Colonial Dog Training

Colonial Dog Training offers customized, private, in-home training programs for dogs of all ages and temperaments. Training begins in a distraction-free home environment to establish focus and expectations, then progresses to public settings to ensure reliability amidst distractions. Programs address basic manners, obedience commands (heel, sit, stay, down, recall), and a wide range of behavior problems including leash pulling, separation anxiety, inappropriate greeting, reactivity, aggression, and fear-related issues. They commit to working with clients until all training goals are achieved.

Pricing Summary

They offer a “one flat fee” for their commitment-based training programs, meaning they work with the dog until all training goals are achieved without additional per-session costs. Pricing information is available upon contact.

Policies

They have a commitment-based policy where they work with the dog until all training goals are achieved for one flat fee. They do not provide board and train, group training, or therapy dog training.

Colonial Dog Training offers professional, commitment-based dog training services in Boston, MA, and Portland, ME. They specialize in private, in-home training for dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments, addressing a wide range of behavioral issues from basic obedience to severe aggression and anxiety.

Their unique approach starts with an in-home consultation to tailor an individualized program, then progresses to real-world settings to ensure reliability regardless of distractions. They operate under the LIMA (Least Intrusive and Minimally Aversive) philosophy, emphasizing reward-based and balanced training methods.

A key advantage is their commitment-based pricing, meaning clients pay one flat fee for training until all goals are achieved. They also focus on training both the dog and the owner to ensure lasting results and a stronger bond.

Accomplishments

The head trainer, Jackie O’Neil, trained under John Van Olden of Canine Trade Group, a recognized figure in the canine professional community with over 30 years of experience. Jackie’s training included an intense study of scientific theories of dog behavior modification and hundreds of hours of hands-on training. Trainer Torin Nikstad is a certified AKC CGC Evaluator and trained her own Rottweiler as a psychiatric service dog. Kim Lancaster holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Canine Life Sciences from Bergin University of Canine Studies, focusing on canine cognition, learning, emotions, training, health, and service/assistance dog training. She also has two years of experience in Canine Rehabilitation.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients should call or email Colonial Dog Training to discuss their needs. The process begins with a comprehensive, no-obligation, two-hour in-home consultation where the trainer evaluates the dog’s temperament, discusses goals, explains behavior issues, and creates a realistic training plan.