Are Boston Terriers Smart? The Interesting Answer!

Boston Terriers are one of the top 100 intelligent dog breeds. These companion dogs were a part of the University of British Columbia’s research on the smartest dog breeds. The researcher, Stanley Coren, mentioned the results in his book “The Intelligence of Dogs,” ranking Boston Terriers at the 100th position out of 136 breeds.

The research included 199 obedience trial judges from the Canadian and American Kennel Club. The main focus of the study was to rank the dogs depending on their obedience and working intelligence.

The 100th ranking means that the Boston terriers have an “average intelligence,” the same as Great Danes, Australian Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Dachshunds, Greyhounds, and Shiba Inus. That’s impressive!

The Criteria of the Research

Before we find out what makes Boston Terriers smart, let us understand the criteria on which Stanley Coren ranked the dog breeds. His results were based on the following two principles:

While far from the top three, Boston Terriers can still learn a new command with up to 40 repetitions. They can also obey an order almost 50% of the time on the first try. So, Boston Terriers are indeed smart!

What Makes Boston Terriers Smart?

Stanley found many factors that make Boston Terriers intelligent dogs. Here are four main reasons behind the smartness of these friendly pets:

Attentiveness

Boston Terriers are one of the most energetic dog breeds which love training and exercising. You will find them paying full attention to your commands and obeying them accordingly.

Yes, Stanley’s research showed that Boston Terriers obey commands the first time by only 50%, but that is just one-half of the story. In reality, Boston terriers take some time to understand your order and decide whether they should obey it. That’s smart, right?

You may not realize it, but your Boston Terrier can understand your words, body language, and expressions. Your presence also makes a massive difference in the attentiveness of your pet. If you watch them, the dog will obey your command instantly.

You can also develop attentiveness in your Boston Terrier through training. To get better results from your efforts, make sure to start your dog training from an early age.

Independent Nature

Boston Terriers can be stubborn, which is why they didn’t top the obedience ranking list. However, this makes them an independent dog breed that likes to do things the way they want.

This doesn’t mean that your Boston Terrier won’t like your company. After all, these dogs are companion animals that love being around humans, especially kids. But they prefer hanging out with their owners or running in the yard instead of sitting in one place obediently.

Understanding Human Emotions

Every dog breed naturally possesses intuitive intelligence, making them valuable for society’s betterment. For instance, Australian Shepherds know how to herd dogs without learning it from their owners. Similarly, Boston Terriers have this innate ability to understand and communicate human emotions.

Boston Terriers were initially bred for dog fighting and vermin hunting in factories. Over the years, these terriers turned into companions and show dogs because of their gentle and affectionate nature towards humans.

These dogs have now become experts in understanding human feelings. In fact, many Boston Terriers can even communicate with their owners. You will find your dog showing affection to you through cuddling or licking. This makes Boston Terriers a pretty intelligent dog breed.

High Adaptive Intelligence

One factor that shows whether a dog is intelligent is its adaptability to new environments and learning from past experiences. Fortunately, Boston terriers have exceptional problem-solving skills. Not only that, but they also understand different situations and respond to them with their high adaptive intelligence.

Each day, you will see that your Boston Terrier is developing knowledge about many things. For example, they would know where they are going when you take them outside. In fact, your pet may also notice your clothes and sunglasses.

How to Know if a Boston Terrier Is Intelligent

Many things can tell you whether your Boston Terrier is smart or dumb. If your Boston Terrier does a few of the following items, know that you have got an intelligent pet:

While these signs might not be the standard measures of a dog’s cleverness, you can try observing them in your pet’s behavior. They’re wise if they check most of the above things.

Tips for Making Your Boston Terrier Smarter

While your Boston Terrier is already smart, you can follow a few tips to make it even more intelligent. With some exercises and training, your Boston Terrier can compete with the most intelligent dog breeds. Here are a few helpful tips:

Conclusion

Boston Terriers are smart dogs. They easily adapt to different environments, learn tricks, and understand human commands and emotions. You can make your dog smarter with proper training and testing. Just be gentle with your Boston Terrier and appreciate them whenever they exhibit intelligent behavior!

Featured Image Credit: Introvertz3, Pixabay