What size crate does a Boston terrier need?

Boston terriers sit at the milder end of the brachycephalic spectrum. Their muzzles are short but not as compressed as a pug's, their tracheas are relatively normal-diameter, and most Bostons cope with moderate heat and exercise better than an English bulldog ever will. That said, they're still short-faced dogs, and the general rules apply: open wire crate rather than solid plastic, room temperature under 75°F for extended crating, and no direct sun on the crate.

The 22" or 24" crate suits most adult Bostons (12–25 lb). Because the breed spans that range widely — some Bostons are truly small at 13 lb, others are stocky at 24 lb — measure your specific dog if you're between sizes.

Bostons have prominent, forward-set eyes with limited orbital protection. Corneal injuries are a common vet visit for the breed. When you set up the crate, check that no bar ends are burred, no clip closures protrude inward, and no toys inside the crate have hard points at head height. It sounds fussy until you've spent $2,000 on eye surgery for something that could've been avoided.

Bostons are people-focused and generally take to crate training quickly if the crate is where the family is. They're small enough to feel vulnerable alone in an isolated room, and social enough to genuinely prefer being crated near household activity. Put the crate in the living room, not the laundry room.

Most Bostons are more velcro than they let on. Practice short, boring departures early — walk out the door, walk back in — before you need long-duration crating for work. A Boston who's only ever been crated when you leave for hours will develop separation stress; a Boston who's crated at random times throughout the day treats it as ordinary.