Crate training is an important component of training your Boston Terrier. It will not only help with house training, but also allow him to see his crate as a place of safety and comfort. His crate should be large enough for him to stand up and move around in, but not so large that he can create a separate ‘bathroom’ space. The ideal crate size for Boston Terriers is 24 x 30 inches (61 x 76 cm) or 24 x 36 inches (61 x 91 cm). To make the crate look more inviting to your Boston Terrier, put some ‘creature comforts’ inside of it, including comfortable bedding, his water bowl and some toys. The bowl should be sturdy enough that he can’t tip it over. Some of the toys should be chew toys so he can learn what he should chew on (instead of your shoes or furniture).  Boston Terriers love to chew. Crate training your Boston Terrier can prevent him from being destructive in your home when you are not home. Examples of good chew toys are high-impact rubber balls and rawhide chew toys. Your Boston Terrier may be a little hesitant to enter the crate at first. To encourage him to go in, place some food kibbles or dog biscuits in the crate. You may want to lure him inside in phases: at mealtime, place his food bowl just outside the crate, then in the doorway, then the back of the crate.  When your Boston Terrier enters the crate on his own, reward him with lots of verbal praise and maybe even a treat. The more positive reinforcement he gets from you, the more he will make a positive association with being inside the crate. Initially, it may help to leave the crate door open so he can enter the crate whenever he wants. As your Boston Terrier becomes more comfortable with entering the crate, consider adding a verbal command, such as ‘kennel.’ When he goes in after he hears your command, immediately give him a treat and verbal praise.  Be patient with your Boston Terrier. It may take some time for him to enter the crate on his own. Work at his pace. When your Boston Terrier can enter the crate on his own, begin closing its door and leaving him inside. Close the door for a few seconds, wait for him to calm down (if necessary), then open the door again and give him a treat and verbal praise. You can then work on closing the door, leaving the room, then returning at random time intervals.  Gradually work up to leaving your Boston Terrier in the crate overnight. If you have a puppy, remember that he can’t hold his bladder for very long—you will still need to take him outside regularly to eliminate.  Boston Terriers can develop separation anxiety, so proper crate training can help him feel calm and comfortable when you are not home.

Summary: Pick the right-sized crate for your Boston Terrier. Create a comfortable environment inside the crate. Lure your Boston Terrier inside the crate. Crate your Boston Terrier for short periods.


A large part of attaining (and keeping) political office is communicating with people. Make sure you are comfortable with talking to anyone, anywhere, and be ready to network like crazy. An easy way to start doing this is going to meetings (from community to your party's national convention). Be as a public a figure within your party as possible. Getting ahead in almost any career is often about who you know, and politics may be the best example of this. Having connections with those in office who could endorse you, big potential campaign donors, possible campaign staff, and even just everyday voters is key to being successful in politics. Any chance you have, make connections and develop friendships. If your Facebook is littered with photos of you dominating beer pong (as useful a skill as that may be), you may not be in the right place to represent a large number of people. Buy a suit and make sure you "fit into it" -- literally, yes, but metaphorically even more so.  Develop an affinity for public speaking. Sadly, even if you're super qualified for the job and your opinions do align with the majority of voters, if you can't sway them to believe in you, all bets are off. Be energetic and passionate, regardless of the level you're at. If you're begrudgingly making phone calls or running for city council when your head is constantly in DC, it'll be recognized and you'll be written off. Be in the moment and care about the difference you're trying to make. Look the part. At least when it comes to the president, the better-looking candidate almost always wins. The more presidential you seem, the more you'll be trusted. The more you're trusted, the more votes you'll get. So invest in a good suit, a pair of khakis, and maybe a good trucker hat to widen your appeal. From day one of this career path, your time will be consumed. This will become a large part of your life -- are you ready? Whether it's hours spent knocking on doors or late nights going over stats, there will be days (weeks even) when you're near running on empty. In addition, ask yourself the following questions:  Are you okay with your entire life being displayed to the public, including your flaws? Remember that many politicians are subjected to very public scandals in their careers. Can you state your opinions honestly, and hold true to them even if a large portion of the population hates you for them? Can you be committed to having a professional demeanor under any circumstances, even trivial ones? Are you passionate about making decisions that will benefit the populace you are serving? Are you and your family prepared for a very unstable employment path, one which may see multiple years of unemployment as well as months on the road? If your answers are "yes," "quite easily," "obviously," "most definitely," and "why not?" then you're good to go.

Summary: Network. Master the persona. Be committed.


Although this may take a while and displace your belongings, it will be hard to get a good idea of measurements and space while the closet is full. Find other places to store the items in your house or garage. This is the length from the doors to the back of the closet. Closets can be deep or shallow, and this will determine the size of your desk and chair and how much you can fit into the office space. You do not need a walk-in closet to create an office. However, it is a good idea to choose a closet that is deeper than a hanger's width. The desk and chair will not go too far out into the room or hallway, if it is deeper. Count the number of electrical appliances you need to plug in, and buy a power strip or surge protector. You can provide your electricity in 1 of 2 ways:  If you want to have an overhead light, a computer, a printer, a scanner and more in your office, then you should consider hiring an electrician to rewire your existing electricity into your new office. This will allow you to feel safer about the power sources that control your many electronic devices and it will also allow you to install an overhead pendant light. If you plan to fill your office with a few simple electronic devices, such as a desktop and a clip lamp, you can extend an extension cord from a nearby plug to your office. You should buy clips to secure the cords to the bottom of the wall so that no one will trip over the cords. You can also consider getting a hard mat or soft rug that will go over any cords that extend too far. If you have a walk in closet, this might not be necessary, but in most cases, you will create more space by removing the doors, so that you have more space to fit in desks, organizers and a chair.  While removing the doors creates a more accessible office, you may want privacy when you work in your office. In this case, consider buying a collapsible screen that you can put in to divide you from the room or rest of the house when you want some privacy. You can also place a colorful curtain in front of the office to hide it when it's not in use. Vacuum the floors, dust the corners and clean the walls and shelves with soapy water and a sponge.
Summary: Remove all your clothes or objects from the closet. Measure the depth of your closet. Devise electrical support for your office. Remove the doors to your office. Clean your closet well before turning it into an office.