Activities For Boston Labs
Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
Put together a Boston Terrier and a Labrador Retriever and you have a Boston Lab! Terriers were originally bred to be fighting dogs but are actually extremely affectionate dogs. Terriers are also super smart, do not need a lot of exercise and prefer to be inside. Labs, on the other hand, were used as working dogs for most of history but also make fantastic companions. Labs are super active but easy to train and require both mental and physical stimulation. So when these two very different breeds are mixed, what activities will suit them best? The answer, indoor activities where they have to use their brain! Here are a few to get you started.Â
Find It
Searching for toys or treats is the perfect activity for a Boston Lab as it helps them be active but not overly pushed to their physical limit. Searching for toys will require dogs to use their brain as they look for the object of their desire. Their keen sense of smell will also come into play. The best part of searching for toys and treats is the reward at the end! Your Boston Lab will love to play this game as the breed responds especially well to training which involves positive rewards. You can purchase toys to help you play this game or you can use things you have at home - either option works great!
Ring Stacking
When thinking of a game for a dog as smart as a Boston Lab, you can look to games that are actually directed toward babies. That's right, human babies! A dog can easily master a game just like a baby, especially games that involve sizes and colors. One of the best games is stacking rings which can be used to train your dog to learn colors, teach them to move objects with their mouth and to sort objects in a specific order. While this may take a while to teach your dog, the mental stimulation that it will provide is unbelievable.Â
Clean Up
Most dogs have tons of toys and while that is super fun for your pup, that isn't always great for you as cleaning up all those toys can take time. Rather than give your Boston Lab fewer toys (and therefore less fun), why not have your dog help to clean up? That may not sound like something your pup would be inclined to do but think again! Boston Labs, as we mentioned, are smart and greatly benefit from using their brains. Learning to pick up toys and put them where they belong is not only a great way for your dog to exercise their mind but it is also beneficial to you!Â
More Fun Ideas...
Red Light, Green Light
Teach your dog to run toward you as you say green light and then come to a halt when you say red light. Freezing upon the command "red light" can be beneficial for dogs who are inside to help them stop any inappropriate behavior.
Toy Names
Teach your dog the names of each of their toys and have them fetch each toy by its name! This will also help you when you teach your dog the other activity in this guide - cleaning up!
Conclusion
Boston Labs are certainly a fun breed and, since they are so smart, they are excellent dogs to train. Games that are quick physically but challenging mentally are what you should aim for with Boston Labs. Of course, Boston Labs will still enjoy a nice walk or run outside anytime! One more thing that should be mentioned, these dogs have lovable personalities so go get your pooch and snuggle up on the couch - they will love this just as much as any game!Â