Thinking about adding a lively little 8 week old Boston Terrier to your family? With its charming personality and handsome tuxedo coat, the Boston is a popular companion animal. If you have your heart set on a Boston puppy but are new to the ins and outs of puppy care, don’t worry, we’re here to help! Raising a new young puppy can be a challenge, even for experienced dog owners. I’ll share what to expect during your puppy’s first few weeks at home, including basics like feeding, potty and crate training, and sleeping schedules.
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8 weeks, or 2 months, is a common age for new puppies to go home with you from breeders and rescue organizations. This gives them enough time for proper socialization with their mothers and littermates, so you can avoid behavioral problems that can come with early separation.
What to Expect From a New Puppy
As a novice puppy parent, you might be surprised at how much time and energy goes into caring for a brand-new puppy! Many experts compare getting a new puppy to bringing home a baby.
Your puppy will need lots of supervision. It can be helpful to schedule the arrival for a time when you will be home from work or school.
Be calm, patient, and gentle with your new puppy. Remember, your puppy will not be housetrained yet, so accidents will happen. Supervise all interactions between the puppy and any young children or resident pets in the home.
Biting and crying are normal behaviors for very young dogs. We’ll talk about how to deal with these issues later!
Introducing Their Puppy Crate
Crate training has many positive benefits. It can prevent destructive behaviors, help with potty training, and provide a safe and secure place for your little one. As a small sized dog, your Boston Terrier puppy can use a traditional wire crate or a small soft or hard sided pet carrier.
Place a bed and some toys in the crate. Make sure the crate is in an area where your puppy can be around family and not in an isolated room. Get your puppy used to the crate by gradually increasing the amount of time spent in the crate.
It’s also very important to never use the crate as punishment, so that your puppy will not become fearful or anxious when placed in it.
8 Week Old Boston Terrier Puppy Schedule
Your puppy’s routine will be centered on three important activities: eating, sleeping, and going potty. All puppies are individuals, of course, but most eight week old puppies of small breeds need four meals a day to maintain a steady energy level.
It’s important for young puppies to get plenty of sleep, and you can expect your puppy to sleep up to 20 hours a day (including nighttime and naps).
Plan on giving your 8 week old Boston Terrier puppy the opportunity to go potty every hour at least, and extra trips after she wakes up, eats, drinks…or gets very excited!
Potty Training an 8 Week Old Boston Terrier
Potty training is a big part of any new puppy’s training routine. Following a potty training schedule is a great way to approach potty training.
Small bladders fill up fast, so during the first few weeks, your young Boston puppy will need frequent trips outside. Expect to take your puppy out every hour, especially after eating, drinking, and waking up from naps.
As your puppy gets older, in the 3 to 4 month range, your Boston can go for longer periods of time between bathroom breaks. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind…your puppy’s age in months roughly equals the number of hours between potty sessions!
First Night with Your Puppy
Your puppy’s first night away from his mother and siblings can be upsetting. Crying during the night is not uncommon in the first few days.
Keep the puppy in a crate next to your bed. This is especially important for very young puppies who have never been without mom and siblings before.
Make sure to spend plenty of time interacting with your puppy during the evening. This will reassure him and tire him out for the night.
How Much Do 8 Week Old Boston Terriers Sleep?
Just like human babies, 8 week old Boston Terrier puppies will spend a lot of time sleeping. But also like babies, very young puppies will not sleep through the night. A young puppy can sleep up to 20 hours a day, including nighttime and multiple naps.
You can expect your puppy to sleep up to 10 hours a night, but an 8 week old puppy will need to wake up to go potty during the night. By around 4 months, your puppy should be sleeping through the night.
Generally, young puppies take multiple naps throughout the day, lasting anywhere between ½ hour to 2 hours.
Feeding an 8 Week Old Boston Terrier
Many new Boston puppy owners have questions about how often and how much to feed their puppy, as well as what kind of food is best. Growing puppies have specific nutritional requirements that are different from adult dogs, so it’s important to choose a quality puppy diet for your new little one.
Small breed dogs can be prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), so your Boston Terrier puppy requires 4 meals per day to avoid this condition.
Diarrhea
It’s not unusual for your new Boston puppy to experience an upset stomach and loose stools or diarrhea during her first few days with you. It may happen with a change in diet, if you are using a different food than the breeder. It could also be from the stress of leaving mom and going to a new home.
More serious causes of diarrhea in puppies include bacterial or viral infection, parasites, or eating something harmful. Bring your puppy to the vet if the diarrhea lasts for more than a day, if you see blood, or if your puppy is also vomiting and seems to be in pain.
It’s important to keep your puppy from becoming dehydrated by providing plenty of water.
8 Week Old Boston Terrier Puppy Biting
It’s a fact, young puppies bite a lot! Biting is a natural puppy behavior, and most will grow out of it with time. Since puppies often bite during play, you can discourage your puppy from biting your fingers by giving him a chew toy instead.
The more excited your puppy becomes, the greater the chance of biting. Kids (and adults!) should be taught how to play gently with new puppies. You can also stop biting by simply walking away or putting your puppy in “time out” in a crate or playpen if necessary.
(paid link) Don’t punish your puppy for biting but be sure to reward good behavior.
Your Growing Puppy
Your 8 week old Boston Terrier won’t stay tiny for long! A full-grown Boston can weigh up to 25 pounds.
As your puppy grows, you’ll want to encourage good behavior by using positive reinforcement training techniques and socializing your dog around other people and animals.
Be prepared to provide your dog with good home care (brushing, nail trimming, toothbrushing) and regular veterinary care.
Like all purebred dogs, Boston Terriers can develop some inherited health problems.
Those big eyes and cute muzzles are appealing, but they come with certain eye and breathing problems associated with brachycephaly.
Keep in mind that a healthier alternative to a purebred Boston puppy may be a Boston mixed with a longer-muzzled breed.
June Gault says
I want to buy a Boston Terrier
June says
I am looking for a new puppy, I have experience with puppies I’m looking for Maltese or Boston Terrier familiar with both , I would like to know the price and if any to purchase that are potty trained Thank You .
Lisa says
I will be traveling 5 hours to bring home a 10 week old Boston Terrier puppy. The first night will be spent in a motel. She will have had her first round of vaccinations. What supplies do I need to have on hand and what else should I know. Thanks for your help.
Debra says
We just bought home a 1.6 pound Boston Terrier puppy home.Was worried she was sleeping to much Thanks to the Information you supplied I am not as concerned.
We do have an older Boston Terrier and are very pleased at how they are getting along.First time crate training
Debra Johnson says
Thanks this was very helpful. I enjoyed reading and learning all of this .
Sergio says
This is broken down very nice and accurately! Thank you so much I was beginning to worry about my puppy’s stomach.