The Pawsitive Dog

If your dog needs some training look no more! Best place around hands down. Excellent staff-​they know you and your dogs. I’ve been going there for a long time with different dogs, different teaching needs. Not a class goes by I don’t learn something new. The staff at Pawsitive Dog make training fun. Trust me, if there’s a wait to get in its worth it. Got a new puppy for Christmas? Start off on the right paw. Older dog giving you some problems? Go see the awesome team at The Pawsitive Dog. They offer group classes, day school and boarding.
The phone number is 617−541−1000. One of the best calls you will ever make!

Waited two months for a consultation for my puppy who shows leash aggression towards other dogs and nipped my hand when I intervened the other day– very small indoor space overcrowded with dogs, at least half were in their crates and any dogs who whined or cried were yelled at and became silent. Two dogs were tied to treadmills but there is no outdoor space. I asked about methods used in training, including pinch and shock collars, and Jen told me they use whatever means they see fit and that I am not allowed to ask them to refrain from using either of those methods even though I am uncomfortable with them. Their initial assessment included scaring my dog with a clipboard repeatedly to evaluate how reactive she was to sound and sight and using rough pats and smacks to see how she reacted. Obviously they didn’t hurt her but she was definitely scared. While I’m sure their methods are effective, many well known and effective trainers through MSPCA and the Animal Rescue League actually use positive reinforcement and refuse to use methods that hurt or scare the dogs, including pinch collars. I would possibly recommend classes where you can be with your dog but I wouldn’t trust leaving my dog alone at this facility.

Don’t let the long wait to getting into the program deter you — its worth it. You couldn’t possibly ask for a better dog trainer.
We have been taking our dog to Pawsitive now for nearly four months, twice a month. Not only do Jen and Francis showcase their expertise with each class, but they do it with a passion that is unparalleled. They have dedicated themselves to getting to know each and every single dog (and owner) which provides for an intimate training experience.
If you’re looking for a quick-​fix to bad behavior and good obedience, you might be disappointed. At Pawsitive, you’re learning to train your dog. It requires dedication and a lot of hard work outside of class but it does pay off!
Its amazing watching my dog progress each week but there is still plenty more to learn!
If you’re on the fence, do it. I highly recommend Pawsitive Dog!

We rescued our dog Cranston about 4 months ago, and in such a short amount of time Jen and her team have made him into a wonderful and well behaved companion.
Jen is incredibly knowledgeable about dogs and explained in detail to us about space, food, etc. and what it all means in the dog world. She gave us lots of tips and tools about what behaviors to look for in our dog, things we never would have known without her help.
She’s also wonderful about communicating with you. If you need help after hours, she’s ready to help you at anytime. Weekends or evenings, it doesn’t matter. If you have a training or behavioral issue she will walk you through how to take care of it any time of day.
Jen and her entire staff are so devoted to the dog training cause and it’s clear they’re incredibly passionate about what they do. I would definitely recommend The Pawsitive Dog and will be sure to use her services again with our next dog!

I just had a very uncomfortable telephone conversation with a woman that honestly should not be answering this company’s phone given her disposition. I was calling to ask about the «accelerated overnight training» (boarding) offering. I wanted to know what dates they had available, knowing there would be a wait. I was told — rather rudely — that they could not do a consultation until the end of July for placement into the program but that they could be boarded straight away if all went well. Basically, I would have to wait for a month and half to know whether the program was even right for my dogs and then they would board them immediately (but no guarantee on timing). I guess it never dawned on these people that boarding a pet (or two!) is not a decision most dog owners take lightly and I am evaluating THEM just as much — if not more — as they are evaluating my dogs. I want to make sure I find the proper place to care for and train my dogs. I also need to be able to plan for it since, after all, it is boarding not just weekly training sessions which can start at any time. I need to do my homework and check out different options — something they obviously don’t consider nor support.
So I was told that they are booked for all appointments until the end of July. Right on their website they state they are not accepting any new doggie students for regular training, so I knew they were booked. No surprise there. But it also states that they ARE accepting dogs for boarding. I totally understand that they are booked up for appointments. Honestly, I get it. Even though she kept telling me I didn’t understand… repeatedly. I do. Really. It is not a hard concept to grasp, even for me. However, if there are spots available for boarding, wouldn’t it make sense for them to accommodate boarding consultations? When I explained that I needed to know the dogs had a place to stay and that I wasn’t comfortable leaving it to the last minute (especially since I was having quite a lot of doubt about this company based on this lovely phone conversation) she sharply told me to go somewhere else. How nice. But it is advice I will definitely be taking!
I am stunned at how insulting this woman was. I can’t imagine her dealing with dogs. Certainly not my dogs — I wouldn’t subject them to that! So I guess in a way I am glad I got this sneak peek into how these people operate. It proved quite clearly this is not a place I would ever let care for my dogs.

