Boston Terrier Biscuit had been awake for exactly four minutes when he lapped the couch for the third time, stole a sock, and attempted to climb the refrigerator. His owner, half-asleep with coffee in hand, stared at him with the kind of bewildered admiration that only Boston Terrier people truly understand. He wasn’t being bad. He was just ready. Ready to run, chase, wrestle, and play until the universe itself begged for a nap. The problem? Nobody had told Biscuit’s owner what to actually do with all that energy.
That’s what this list is for.
Boston Terriers are small dogs with absolutely no concept of their own size. They play like they have something to prove, and honestly? They kind of do. These compact little athletes were bred with a lively temperament, and without proper outlets, that energy turns into zoomies at 11 PM and suspicious chewing incidents involving your favorite shoes.
The good news is that tiring out a Boston doesn’t require a huge yard or hours of your time. It requires the right games.
1. The Shell Game
What It Is and Why Bostons Love It
Grab three cups and a treat. Hide the treat under one cup, shuffle them around, and watch your Boston absolutely lose their mind trying to figure out where it went.
This game isn’t just fun. It’s a full mental workout, and for Boston Terriers, mental exhaustion hits just as hard as physical exercise. A dog who has been thinking hard is a dog who is ready to sleep.
"A tired Boston is a happy Boston, but a mentally tired Boston is a whole different level of peaceful."
Start slow. Let your dog win often in the beginning. The goal is to build confidence and keep the game exciting, not to outwit them into frustration.
How to Level It Up
Once your Boston has the basic idea down, add more cups. Use identical containers so they can’t cheat by sniffing the obvious one. You can even start mixing in fake-outs, shuffling without switching, just to see that little wrinkled forehead scrunch in concentration.
Five minutes of this game can do what twenty minutes of leash walking sometimes can’t.
2. Flirt Pole Chase
The Closest Thing to a Real Hunt
A flirt pole looks like an oversized cat toy: a long stick with a rope and a lure at the end. You control it. Your Boston chases it. Everyone wins, except maybe your arm after ten minutes.
Boston Terriers have a strong prey drive that often gets underestimated because of their size. A flirt pole taps directly into that instinct. They dart, pivot, leap, and skid across the floor in a way that is genuinely impressive and mildly chaotic.
This is one of the best games for burning energy fast. Short, intense sessions of five to ten minutes can leave a Boston panting and satisfied in a way that longer, lower-intensity play sometimes doesn’t.
A Few Ground Rules
Always let your dog "catch" the lure sometimes. A dog that never wins loses interest quickly.
Keep sessions short, especially with puppies, since Boston Terriers can be prone to overheating and their flat faces mean they don’t cool down as efficiently as longer-snouted breeds. Watch for heavy breathing and take breaks early rather than late.
"The flirt pole works so well because it speaks the dog’s language, instinct, speed, and the thrill of the chase."
3. Hide and Seek (Yes, Really)
You Are the Prize
This one sounds silly. It works spectacularly.
Have your Boston sit and stay (or have someone hold them), then go hide somewhere in the house. Call their name once. Then wait.
What follows is a masterclass in focus and determination. Boston Terriers are people-oriented dogs who form intense bonds with their humans. Finding you isn’t just a game to them; it is a mission.
Why It Works So Well
The beauty of hide and seek is how many things it exercises at once. Your dog uses their nose, their memory, their problem-solving skills, and their legs, all at the same time. By the time they find you (and they will, triumphantly, probably with a victory lap included), they’ve had a genuine workout without either of you stepping outside.
It also reinforces the "come" command in the most natural, positive way possible. Bonus training disguised as playtime.
Make the hiding spots progressively harder as they get better at the game. Behind the shower curtain. Inside a closet. Crouched behind the laundry basket like you’re not absolutely ridiculous.
4. DIY Obstacle Course
Turn Your Living Room Into an Agility Arena
You don’t need fancy equipment. A row of couch cushions to weave through, a blanket draped over two chairs to crawl under, a low stack of books to jump over. Boston Terriers are surprisingly agile for their stout little bodies, and they take to obstacle courses with a focus that is almost unsettling.
"Once a Boston figures out a course, they don’t just run it. They own it, optimizing their path like a tiny four-legged project manager."
Start by guiding them through each obstacle individually using treats. Once they know each piece, string it together into a sequence. Then time them. Then time them again. They will absolutely notice if you’re impressed.
The Real Payoff
Obstacle courses combine physical exertion with mental engagement, which is the sweet spot for high-energy dogs. Every jump and turn requires a decision. Every new configuration is a puzzle.
Rearrange the course every few sessions to keep it fresh. Boston Terriers are smart enough to get bored with repetition, and a bored Boston is an inventive Boston. Inventive in ways you probably won’t appreciate.
5. Tug of War
The Classic That Never Gets Old
Tug of war has a bad reputation it doesn’t deserve. The old myth that playing tug makes dogs aggressive has been largely debunked. When done with clear rules, it’s actually one of the best bonding and enrichment games you can play.
Boston Terriers are enthusiastic tuggers. They lock in with a grip that seems physically impossible for a dog their size, plant those little bulldog-ancestry feet, and pull like their dignity depends on it.
How to Play It Right
Use a designated tug toy, not a rope that looks like something from the laundry. Teach a "drop it" or "out" command before you play, so you control when the game starts and stops. If teeth touch your hand, the game pauses immediately. Consistency here matters.
Let your Boston win regularly. Winning doesn’t make them dominant; it makes them want to play again tomorrow.
Short, intense rounds are better than one long session. A minute of serious tugging, a brief pause, another round. That rhythm keeps energy burning and keeps the game exciting rather than exhausting in the wrong way.
And when it’s finally over? When the toy is dropped and your Boston flops onto the cool floor with their tongue out and their big round eyes going half-mast?
That’s the moment you’ve been working toward.
A quick note before you dive in: every dog is different. Some Bostons will flip for the shell game and show zero interest in tug. Others will become flirt pole fanatics overnight. Try a few, see what lights them up, and lean into whatever makes their tail go absolutely haywire. The best game is always the one your dog actually wants to play.