Practical support for calmer days, clearer routines, and a dog who can settle into life at home.
Who this is for
You do not have to wait for ordinary puppy behavior to turn every day into damage control. This service is for families dealing with accidents, biting and chewing, broken sleep, crate or pen problems, difficult handling, overexcited greetings, or a puppy who cannot settle.
It is also for newly adopted adult dogs who seem worried, overstimulated, shut down, or unsure how to live in their new home.
What happens in the assessment
The initial in-home assessment lasts 75–90 minutes. I start by watching your dog in context: how they move through the home, respond to touch and interruption, handle excitement or frustration, and recover afterward. We look at sleep, meals, potty trips, activity, rest, household movement, and the times the day begins to fall apart.
Then we make the first useful changes. That might mean a simpler house-training schedule, better use of gates or a pen, shorter play before the puppy gets frantic, a calmer crate setup, clearer handling, or a plan for biting and greetings.
We practice the few skills that will help most now and leave the rest for later. Within 24 hours, you receive a written plan with clear priorities, what to change at home, and what to practice first.
What progress can look like
Progress should show up in daily life. It may look like fewer accidents, biting episodes that end sooner, easier transitions into rest, more comfortable handling, or a dog who can notice something new without rushing toward it or shutting down.
For a newly adopted dog, it may mean eating normally, moving through the home with less tension, recovering sooner after a noise, or choosing to rest without constant help. The goal is not a perfect week. It is a more predictable home and a dog who is learning how to recover.
What I look at
A puppy does not need an endless list of commands, and a newly adopted dog may not be ready for formal training. I look first at the pieces that shape behavior: sleep, activity, environment, handling, learning history, and recovery.
Too little rest can look like excess energy. Too much freedom can create problems a young dog is not ready to solve. A dog who looks stubborn may be confused, worried, or too worked up to learn.
Skills such as coming when called, walking on leash, waiting, and settling are taught where they make ordinary life easier. Socialization is not about meeting everyone or going everywhere. It is about helping the dog notice the world, stay within a workable level of stress, and recover after something new.
Common questions
When should training start? As soon as you need help. Early work should be short, practical, and appropriate for the dog in front of us.
Should my puppy meet as many dogs and people as possible? No. More exposure is not always better. Quality, choice, distance, and recovery matter more than the number of encounters.
Can you help before the dog comes home? Yes. We can discuss setup, confinement, the first few days, and what to prioritize. The assessment is most useful once I can observe the dog in the home.
What happens afterward? You’ll receive a written plan, and I’ll recommend the amount of follow-up that fits the work ahead. We may need one visit to refine a skill, or several to practice and adjust the plan as your dog responds. I’ll explain the recommendation and the cost. If another professional would be a better fit, I’ll say so.
Pricing
Initial In-Home Assessment — $195
Individual Follow-Up — $175
Serving Quincy, Boston, Weymouth, and the South Shore. Start with a free phone consultation. Tell me what is happening, and we will decide whether an in-home assessment is a useful next step.
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