Colonial Dog Training

Training begins with a free in-home consultation to assess the dog’s behavior and owner goals. Programs are customized and conducted in the home, progressing to real-world environments. Services include puppy training, obedience, leash training, aggression modification, anxiety reduction, and service dog training. Training is ongoing and commitment-based, with no time limits on sessions. All programs emphasize owner education and positive reinforcement with balanced techniques.

Pricing Summary

Flat fee pricing model with unlimited sessions until the dog is trained; no additional charges per session. Specific pricing not listed publicly, but consultation is free and tailored to individual needs.

Policies

No cancellation or rescheduling policy details provided on the website. Training is commitment-based with one flat fee until goals are met, implying flexibility in session scheduling.

Colonial Dog Training is a professional dog training service based in Boston, offering private, in-home training for dogs of all ages and breeds. They specialize in behavior modification for issues like aggression, anxiety, reactivity, leash pulling, barking, and separation anxiety, with a focus on creating lasting, humane changes using LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) principles. Their training is reward-based and includes real-world practice in parks and busy neighborhoods to ensure dogs generalize skills outside the home. They serve clients throughout greater Boston and surrounding counties, with trainers who are certified and experienced in working with challenging cases, including service dog training for psychiatric and mobility tasks. Their commitment-based model means clients pay one flat fee until the dog is trained, with unlimited sessions and ongoing support. Trainers are highly praised for their compassion, expertise, and ability to educate owners alongside their dogs.

They do not offer group classes, therapy dog training, or facility-based programs. All training is conducted in the client’s home to build owner-dog leadership and confidence in familiar environments.

The business is operated by Canine Trade Group and features certified trainers including Torin Nikstad (AKC CGC Evaluator, CTG certified) and Jamie, Maggie, Sarah, and Jenna, each with years of hands-on experience and strong client testimonials.

They also offer a free behavior quiz and in-home consultation to tailor training plans to each dog’s unique needs.

Accomplishments

Trainers are certified by Canine Trade Group (CTG) and include Torin Nikstad, an AKC CGC Evaluator who trained her own Rottweiler as a psychiatric service dog. Trainers have combined decades of experience, including prior roles at PetSmart and advanced training under Dr. Ian Dunbar. The business has over 69 five-star reviews on Google and TrustIndex.

How to Get Started!

Client engagement begins with a free in-home consultation to evaluate the dog’s behavior, discuss goals, and create a customized training plan. After the consultation, training sessions are scheduled at the client’s home.