Good Wellesley Dogs

Good Wellesley Dogs offers private lessons, board & train, and long-distance Zoom sessions. The “Walk the Walk Private Training” package ($695) includes 3 lessons focused on structured leash walking, addressing pulling, jumping, and reactivity, and includes a custom-sized training collar.

The “New Puppy Owner Coaching Package” ($600) consists of 5 sessions (3 in-home, 2 Zoom) over 6 weeks, covering puppy adaptation, potty training, nipping, and sleeping through the night. The “Off-Leash E-Collar Training” ($1,650) is a seven-session package (5 drop-off, 2 with owner) for off-leash freedom, including E-collar equipment, requiring prior training and crate training.

“Calm the Chaos – Foundational in Home Training” ($950) is a five-lesson package to establish calm household manners and improve owner-dog communication. Individual “Add-on Sessions” are available for established clients at $200/hour. The “Holistic Board & Train” program ($1,500/wk) is a 2.5 to 4-week immersion for pups and young dogs (7 months+) focusing on foundational manners, basic obedience, and off-leash e-collar recall, for non-aggression cases only.

Pricing Summary

Walk the Walk Private Training is $695 for 3 lessons. The New Puppy Owner Coaching Package is $600 for 5 sessions. Off-Leash E-Collar Training costs $1,650, including equipment, for 7 sessions. Calm the Chaos – Foundational in Home Training is $950 for 5 lessons. Add-on Sessions are available for established clients at $200 per hour. An Initial in-Person (or via Zoom) Consultation is $100 for a 30-minute appointment. Holistic Board & Train is $1,500 per week for a 2.5 to 4-week program.

All packages and lessons must be paid in full at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled visit. Fees are non-refundable once paid. Unused lessons expire 3 months after purchase unless otherwise agreed upon. Good Wellesley Dogs Training offers two rate tiers: a Private Professional Rate (as listed) and Free training, which is available at the trainer’s discretion for those who cannot afford private lessons but show commitment.

Policies

All packages and lessons must be paid in full at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled visit. Once paid, fees are non-refundable. Unused lessons expire 3 months after purchase unless otherwise agreed upon prior to expiration. Rescheduled lessons may be made up if extenuating circumstances necessitate cancellation, when time is available within a week. A minimum of 36 hours notice is required for all rescheduling requests.

Good Wellesley Dogs Training grew from the owner’s personal struggle to find effective training strategies for her family dogs. Hillary Ratcliff Pini, the owner and trainer, discovered a “common-sense missing link” in 2015 that transformed her approach to dog communication. The business officially started offering services after requests from family and friends who observed her methods.

Good Wellesley Dogs specializes in teaching good behavior and addressing annoyance pet problems, focusing on helping owners live a better and more fulfilling life with their dogs through simple leadership exercises. They emphasize that a dog is “trained” by how you live with them 24/7, aiming for a well-behaved dog that is calm inside but enthusiastically plays when appropriate.

Hillary is a lifelong Wellesley resident, a Montessori preschool teacher, and a mother of five. She has studied with respected balanced trainers in the United States. The training focuses on real-world manners like walking nicely on a leash, waiting patiently for food, settling down, and waiting for permission to go out doors. They do not work with territorially aggressive or biting dogs.

Accomplishments

Hillary Ratcliff Pini is the owner and trainer of Good Wellesley Dogs. She is a lifelong Wellesley resident, a Montessori preschool teacher, and a mother of five grown sons. She has studied with some of the most respected balanced trainers in the United States.

How to Get Started!

New clients are required to book an “Initial in-Person (or via Zoom) Consultation” for $100 (30 minutes). This consultation reviews preparing for a new puppy’s arrival or discusses problem issues with an existing family pet. It serves as the first step to determine if the training philosophy and approach are a good fit for the family and pet.