Our Program
Raised in Our Home. Loved From the Start.
At Nine Acre Boston Terriers, our dogs are family first. We are a small, in-home program focused on health, temperament, thoughtful pairings, and raising well-rounded Boston Terriers prepared to become cherished family companions.
Our program is intentionally small so we can remain hands-on with every litter. From planning a pairing to watching our littles leave with their families, every decision is made with their health, development, and future in mind.
What Sets Us Apart
Health Testing
Our breeding dogs complete breed-appropriate health and genetic testing to help guide thoughtful, informed pairing decisions.
Home-Raised
Our littles grow up in the middle of our home, surrounded by people, our Bostons, household routines, and, naturally, a little Boston chaos.
Intentional Early Development
From hands-on care and early developmental exercises to new surfaces, sounds, people, and experiences, we introduce age-appropriate challenges designed to encourage confidence and adaptability.
Support Beyond Go-Home Day
Our relationship doesn’t end when your puppy leaves Nine Acres. We’re here for questions, guidance, updates, celebrations, and all those little milestones along the way.
Our Approach to Raising Puppies
Early Days
From birth, our littles are closely monitored and handled daily. We begin Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) during the appropriate developmental window, along with gentle handling and individual attention. Their earliest days are focused on warmth, cleanliness, nutrition, growth, and allowing Mama and her babies to settle into a calm routine.
Growing & Exploring
As eyes open and little legs get moving, their world begins to grow too. We gradually introduce different sights, sounds, surfaces, toys, household activity, and age-appropriate experiences. Each new experience is introduced thoughtfully, giving puppies opportunities to explore, problem-solve, and build confidence at their own pace.
Learning Life at Home
Our puppies aren't raised separate from everyday life; they grow up right in the middle of it. They begin learning potty-area habits, appropriate crate and sleep routines, handling and grooming, and eventually harness and leash skills. They experience normal household sounds, people, our adult Bostons, cuddles, playtime, and plenty of everyday commotion.
Preparing for Their Families
Before go-home day, each puppy receives age-appropriate veterinary care while we continue building confidence through handling, new experiences, and everyday routines. We also begin preparing them for the transition from our home to theirs, helping make those first days a little easier for both puppy and family.
Health Testing and Transparency
Why We Health Test
Healthy puppies begin with thoughtful breeding decisions. Health testing cannot guarantee that a dog will never develop a health concern, but it gives us valuable information to help us make informed breeding decisions.
At Nine Acre Boston Terriers, we complete breed-appropriate health testing on our breeding dogs and believe in being transparent about those results. You’ll also find each dog’s individual testing listed on their profile.
What We Test
BAER — Hearing
Evaluates hearing in each ear and identifies congenital deafness.
CAER — Eyes
A veterinary ophthalmologist examines the eyes for inherited or breed-related eye conditions.
Patellas — Knees
Evaluates the kneecaps for patellar luxation, a condition that can occur in Boston Terriers.
Genetic Testing
Our dogs are screened for relevant inherited conditions, including JHC, DM, HUU and CMR1.
OFA & CHIC
OFA provides a public database for health-screening results. A CHIC number indicates that a dog has completed the health screenings required by its breed’s CHIC program; it does not mean that every result was normal or “passed.”
More Than Go-Home Day
Bringing home one of our littles means becoming part of the Nine Acres family.
Our relationship with our puppy families doesn’t end on go-home day. We love the updates, pictures, milestones, and watching our littles grow. And when questions come up along the way, we’re always here for guidance and support.