I wanted to update this review to cover a service that is provided by pawsitive dog, that I recently needed.
A general update is that I’m still training my dog here. However, it is no longer because I need to, it is because I want to. Somewhere around the year-​year and half mark it really felt like I had a handle on the issues that brought me to pawsitive dog. (This was doing classes twice a month).
One of the things that I truly appreciate is the boarding service offered. They call it camp. You’re dog goes home with a trainer for overnight, and is at their day school during the day. I had to leave town for a funeral, and when making arrangements for my dogs it was tough. I had many friends offer to watch my dogs, but my dogs have a history of being tricky. My shiba can have bad spells of separation anxiety (RIP window blinds), and Harper has a history of reactiveness. While some might be ok to handle this, what if they can’t? What if Mojo breaks out of a crate while I’m gone, What if someone lets a dog approach Harper and a bite occurs? These things could happen, especially to someone who doesn’t have dogs that is watching dogs. Just yesterday I was walking and a Chow Chow ran from the park, across 6 lanes of traffic (Rotary at Preble St), and snuck up on us… anything can happen…
The piece of mind that I received from knowing my dogs were in the hands of those whom can handle virtually any situation was invaluable. It is a really nice perk of being a client!

Best dog training in the city!!! Folks at the Pawsitive Dog literally saved my dog’s life! I never thought it would be possible to enjoy being a dog owner, having a very anxious and aggressive pitbull. We are now able to bring our dog to public places and enjoy our time with her! They have 20+ years of experience, they are available whenever we need them, very flexible with schedules. Worth all the money!

I was so shocked that I felt I had to go on here and let people know this. I am getting a puppy next month and wanted to start my search on some training. The woman I spoke with on the phone inquiring about this was SO aggressive and SO rude. I couldn’t even talk with her. With under a minute into the conversion she told me that if I cared enough about my dog I would come in for a consultation when I just wanted some general information about how classes work, etc. She didn’t even let me talk about my situation (that he was a pup and i didn’t have him yet). How does someone with that aggressiveness and energy serve as a good trainer. No thank you! Yikes!

I was fortunate to be invited to audit +dog training classes — my experience was remarkable. The facility is easy to find; +dog is immaculate, well-​organized, welcoming and has ample space for all dogs. The staff is warm and friendly. Jen Vickery is a master at her craft — she is a mindful, focused and approachable teacher. Even though I chose not to include my dog in class, the amount of knowledge I walked away with was immeasurable. Jen discussed a variety of topics relating to my behavior — things I needed to be sensitive to as a good dog owner in addition to things that my dog expects of me. Several helpful hands-​on training exercises were demonstrated and were simple enough to implement at home. I took pages and pages of notes and am so grateful for the opportunity to learn as much as I did through auditing a training class. I highly recommend +dog. My dog and I are happier today because of the +dog!

