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A new dog is incredibly exciting, especially when you’re finally bringing home your dream Boston Terrier. It’s not just the dog you need to bring home, though; you need plenty of supplies for your new family member, too.
In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget a few necessities, even if you’re an experienced dog owner. This list of essential Boston Terrier supplies will help you keep track. This way, you can dedicate more time to helping your new dog adjust to your home instead of running to the store for something you’ve forgotten.
The 23 Essential Boston Terrier Supplies
Food and Feeding
1. Adult Food
You’ll need the right food for your Boston Terrier. A small breed formula with high-quality ingredients is the best option for your dog once fully grown.
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Small Breed Recipe has deboned chicken as the first ingredient and contains all the nutrients that small dogs like Boston Terriers need in their diet. While it won’t work for dogs with poultry allergies, Merrick has other flavors. The recipe also contains omega oils, glucosamine, and chondroitin to support joint, skin, and coat health.
2. Puppy Food
Small-breed puppy food is the best choice to help your Boston Terrier puppy grow up well. The Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed food contains omega oils, DHA, antioxidants, vitamin A, calcium, and probiotics. It helps support your dog’s digestive and immune systems, promoting eye and brain development.
The kibble is small in size, so it is easy for young dogs to manage. It is also formulated to be easy to digest, which can help prevent your Boston Terrier puppy from getting an upset stomach. The nutrient-dense recipe and large bags are more expensive than some other foods, so make sure to plan your budget accordingly.
3. Food and Water Bowls
Boston Terriers are small dogs and don’t eat much, but they still need reliable bowls for food and water. Stainless steel bowls are durable, easy to clean, and dishwasher-safe. The Frisco Silicone Stainless Steel Double Diner Dog & Cat Bowl is a set of two bowls with a silicone mat to catch food and water spills.
The mat helps hold the steel bowls in place and prevents them from overturning while your dog eats. However, playful puppies might quickly figure out how to remove the lightweight bowls and carry them around.
Treats and Toy
4. Training Treats
No matter how cute your Boston Terrier might be, they’ll need to be trained, and treats are ideal for encouraging good behavior. These Zuke’s Mini Naturals Training Dog Treats are available in seven flavors and are bite-sized and easy to chew, so they’re great to use as quick rewards for success. Each pack is resealable to retain freshness for your next training session.
Make sure you don’t overuse the treats, even during training sessions. Boston Terriers are prone to obesity, and you’ll need to adjust their diet to suit their activity levels. Some dogs are also fussy about the flavor of treats they prefer, so make sure you find one they love to encourage them to do their best.
5. Chew Toys
- Our Choice: Nylabone Power Chew Double Bone Dog Chew Toy
Boston Terriers aren’t the biggest chewers, but they get destructive when bored or anxious. Giving them toys to play with can keep them entertained, and a chew toy like the Nylabone Power Chew Double Bone Dog Chew Toy can also help keep their teeth clean.
The Nylabone is bacon-flavored to entice your Boston Terrier to chew and is made with durable material for longevity. If your dog chews the bone excessively, however, the edges can get sharp, so remember to check it often and replace it as necessary.
Walking
6. Leash
- Our Choice: Prima Pets Dual-Handle Reflective Dog Leash
A leash is necessary for walks, and one with two handles can give you extra control, depending on the situation. The Prima Pets Dual-Handle Reflective Dog Leash is a reliable option with a sturdy metal clasp for attaching to your Boston Terrier’s collar or harness.
It is 6 feet long, which gives your dog plenty of space for sniffing while you walk, and the traffic handle in the middle helps you keep them close when necessary. However, despite being made with reflective material, some dog owners have found that the reflective properties are minimal. You might want to partner it with a reflective harness or coat for nighttime walks.
7. Harness
Dogs can easily slip out of their collar if they get spooked on a walk, so many owners prefer to use a sturdy harness like the Chai’s Choice Premium Outdoor Adventure 3M Polyester Reflective Front Clip Dog Harness.
It’s designed with a padded back and chest piece with durable straps and heavy-duty buckles for security and easy adjustment. You’ll need to carefully measure your Boston Terrier to ensure that the harness that you buy is the right size.
There are nine colors, and matching leashes and collars are available. Each harness has leash-attachment D-rings and a safety handle at the back.
8. Poop Bags
- Our Choice: Earth-Rated Dog Poop Bags
Wherever you take your Boston Terrier, you should always have plenty of poop bags with you. The Earth-Rated Dog Poop Bags come in scented and unscented varieties and in compact rolls that will easily fit into dispensers or your pocket.
