Boston Terrier Ninety-three percent of dog owners say their dog "knows" basic commands, but fewer than 20 percent ever push past sit and stay. That’s a lot of untapped potential sitting on your couch, staring at you with those big, round eyes.
And if that dog happens to be a Boston Terrier? You’re leaving serious talent on the table.
Boston Terriers are consistently ranked among the most trainable small breeds. They’re sharp, eager, and almost comically motivated by attention and food. That combination makes them surprisingly fast learners, even for tricks that look impressive.
These seven tricks aren’t just party stunts. They build focus, reinforce your bond, and give your Boston a job to do (which, trust me, they desperately want).
1. Sit Pretty (Beg)
This one looks adorable, and Bostons take to it faster than you’d expect.
"Sit pretty" means your dog balances on their hind legs with their front paws lifted off the ground. It takes core strength, so start with short sessions.
Hold a treat just above your dog’s nose while they’re in a sit. Let them naturally rock back onto their haunches reaching for it. The moment both paws lift, click or say "yes" and reward.
Most Bostons get the hang of it within a week of short daily practice. Five minutes is plenty.
Tips to Speed It Up
Practice near a wall at first. It gives your dog something to lean against while building balance. Once they’re stable on their own, phase the wall out.
Keep sessions short and upbeat. The second your Boston loses interest, stop. End on a win, always.
2. Spin
This trick is pure joy to watch, and it takes almost no time to teach.
Hold a treat at your dog’s nose and slowly lure them in a circle. The body follows the nose. Once they complete the full rotation, reward immediately.
"The best tricks are the ones that make the dog feel clever. Spin is exactly that kind of win."
After a few repetitions, introduce a hand signal: a circular motion with your index finger. Eventually, the word "spin" pairs with the gesture.
Add a Second Direction
Once your Boston nails spinning one way, teach the opposite direction. Call it "twist" to keep them distinct.
Two directions, two cues. Double the impressiveness at family gatherings.
3. Shake (Paw)
Classic for a reason. And Bostons are surprisingly enthusiastic about this one, probably because it involves your full attention.
Start with your dog in a sit. Hold a treat in your closed fist near their paw. Most dogs will sniff it, then paw at it out of frustration. The moment that paw touches your hand, open it and reward.
Repeat. Add the verbal cue "shake" as the behavior becomes reliable.
From Shake to "High Five"
Once shake is solid, hold your hand up flat instead of low. Most dogs adapt quickly. It feels like a brand new trick to guests, even though your Boston basically already knew it.
That’s the magic of building on foundations.
4. Roll Over
This one takes a little more patience, but it’s absolutely teachable in a few days of consistent effort.
Start from a "down." Hold a treat at your dog’s nose and slowly lure it toward their shoulder. The goal is to get them to flop onto their side first, then continue the motion all the way over.
Some dogs resist going fully on their back. That’s normal. Break it into two stages: lure to the side, reward. Then lure the rest of the way, reward.
"Patience here pays off tenfold. Every dog has a breakthrough moment, and when it clicks, it really clicks."
What to Do If They Get Stuck
If your Boston keeps stopping mid-roll, try training on a soft surface. Carpet or a yoga mat makes the motion feel less awkward.
Also check your lure placement. The treat needs to arc over the shoulder, not just beside it.
5. Place (Go to Your Spot)
Okay, this one isn’t flashy. But it might be the most useful trick on this list.
"Place" means your dog goes to a specific mat or bed on command and stays there until released. It’s the trick that saves your sanity when guests arrive, when you’re cooking dinner, or when your Boston has decided 6am is a great time for zoomies.
Start by tossing a treat onto the mat and saying "place" as your dog steps onto it. Reward for any foot contact at first. Build duration gradually.
Why Boston Terriers Excel at This
They’re velcro dogs by nature. Once they understand that the mat is the place where good things happen, they choose to go there. The trick practically trains itself once the association clicks.
This one’s worth the investment. Seriously.
6. Touch (Nose Target)
Touch is one of those foundational tricks that quietly powers a dozen other behaviors. And it’s one of the fastest things you’ll ever teach.
Hold your flat palm out toward your dog. Most Boston Terriers will naturally sniff or bump it with their nose just out of curiosity. Click that exact moment and reward.
Add the word "touch." Practice until they’re confidently bopping your hand on cue.
"Nose targeting is the duct tape of dog training. Once you have it, you’ll find yourself using it constantly in ways you never expected."
How Trainers Actually Use Touch
It’s used to guide dogs into position without physical manipulation. It’s used to redirect attention. It can even be the foundation for teaching your dog to close doors or turn on lights.
One small trick, endless applications.
7. Speak (and Quiet)
Teaching your Boston Terrier to bark on command sounds counterintuitive. Stick with me here.
When a dog can bark on cue, they can also be taught to stop barking on cue. That’s the real goal. You’re not encouraging noise; you’re giving it an off switch.
To teach speak, get your dog excited (a squeaky toy, your most animated voice, whatever works) and capture the bark the moment it happens. Say "speak," reward. Repeat until they’ll bark on the word alone.
Teaching "Quiet"
Once speak is solid, ask for it. Then, the moment they bark, hold a treat near their nose and wait for silence. Silence equals reward.
Add "quiet" as the cue for that pause.
It takes a little back and forth, but Bostons tend to figure this out faster than you’d think. They’re communicators at heart; they just need the vocabulary.
A Few Things That Will Make All of These Go Faster
Short sessions beat long ones every single time. Ten minutes of focused training is worth more than an hour of distracted repetition.
High value treats matter. Save the good stuff (real chicken, cheese, whatever your Boston loses their mind over) for training. Kibble is fine for easy behaviors; for new tricks, bring out the big guns.
End every session before your dog wants to. Leave them wanting more. That eagerness carries into the next session and the one after that.
Boston Terriers were practically built for this kind of work. They’re smart enough to learn fast and social enough to want to perform. All they need is someone willing to show them the way.
Start with one trick today. Just one. Pick whichever one made you smile reading this, and spend five minutes on it before dinner. You’ll be surprised how quickly those big eyes start to light up with understanding.