Our dog, Cooper, has been going to +dog for the past 4 months. Cooper is 5 year old pit bull who was abused by his former owner and had some left-​over tendencies that we found out about after we rescued him (such as his aggression towards random men). We tried some typical training classes and realized on day 1 that they weren’t going to work for Cooper.
Jen, Breslin and trainers do a PHENOMENAL job. They aren’t your typical trainers. They truly understand the crazy, inner workings of dog’s brains and make the training very personal to your dog’s needs. I can tell they truly care about Cooper and want to see him succeed. I highly recommend the classes in addition to the day school. My boyfriend and I have learned so many valuable techniques in the classes!
Since the time we have started at +dog, we’ve had a male dog walker come in the house and take Cooper for a walk. This was unfathomable a few months ago and we have +dog to thank! While Cooper still has a way to go, I can see the progress. There is no doubt in my mind why they are booked so far in advance and win so many awards. Highly, highly, highly recommended!

The trainers at +Dog have changed my dog’s life and our relationship completely. I could not be more pleased with the results.
By way of background, I have a 15 month old Maltipoo named Finn. Finny had a rough start to life and in July 2013 I rescued him from a breeder that was shut down for neglect. The rescue people said he was sweet, smart and playful. He arrived terrified, panicked and not-​housebroken. When I say terrified, I mean he was afraid of everything; me, going outside, noises, his dog dishes, everything. Even a dropped house key would prompt him to run to the nearest corner, put his back to the wall and shake. He didn’t eat well and would hardly sleep. He could not go outside at all. Eventually, I forced him outside where he would shake and freeze up and I would try to drag him. He was afraid of people and especially children.
I went in to full mommy-​mode and started consulting the «experts.» I went to a behaviorist and two well-​respected trainers in the Boston area. Each of them told me that I just had to accept I had «a fearful dog.» One went so far as to tell me to get another dog.
After consulting Unilocal reviews and interviewing multiple alternate trainers (I had a spreadsheet and a detailed list of questions with sub-​parts), I chose +Dog and enrolled Finny in the accelerated overnight training program. I was nervous about giving Finny to +Dog for three weeks. It was the best decision I ever made. During the time he stayed with the trainers, he had daily personal instruction by Jen, Breslin, Francis and the Intern-​Trainers. Finn and I also did night classes together. After about 10 days, Finn started walking on the leash with no problem. All I had to do was say «let’s go» and he would go, inside or outside. He started sleeping in a crate with no problems where the crate had previously terrified him. He started eating his food and would even drink out of a metal dish (which used to terrify him). He went potty outside. All in all, after three weeks I had a different dog.
That was two months ago. Since that time, Finn and I have continued going to +Dog for training. He is a completely changed dog — one who prances down the street with style, flirts with the other little dogs and the ladies, goes potty on command and will hold down while I am in the house with other people. Most importantly, he stopped reacting to, and shaking from, every single noise he heard. Through it all, the +Dog staff has supported and helped us. I have called on nights and weekends, emailed multiple times a day and picked the brain of every trainer there on every topic imaginable. They are always responsive to my emails, calls and concerns. Most importantly, they are all invested in Finn and in making him the best dog he can be.
With respect to cost, I would say that quality instruction by professionals who are invested in you and your dog is not cheap. If you are looking to pay as little as possible and be in a class of 30, this is not the place for you. You also get out of it what you put into it. I work with my dog every day now, both on his training skills and our relationship. My dog loves me but he also listens to me. Part of his improvement has been changing how I think about him and how much I spent «training» him.
In closing, +Dog won’t «fix your dog» overnight. Dog training is a process and no trainer can give you an «instant fix» for behavior issues. Anyone who tells you differently is full of it. What +Dog did was give me the tools to help Finny and improve our relationship. And so far, its working for us.