Each bag is made from 65% recycled plastic and is designed to be durable and leakproof. However, despite the name, green color, and recycled material, the bags aren’t compostable and must be thrown in the trash when used.
9. Collar
A good collar is the perfect tool for making sure your Boston Terrier always has their ID tag on them to show that they’re not a stray if they ever escape from your yard. Our favorite is the Chai’s Choice Comfort Cushion 3M Polyester Reflective Dog Collar. It has a sturdy, padded design and reflective stripes and comes in nine colors. You can also buy a matching leash and harness to suit your Boston Terrier’s style.
However, this collar isn’t designed to handle large amounts of pressure, and the plastic buckles can snap under too much strain.
Comfort
10. Dog Bed
Having a space just for your Boston Terrier is essential, especially if they’re not allowed on the couch or bed. The FurHaven Velvet Waves Perfect Comfort Orthopedic Sofa provides plenty of support for their joints, especially if you have an older dog, and it also has bolster cushions for extra comfort.
It’s also easy to keep clean, with a removable fur cover that you can put in the washing machine whenever you need to. The zip and the cover material aren’t that durable, though, and won’t withstand chewing by inquisitive puppies.
11. Crate
A dog crate sometimes has a bad reputation, but it’s an incredibly useful training tool and a safe spot for your Boston Terrier to sleep. The MidWest iCrate Fold & Carry Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate is collapsible so that you can take it with you on road trips, and it has a sturdy tray for blankets and a dog bed.
Make sure the crate that you use for your Boston Terrier isn’t too small. They need enough room to turn around and lie down, but it shouldn’t be too big, either.
12. Raincoat
- Our Choice: Frisco Lightweight Rainy Days Dog Raincoat
Your Boston Terrier might love walks, but they might not love getting wet. Fortunately, the Frisco Lightweight Rainy Days Dog Raincoat can help. It’s lightweight for comfort, with secure belly and chest straps to keep it in place. This coat can be used for potty breaks on walks or in the yard. It has large reflective stripes for visibility and a hole for the leash attachment.
However, the Rainy Days raincoat is only available in one color. Although the yellow shade is reminiscent of bright sunshine, some pet owners might prefer something subtler.
13. Sweater
- Our Choice: Frisco Dog & Cat Cable Knitted Sweater
Many dog owners love to dress up their pets, and a warm sweater is great for Boston Terriers who get cold easily. The Frisco Dog & Cat Cable Knitted Sweater is available in pink, navy, red, or teal, and the knitted cable design gives it a sophisticated but stylish look.
You’ll need to measure your Boston Terrier accurately to make sure you get the right size. You can also purchase one for cats if you want all your pets to match. It’s machine washable for easy cleanup, but make sure you use a cold, gentle cycle.
Cleaning
14. Puppy Pads
- Our Choice: Frisco Premium Dog Training & Potty Pads
Puppy pads shouldn’t take the place of regular trips outside, but they can be lifesavers when you can’t supervise your puppy, and they’re still being house-trained. The Frisco Premium Dog Training & Potty Pads come in boxes of 20 to 300 puppy pads to suit your budget and are available in scented or unscented options, depending on your preference.
You’ll need to find a quiet spot to put your Boston Terrier’s indoor potty area away from their crate, bed, food, and water. Until your puppy gets used to the pads, you’ll need to consistently direct them to their potty area to avoid accidents.
15. Enzyme Cleaner
Dog ownership entails cleaning up accidents and other messes, even when your Boston Terrier is older and fully house-trained. The Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is a pet-safe way to remove stains and smells. It can be used on carpets, floors, bedding, fabrics, furniture, toys, and anywhere that needs freshening up. No mixing is required—simply shake well—and the bio-enzymes work at penetrating odors and removing messes.
The neutral scent means it won’t bother sensitive noses, but some people might prefer a spray with an obvious “clean” fragrance.
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!
Grooming
16. Dog Toothbrush and Paste
Dental care is important for dogs, and you can’t just rely on chew toys and treats to clean your Boston Terrier’s teeth. You’ll need a dog toothbrush and paste like the Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Poultry Flavor Toothpaste + Dual-Ended Dog & Cat Toothbrush.
The dual-ended toothbrush makes it easy for both puppy and adult Boston Terriers, and the toothpaste is poultry flavored to make teeth brushing more rewarding for your dog. Some Boston Terriers might not like the flavor, so you may need to find an alternative they enjoy more.
