Manners — Obedience — Mindset

Training Dogs for Safety, Freedom, and Fulfillment

My Mission

I run Connell's Dog Training LLC as a results-oriented solo practice — you get me, personally, from evaluation to final session. Using the full spectrum of available training approaches, my goal is to keep dogs safe, happy, and home with their families. I can help you and your dog better understand one another, so that you can enjoy life more. Recognizing that bad behavior can be life-threatening for dogs and dangerous to humans, my aim is to mold dogs with the right manners, obedience, and mindset so that they are a joy to be around, and so that they understand the world around them. I want your friends, family, and neighbors to marvel at the stunningly good behavior your dog displays, and the confidence your dog exudes. Dogs like this have far more freedom and autonomy than they would otherwise.

The Framework: Manners, Obedience, Mindset

Dog training isn't just a list of tricks we teach dogs. I view training as foundational to your dog's safety, freedom, and fulfillment, as well as your happiness and peace of mind. My approach to training focuses on the following fundamentals, in order of priority:

Manners

These are the things we can train your dog to do (or not do) without needing to be told. No jumping, counter surfing, food theft, or aggressive posturing. Waiting at doorways. The ability to walk next to a human on a loose leash. These basic manners ensure safety and are more urgent than verbal commands. They also teach our dogs how to pay attention to us by default.

I address these issues primarily through private in-home training, where we work in the environment where the behaviors naturally occur. For severe cases involving reactivity or aggression, my complex behavior packages apply the same principles with additional structure and equipment.

Obedience

These are the commands we teach to our dogs. Sit, down, stay, come, and any other verbally-cued behaviors are considered obedience training. These provide convenience for you and more clarity for your dog. While most dogs have heard some commands, very few are truly reliable when it counts.

Obedience forms the backbone of all my programs. You can develop these skills through in-home sessions, board & train where I handle the repetition while your dog stays with me, or virtual consultations for remote coaching.

Mindset

When dogs understand what's expected of them, and you're communicating through effective obedience, this happens automatically. You get a calm, happy, and confident dog that can handle stressful situations without responding with hyperactivity, fear, or aggression. Their trust in you improves. Dogs don't just act better; they feel better. This can be observed through their body language as training progresses.

Mindset is the outcome I'm working toward in every session. If you're dealing with anxiety, fear-based reactions, or aggression, the complex behavior packages are specifically designed to address the emotional roots of these issues. My dogs Murphy and Marlow often assist in demonstrating calm behavior to reactive clients' dogs.

How We Work Together

Training is delivered in four ways, depending on your needs and schedule:

• Private In-Home Lessons: $260/hour, sessions throughout greater Boston including Norwood, Quincy, Walpole, Dedham, Canton, and surrounding communities

• Board & Train: Your dog lives with me for 3+ weeks; $4,950 starting

• Overnight Boarding: $140/night, available for past clients (books months in advance)

• Virtual Consultations: $55 per 30 minutes, available anywhere

Each approach applies the Manners — Obedience — Mindset framework; the difference is the intensity and format. All packages are governed by the Training Services Agreement, and my privacy practices are outlined here.

Ready to Start?

If you're ready to work on your dog's behavior, here's how to move forward: