How much does private dog training cost in Massachusetts?

Private in-home dog training with Connell's Dog Training costs $260 per hour. Multi-session packages are available: $780 for three lessons and $1,300 for a five-lesson complex behavior program. Virtual consultations are $60 per 30-minute session.

What areas does Connell's Dog Training serve?

Connell's Dog Training provides in-home sessions throughout the greater Boston area, including Norwood, Quincy, Walpole, and surrounding communities.

What types of behavior issues does Matt handle?

Matt specializes in complex behavior cases including reactivity, leash aggression, separation anxiety, fear-based behaviors, and dogs with bite histories. He also handles foundational obedience, puppy training, and off-leash reliability training.

Do you use e-collars?

Yes, when appropriate. Matt uses e-collar training as a communication tool to build clarity and off-leash reliability. E-collars are recommended only when the training plan calls for them, and Matt provides thorough instruction on proper use.

How is Connell's Dog Training different from other trainers in Massachusetts?

Matt personally conducts every session — no staff, no subcontractors. With over eleven years of experience and advanced education in security and safety leadership, he brings an analytical approach that goes beyond standard obedience training.

Who Works here?

Matt Connell - Owner & Trainer

Matt Connell has been training dogs professionally in Massachusetts for over eleven years. He holds a BA in Crime & Justice Studies and an MPS in Security & Safety Leadership — backgrounds that inform his analytical, behavior-first approach to dog training.

Matt operates Connell's Dog Training LLCas a solo practice. Every client works directly with him, not an employee or franchise handler. His training philosophy is rooted in reading dogs as individuals: understanding what each dog is communicating, why they're behaving the way they are, and building a practical plan that fits the dog and the household.

Matt lives and works in Massachusetts with his two dogs, Murphy and Marlow, who assist in training sessions by providing controlled distractions for client dogs. He is a professional member of the International Association of Canine Professionals.

Murphy

Murphy is my senior dog, a 14 year-old mutt of about 62 pounds. I’ve had him since 2014. He frequently travels with me to lessons as a helpful decoy for others. He can be relied upon to be the calm, stable presence that demonstrates good behavior to reactive and aggressive dogs, and tolerates their nonsense while they learn. He’s also totally child-proof and is happy to tolerate overly rough and forward people as they learn to interact better.

His good-natured demeanor was hard-fought: When I first got him as a rescue from Kentucky, he was incredibly dog-aggressive. Even 100 yards away, he’d go berserk trying to get at another dog. After struggling with this and learning to overcome it, I can say with confidence that I never would have started this business without him.

He’s quite a bit slower than he used to be, and often he comes to lessons just for the car rides. But he’ll continue to be a guiding presence as long as he remains eager to work.

Marlow

This guy is the newest addition, joining Murphy and me in October 2022. He is currently about 4 years old. Found wandering Alabama, he was brought to me by my trusted friends at Operation FAVOR. He’s demonstrated an incredible curiosity towards everything he encounters, and picks up on guidance very quickly.

Good-natured and playful, he’s doing a phenomenal job keeping Murphy acting like a much younger dog. He’s also naturally interested in other dogs, with an uncanny ability to tell just how comfortable they are and adjust his approach. I find him very helpful when working with challenging dogs.

When the time comes that Murphy is no longer able or willing to work, Marlow will be more than capable of stepping in full-time. For now they are a perfect duo, and can often be found riding along with me to lessons.