17. Nail Clippers
- Our Choice: Safari Professional Nail Trimmer for Dogs
If you want to save money on grooming costs for your Boston Terrier, you’ll need a reliable pair of nail clippers to trim their claws. The Safari Professional Nail Trimmer for Dogs has durable, stainless-steel blades to ensure that the trimmer is sharp enough to make clean cuts.
The non-slip handles ensure your grip is secure and provide a comfortable hold for right- and left-handed dog owners. Unfortunately, there’s no way to sharpen or replace the blades once they dull.
18. Dog Shampoo
- Our Choice: Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
With their boundless energy, Boston Terriers enjoy playing and get into plenty of mischief. There are bound to be plenty of times when you need to give them a bath with dog shampoo. The Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo uses high-quality natural ingredients in a pH-balanced formula to keep your dog looking and smelling fresh.
Colloidal oatmeal is used to soothe and nourish dry, irritated skin. While this shampoo is free from soaps, glutens, dyes, DEA, sulfates, and phthalates, its aloe vera and cucumber scent might be strong for some people.
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!
19. Brush
- Our Choice: KONG Dog ZoomGroom Multi-use Brush
Boston Terriers might have short fur but still benefit from regular grooming sessions. A reliable brush like the KONG Dog ZoomGroom Multi-use Brush can help remove loose fur from their coat and promote new hair growth. It can also be used on wet or dry fur, which makes it a great option for bath times or regular grooming sessions.
The rubber material is lightweight, easy to clean, and helps collect loose fur. It isn’t one of the most durable options, though. If your Boston Terrier likes to chew things, this brush won’t last long.
Other Essential Supplies
20. Personalized ID Tag
Even if you get your Boston Terrier microchipped, attaching a personalized dog tag to their collar is still a good idea. The Frisco Stainless Steel Personalized Dog & Cat ID Tag is a cute option with an embossed paw print design in six colors.
It’s made from stainless steel for longevity and has space for four short lines of text on the back, so you can add contact details and health info if necessary. The laser engraving does rub off quickly if you have several tags attached to the collar.
21. Flea and Tick Medication
- Our Choice: Vet’s Best Flea + Tick Spray for Dogs
Flea and tick medication is essential no matter what breed you own, especially when ticks are prolific in summer. Vet’s Best Flea + Tick Spray for Dogs is a natural solution that uses plant-based ingredients to kill and repel fleas and ticks. However, you will need to apply it more often than squeeze-on flea options or flea collars. Also, while the 8-ounce bottle is the perfect size for traveling or hiking, it won’t last long if it’s the only flea and tick prevention that you’re using.
22. Canine First Aid Kit
- Our Choice: Kurgo First Aid Kit for Dogs & Cats
Not all canine accidents can be handled at home, but having a first-aid kit on hand means you’ll be prepared if your Boston Terrier does get an injury that you can treat yourself. The Kurgo First Aid Kit for Dogs & Cats contains a first-aid guide, gauze, prep pads, scissors, a thermal emergency blanket, and many other useful emergency supplies.
Made with Oxford 600D fabric, the kit is durable, lightweight, and portable, so you can keep it everywhere you and your dog go. However, there is limited space for adding extra supplies.
23. Dog Seatbelt
At some point, you’ll need to take your Boston Terrier in the car, whether to go to the vet or on a trip to a hiking spot outside of town. Their safety in the vehicle is vital to consider, which is why a crash-tested seatbelt like the Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Crash Tested Smart Car Dog Harness is a great idea.
Along with the durable steel buckles and carabiners, the harness has five points that can be adjusted to ensure a secure fit for your Boston Terrier. The harness can also be used as a regular walking harness, with a D-ring on the front and the back for training purposes. However, you’ll need to make sure you measure your dog correctly to ensure that you get the right size.
Final Thoughts
There are all sorts of supplies that you need for a new dog, from collars and ID tags to puppy pads and a dog bed. While some supplies can be bought as you need them, you’ll need to buy others just to prepare for your dog’s arrival. Save time later by purchasing the essentials first. Use this list of recommendations to create a checklist of your own and find your favorite products to create a unique style for your new puppy.
See also:
- How Much Do Boston Terriers Drool? Breed Habits & Managing Tips
- How Is Inflation Impacting Pet Owners? 10 Interesting Statistics
Featured Image Credit: Christine Bird, Shutterstock