My review follows that of Amy S. Having worked with a few different trainers post Pawsitive Dog-​which I left just about a year ago, I wholeheartedly agree with Amy S. that there is very little «positive» about + Dog’s training methods. I was a bit overwhelmed by my dog when we started there and I think + Dog caters to that fear in all of us as owners. My dog isn’t aggressive or difficult, just big.
And while I was completely ready to drink at the fountain of + Dog knowledge, there were some things that disturbed me from the first evaluation through to the end of our days there-​I think the biggest is how the owner would yell «QUIET» at any dog whining or barking in its crate and, mid-​sentence, walk over and kick the crate door to «reinforce» the command.
Those dogs, mind you, may have spent the better part of 12 + hours in that crate. To me, kicking at the crate door of a dog that is locked inside is dominance and fear based training –and after working with folks that are trained @ Karen Pryor and others who work at the MSPCA, I feel that even more strongly.
The same goes for prong collars (for anyone starting training, this is the big «reveal» a few weeks into your training sessions –not quite rocket science, but also something that many positive method trainers shun-​as many believe the use sends mixed signals to the relationship you’re trying to build with your dog). Again, this is a tool that I think is probably really useful to people whose dogs overwhelm them or are difficult –and when my dog was a giant puppy, it was great for me just to understand that I could be in control – but when I found an effective way of training/​communicating with my dog (clicker training for me), I realized the prong collar had been getting in the way of the dog’s progress.
Once I got over being overwhelmed by my puppy’s size, I was very well rewarded by working with some excellent trainers at the MSPCA who are all about clicker training and communicating with your dog –it’s kind of amazing –and actually positive! I should note, that while the MSPCA trainers see aggressive and difficult dogs all the time, I’ve never seen them act towards animals the way I saw happen @ + Dog.
To anyone looking for training, good luck with your search –I hope you find the right trainers for you and your dog for a long, happy relationship together!

Absolutely AMAZING dog training facility and staff. Jen, Breslin, Francis and team are wonderful. All of the staff are completely committed to what they do. Initial evaluation is intimidating because we weren’t sure what to expect, but the improvements we’ve seen in our dog are astounding!!! Gunner looks forward to going to school every time we show up. Pawsitive dog has helped us create a better relationship with our dog, and the classes offered are amazing. I cannot say enough GREAT things about this place!

My previous review was filtered by Unilocal but, after an experience today, I had to write another in hopes that it makes it through.
I began going to the Pawsitive dog roughly 4.5 years ago. I was a relatively inactive client for the first 3 years. I would go to a single class a month, and hardly ever bring my dog to day school. My dog is a relatively aggressive female, who I felt, meant well but, clearly needed some training and structure. Due to my schedule and other reasons, I did not put 100% into my dogs training. And sure enough along the way, my dog managed to find trouble. Although the trouble that she found was not her fault 100% of the time, I felt that with the proper training, the situations could have been avoided, and ultimately saved me a lot of money at the Vet’s.
In the last year or so, I have put forth as much effort as possible with training my dog. She is literally a brand new dog. Her obedience is worlds better than it used to be. She is not as aggressive due to the constant stimulation, activities, training and exercise.
With that said, Jen & Breslin’s methods work, Period. My dog literally owes her life to Jen and Breslin. Just today, an off leash dog ran up from behind my dog and growled, 2 years ago, my dog would have attacked that dog but, today, I was able to yell two simple commands from across a field, and my dog simply laid down and ignored the off leash dog. This was exactly the behavior that Jen and Breslin have been helping me train my dog to do. Rather than pay attention to the off leash dog, she paid attention to me and what I wanted her to do. They have helped me create such an enjoyable relationship with me dog. I love and have more fun with her now, than I did before. The mutual respect, trust and understanding that training with Jen and Breslin has provided the two of us, has made this partnership that much more enjoyable.
I cannot Thank Jen, Breslin & The Pawsitive Dog enough for the training, skills, knowledge and companionship that they have provided for my dog and I. I truly did not think that training could make your relationship with your dog better, but, it truly does.

