What types of dog training services are available?

Our Boston dog trainers offer puppy training, basic obedience, private lessons, reactivity and aggression training, leash walking programs, and service dog training.

How early should I start training my puppy in Boston?

Puppies in Boston can start training as early as 8–10 weeks old. Early socialization is important in a busy, urban environment full of bikes, buses, crowds, and other dogs. Starting early helps prevent reactivity and anxiety later.

Do Your Boston Trainers help with city-specific behavior issues?

Yes. Many dog owners in Boston struggle with leash pulling on congested sidewalks, reactivity around people or other dogs, barking in apartments or condos, separation anxiety, and overexcitement in parks like the Boston Common or Esplanade. City-focused training programs like ours specialize in solving these problems.

How long does dog training take in Boston?

Training timelines vary, but many dogs show solid improvement within the first few sessions with consistent practice. More advanced goals—like off-leash reliability around distractions—often take months.

What does dog training cost in Boston?

Colonial Dog Training offers variety of training packages for one flat fee. Training packages offer more value and bang for your buck. Contact us for pricing.

Is off-leash training possible in Boston?

Yes—our trainers specialize in reliable off-leash control even in a busy city. Off-leash training typically involves training tools, long-line work, and controlled exposures at parks and trails around Greater Boston.

Do the trainers work with rescue dogs or dogs with behavioral issues?

Yes, our professional Boston trainers work with rescue dogs, fearful dogs, leash-reactive dogs, and even dogs with aggression. We have experience in behavior modification and clear and proven training philosophies.

Are training sessions available in Boston apartments or condos?

Yes. Our trainers offer in-home training throughout Boston neighborhoods like Back Bay, South End, Charlestown, Cambridge, Somerville, and more. We can help anyone, even those in apartments and condos.

Do you offer service dog training in Boston?

Yes. We proudly offer service dog training programs for mobility assistance and psychiatric support. We DO NOT provide medical alert training.

I offer professional dog training in Boston, and the surrounding suburbs, including Rhode Island!

My name is Jackie O’Neil. I’m an experienced professional dog trainer in Boston, MA. I offer professional, in-home dog training in Boston and throughout the surrounding areas. I work with dogs of all ages and temperaments, and specialize in working with “challenging” dogs. Often, I am the second, third or even fourth dog trainer to work with a client, many of whom have been told that they just have to live with their dog’s behavioral issue. This is rarely the case, however, and when I commit to working with you and your dog, I commit to working with you together until we achieve all of our training goals!

I use a balanced and reward-based training approach that takes all factors of your dog’s personality and environment into account. I strive to always set your dog up for success and make the training process integrate into your lifestyle as seamlessly as possible.

Aggressive Dog Training in Boston

As a dog trainer in Boston, I work with aggressive dogs. Dogs that other dog trainers often won’t work with. My personal experience has taught me that many aggression issues are often fear or anxiety related, and can be solved by tackling the core causes of the aggression in the beginning of the training process, rather than the symptoms of the aggression. My program helps build your dog’s confidence and trust first, before reintroducing the triggers to his/her aggressive responses.

Puppy Training in Boston

Tango (12-weeks-old) learns a sit/stay.

I also offer puppy training for puppies 12-weeks-old and younger, in Boston and the surrounding areas, including Rhode Island. My puppy training program is customized to you and your family’s individual situation. In addition to covering housebreaking (which will happen after the first session with me!) and basic commands, I help you integrate your puppy into your lifestyle. Are you home a lot, gone a lot, have another dog, a cat, or children? I can help you teach your puppy to adapt to your lifestyle, rather than requiring you to change your lifestyle to adapt to your puppy! Solid puppy training early lasts a lifetime, and can prevent the need for behavior modification in the future.

How my dog training program works

My training always begins with a no-obligation behavior consultation where I will come out and spend a few hours with you and your dog. I’ll assess your dog’s temperament and personality, and talk with you at length about what’s going on with him/her, what you may have already tried, and what your training goals are.

Sapper learns a solid “go to place” command!

My consultation fee is $100.00 for the initial two hour session, and this fee applies towards the training fee if we decided to move forward, and remember, if I commit to working with you, I will work with you until we achieve all of the training goals we set during our initial meeting.

Lets get started!

If you have been looking for a dog trainer in Boston, (or the surround area) and would like me to answer any questions you have about your dog, my training, or would like to set up an initial consultation, please call me at 800.649.7297, or use the contact form here on my website.

I look forward to hearing from you and helping you establish a great relationship with your dog based on mutual understanding and trust!