese, or whatever makes your dog lose their mind.
"The dog who’s having the most fun in the training session is always the one learning the fastest."
End every session on a win. Even if you have to make the final ask ridiculously easy, finish with success. It keeps motivation high for next time.
1. Sit
Why Start Here?
If your Boston doesn’t have a solid sit yet, this is your weekend project and it’s a worthy one. A crisp, reliable sit is the foundation for almost every other trick on this list.
Hold a treat at your dog’s nose, then slowly move it back over their head. Their bottom will hit the floor almost automatically. The moment it does, say "sit," click or praise, and reward.
Ten reps. Then a break. You’ll be amazed where you are by Saturday afternoon.
2. Shake (Paw)
The Crowd-Pleaser
This one gets everyone. There’s something about a Boston Terrier extending a tiny formal paw for a handshake that is almost unbearably charming.
Ask for a sit first. Then gently tap or hold your hand under one of their paws, say "shake," and the moment they lift it even slightly, reward immediately. Within a few repetitions, they start offering the paw on their own.
Boston Terriers tend to catch on to this one fast. Some get it in a single session.
3. Down
Lower, Lower, Good Dog
"Down" is trickier than it looks, but Boston Terriers handle it well once they understand what you’re asking.
Start from a sit. Hold a treat at your dog’s nose and slowly drag it straight down toward the floor, then forward along the ground. Their elbows should follow. The second their belly touches, reward generously.
Some dogs resist this position because it feels vulnerable. Just be patient, keep the energy positive, and don’t push on their back.
"A dog who trusts you will follow a treat anywhere, including all the way to the floor."
4. Spin
Around We Go
This trick is ridiculous and joyful and your Boston will love it. Stand in front of your dog with a treat in your hand. Lure them in a circle by moving the treat slowly around their body, either clockwise or counterclockwise, until they’ve completed a full rotation. Reward at the finish line.
Once they’ve got one direction, teach the other and give each a different cue. "Spin" and "twirl" work well.
It looks like a tiny dog doing ballet. Highly recommend.
5. Touch (Nose to Hand)
Underrated and Incredibly Useful
"Touch" means your dog bumps their nose to your open palm on cue. It sounds simple, which is why people skip it. That’s a mistake.
Hold your flat palm out a few inches from your dog’s face. Most dogs will naturally investigate with their nose. The second they make contact, reward. Build the distance slowly over multiple reps.
Touch is the foundation for recall, redirecting attention, and more advanced tricks later on. It’s a sneaky useful one.
6. Roll Over
The Classic
Ask for a down first. Then take a treat to the side of your dog’s nose and slowly guide it over their shoulder, toward their back. Their body should follow until they tip onto their side, then all the way over.
It takes more patience than some of the others, and some dogs are dramatic about it. Boston Terriers in particular may give you a very offended look the first few times.
Push through. By the second day, most are rolling like pros.
7. Stay
The One That Actually Matters
A reliable stay is genuinely one of the most practical things your dog can know. And a focused, biddable Boston Terrier can get a solid foundation on it in a single weekend.
Ask for a sit or down. Say "stay" in a calm, clear voice. Take one small step back, then immediately return and reward before they break position. That last part matters: reward before they move, not after.
Build duration and distance in tiny increments. Don’t rush this one.
8. Leave It
Impulse Control for Tiny Chaos Machines
Boston Terriers are curious, fast, and occasionally convinced that everything on the floor is food. "Leave it" is a sanity-saver.
Place a treat on the floor and cover it with your hand. The moment your dog stops trying to get it and pulls back even slightly, reward with a different treat from your other hand. They learn quickly that leaving something alone pays better than going for it.
"The best-trained dog isn’t the one who never wants to misbehave. It’s the one who’s learned that listening pays off better."
9. Speak (and Quiet)
Turn the Volume Up, Then Down
Boston Terriers are not the quietest breed on the planet. Teaching them to bark on cue sounds counterintuitive, but it actually gives you more control over the behavior, not less.
Wait for a natural bark or get them excited enough to offer one. The moment they bark, say "speak" and reward. Once they’re offering it on cue, introduce "quiet": ask them to speak, then hold a treat near their nose and wait for silence. Mark and reward the moment they stop.
Teaching both together is the move. Speak alone is just noise.
10. Place (Go to Your Spot)
The One That Makes Guests Impressed
"Place" means your dog goes to a specific mat or bed and stays there until released. It looks incredibly impressive to anyone watching.
Set a mat on the floor. Lure your dog onto it and reward the moment all four paws are on it. Then build a stay from there. Over time, you can point to the mat from across the room and they’ll trot right over.
This one takes the most patience of anything on this list. But Boston Terriers are smart, and by Sunday evening, you’ll likely have the beginnings of a reliable place command.
It’s the kind of trick that makes people ask, "Did you take him to a professional trainer?"
A Few Final Tips to Make Your Weekend Count
Timing Is Everything
Reward the exact moment your dog does the right thing. Not two seconds later. The click of a clicker or a sharp "yes!" bridges the gap between the behavior and the treat.
Short and Sweet Wins
Two or three short sessions a day will outperform one long exhausting one every time. Keep it fun, keep it light, and your Boston will be dragging you to the training spot by Sunday morning.
Celebrate Effort, Not Just Perfection
If your dog tries, reward the try. Shaping behavior means rewarding steps in the right direction, not holding out for a finished product. Progress compounds fast when your dog feels like they’re winning.
Boston Terriers were practically built for this kind of weekend. They want to engage with you, they want the treats, and they have just enough sass to keep the whole thing entertaining.