We have been taking our puppy to Pawsitive Dog for about 10 months now and just have to share our experience here. Our 2 year old pit/​boxer mix has made such progress in the short time we have been here. The first time we came in for a consultation I remember thinking that the dogs laying around the perimeter of the room on dog beds must have been drugged. They were perfectly relaxed, extremely comfortable and not even reacting to the dogs and people running around the room, coming, going and training right in front of them. On the car ride home that night I admit I told my boyfriend, «there’s no WAY Cash will be able to do that», and for our wild puppy, I really didn’t think there was.
A few months and a lot of training later and I come to pick Cash up from school and what do you know, he’s up on the dog beds just casually watching a class of 10 dogs run around and throw treats near him and he looks totally at peace! Again, I left proclaiming that «of course he can do it for Jen and Breslin in school but he will NEVER do that in real life».
Now, 10 months after that first night and Cash will hold a down-​stay for us no matter where we put him. On the dock of the sailing club during an open house, in the next room while we have a dinner party, next to our friend’s loud and crazy 4 month-​old chocolate lab. You get the picture. Cash came in to Pawsitive Dog with food aggression, a lot of untamed energy, and little respect for us as owners. He is still a puppy and still has the crazies around the apartment sometimes but he listens to every word we say to him. It sounds crazy but he looks at me now and I can see him listening to my command and wanting to please me by doing it. He has a long way to go but the distance he has come in such a short amount of time is really one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. Thank you to Jen and Breslin for everything you have done for Cash and his owners :)

I’ve been taking classes here for the past year or so, and if I had to sum up the program in one sentence, it would be that this place teaches you Dog language and culture. (Interestingly, with the emphasis on status and non-​confrontational communication, it’s really quite similar to Japanese.) As others have mentioned, if you need to really dig deep and learn the ins and outs of dog culture, this is the place for you. It requires much time and commitment, as would any foreign language, but in the end, you become dog whisperer and speaker.
When we started the program, my dog was 11, with all sorts of fear-​aggression issues. She had been to other trainers who would directly address the problems by negative feedback, but to no avail. Here they get to the root of the problem so much so that you may not even know you’re addressing the issue you came to tackle. When I brought my dog home during the holidays, everyone noticed improvement in her behavior, thankfully, so I’m pretty much sold on the technique.
The program is not without flaw (I really wish they would give us feedback forms, for example), but so far I can’t see a limit to the training a dog could receive here. It’s the BA, MA and PhD of the dog world. Highly recommended!

Our beagle — sweet as he is — was running the house when we came to +dog. He would ask to go out at all hours, barked too much and was not good on the leash.
+dog equiped us with the knowledge and skills to be smart, nurturing and pawsitive dog owners. Jenifer’s method and knowledge goes beyond «rote» memorization of sit, stay, shake to helping your dog know its place in your «pack» and be able to adjust to the variety of experiences that our pets come across every day.
If you want to be a better dog owner and have a happier dog, give +dog a call. Worth the time and investment.

We had a difficult dog situation — he is a darling but would bark and try to defend us at the drop of a hat. We had puppy classes almost from day 1 of owning him, home visits, socialized as best we could, read a number of books but it didn’t really make progress until a few weeks of clases with Jen. In fact other trainers just said, he is a schnauzer and will bark — not much we can do. Sure, after the puppy classes, he could do a ton of tricks (sit, speak, jump through hoops, touch, roll over, down, etc.) but would try to dominiate any situation that involved other dogs — not healthy!
We have found, the training is more for you than the dog. If you don’t want to change and just want to change the dog, you will probably feel this is a waste of money. However, I would suggest you are fixing the wrong issue and probably need to be a better owner. Jen actually did not recommend a shock colar for us — but did suggest a training colar. We used that but I tried it on myself first — it is so much better than all the others we tried because it actually works.
Reading some of the reviews, you get the impression this is the most expensive thing in town. I agree it is not cheap, but when you do the numbers on running a business like this and factor in the foster and rescue work — I am not sure how you can run it for much less (maybe you can but we are happy here and have even started with the defense class).
In short, it worked for us. If you met our dog now, the first thing people say is how well behaved he is. If you want to train yourself and your dog, this is one of the good places in town to go.

We brought our six month old French Bulldog for an evaluation at The Pawsitive Dog shortly after bringing him home, at the recommendation of several of our neighbors. While my fiancé grew up having dogs as pets, I was rather terrified of them (now you know whose idea it was to get a dog in the first place). I will be the very first to admit that I had no idea what to expect, both as a dog owner and in training classes.
Jenifer and Breslin put us all at ease nearly immediately. Both have taken the time to get to know us, to evaluate and form a bond with Clark, and to really understand our unique dynamic. It’s rather possible that Jenifer trained me even more effectively than she trained Clark. While some exercises may seem bizarre at first, it is never long before I realize the practical application.
Over the past two years, we have participated in the full range of offerings at The Pawsitive Dog: from Day School and Camp +dog (a great alternative to traditional boarding), to classes, rally training, therapy dog practice tests, and field trips. In addition, Jenifer and Breslin have always gone above and beyond, taking phone calls after hours, recommending the perfect dog walker, and referring us to vets and other great resources.
We largely have The Pawsitive Dog to thank for the joyful relationship we have with our Frenchie. While TPD may be on the more expensive end of the spectrum, I’ve never doubted that the results are well worth the investment. There is so much to be said for their positive, preventative, proactive approach. I would recommend them to anyone. In a heartbeat.

I have mixed feelings about Pawsitive Dog. I haven’t worked with them extensively, but enough to decide it wasn’t the right dog trainer for us.
First, it’s reeeeaally expensive. $ 575 for 7 classes (as compared to $ 120 for 6 classes at New England Dog Training Club). At your consultation, they’ll tell you they give you more one-​on-​one attention and personalize your training so that it’s more targeted and effective. But is it really 5 times more efficient? No, in my opinion. We went for a consultation and a single class ($ 95). And after all the talk about not pushing us into a standard curriculum, paying attention to our individual needs, etc… what did they do? We paid $ 95 for a class on very basic things that I don’t think applied to our dog much at all. At Pawsitive dog I’m sure they’d say it important «foundational» stuff, but I don’t buy it. I don’t need to pay $ 95 to hear things that are covered in every puppy book on the market. Yes, it’s important, but there are much cheaper ways to come by this knowledge.
Second, their name «Pawsitive» is misleading. They seem to use a surprising amount of physical punishment and manipulation in their training. It’s not just your typical «mark-​reward» training, as preferred by most modern dog trainers (Ian Dunbar, Patricia McConnell, etc…). At Pawsitive dog they seem to encourage lots of leash pops to correct your dog, and they are into physically manipulating dogs into positions (instead of luring). And I think science clearly shows that luring is more effective. While I believe that some corrections may be needed for problem dogs, I think reward-​based methods (and «shunishment») training is adequate (and better!) for most dogs. That’s my training philosophy (and Ian Dunbar’s and Pat McConnells).
Third, I would NOT send my dog there for «day school.» What is day school? It seems to be your dog sitting in a tiny crate most of the day without attention or active training. It’s true that I’m not there all day to see what goes on, but there were about 25 – 30 dogs there, so it’s hard to imagine that any of them are getting much attention.
A previous reviewer criticized their dog evaluation methods (he said they induced his dog to behave horribly). But I think that’s exactly the point of it. Jen slapped our dog hard on the ribs, pushed him down onto the floor, made loud noises, etc… Ours «passed» with flying colors because he’s patient and gentle and sweet. But the whole point of it seems to be to determine whether your dog might have a tendency to bite or behave badly if provoked. (What if a child pulls on the dogs ears?).
My ultimate evaluation? Not worth driving to South Boston for, or worth $ 95/​class.
I think if you have serious problems with your dog, and are mystified as to how to fix them, then this is a good trainer for you. Jen will definitely tell you what’s what. But if your dog is basically pretty great and you just want to work on things in a class environment, there are better options.
Instead of Pawsitive Dog, maybe buy «The Culture Clash» by Jean Donaldson. You’ll probably learn more about your dog and it’s only $ 12.