New Beginnings Dog Training

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New Beginnings Dog Training New Beginnings Dog Training offers private in-home training using positive reinforcement. We use positive reinforcement training methods. Going to the dog park?

Owner Martha Palermo, KPA CTP, is a professional dog trainer certified by Karen Pryor Academy in 2011. About Us:

New Beginnings Dog Training offers private training in your home, where your dog will be more comfortable and learn more quickly. I specialize in helping you and your newly adopted dog have a successful relationship. New Beginnings Dog Training services the areas of Metro West and Central Massachusetts. Please contact us today at [email protected] or 774-287-1398 for pricing and a free phone evaluation. Training Philosophy:

New Beginnings Dog Training teaches people and dogs though positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement allows dogs to be active participants in their learning and they become enthusiastic learners. They learn faster, are more engaged in the training process, and have stronger bonds with their people than dogs trained using punishment. Meet the Trainer:
Owner Martha Palermo, KPA CTP, is a professional dog trainer certified by Karen Pryor Academy in 2011. She specializes in helping newly adopted dogs adjust to their new homes. Martha has been involved in animal rescue for over 20 years. She was the founder and director of Bay State Dogs, Inc., a small local all breed dog rescue. She is currently a volunteer for National Newfoundland Rescue providing support to fosters and new adopters. Martha has worked with several other local shelters and rescues providing training and behavior assessments. Martha has a BS in accounting and a MBA from Bentley University. She is a member of IAABC, APDT, MAC, Doggone Safe and NCNE. Seminars and workshops that Martha has attended include:
Assess-a-Pet, TACT, The Genetic Basis for Canine Behavior, Dog to Dog Interactions and Sociability vs. Aggression Thresholds in Dogs with Sue Sternberg, How to Teach a Reactive Dog Class with Emma Parsons, and Cementing the Human-K9 Bond with Dr. Tim Lewis and Sue Sternberg. She also participated in an internship with Sue Sternberg studying the behavior of sled dogs at Eden Dog Sledding and the Un-Chained Gang. Martha completed Canine Body Language and Behavior Observation training with Kelley Bollen and is certified as a volunteer evaluator for the MA Animal Coalition program Animatch. Martha is a former adjunct faculty member at Becker College in the Animal Sciences Department and a former mentor trainer for Animal Behavior College. She has also been a Delta Society Pet Partner and a Reading Education Assistance Dog partner with her Newfoundland, Lily. She has also participated in nosework and agility classes with her dogs. Martha and her family currently have a 2 yr old Lagotto Romagnolo and a retired Quarter Horse. Services:
Caring for your New Puppy:
A training program that will teach you how to survive the first few months with your new puppy. We will cover house training and crate training as well as effective ways to manage the typical puppy behaviors of chewing, nipping, & jumping. Puppy Basics:
A training program for your new puppy (8-20 wks) that will teach your puppy the behaviors he needs to become a happy, polite, safe member of the family. Behaviors include:

Come when called
Sit
Watch Me
Settle on a bed/mat
Stay/Wait
Walk politely on a leash
Greet people without jumping
and more...

Manners for the Family Dog:
A training program for an older puppy or adult dog new to training or one that needs more practice. Helping your adult dog be a happy, polite, safe member of the family. Behaviors include:

Come when called
Sit
Watch Me
Settle on a bed/mat
Stay/Wait
Walk politely on a leash
Greet people without jumping
and more.. Taking it On the Road:
Are you uncomfortable walking your dog in your neighborhood? Bringing your dog to your child’s sporting events? Going anywhere in public with your dog? This program will take you on the road with your dog. We will go to a different public place every week and work on handling situations that arise when your dog is out with you. You and your dog will gain confidence. Kids and Dogs:
A training program designed for families with children that will teach your children how to interact with your dog so that they both stay safe and build a stronger bond. We will show your children how they can participate in the care and training of your dog as well as teach them fun games and tricks. The program will be custom tailored to be age appropriate for your children. Behavior Modification:

Is your dog fearful of people? Does your dog bark and lunge at other dogs when you are out walking? Is your dog protective of his food? Do you come home to destruction when you leave your dog alone? New Beginnings Dog Training offers programs custom tailored to help you manage and modify your dog’s undesirable behavior. We understand how stressful it is to live with behavior problems and we can offer solutions. We can help reduce the stress to your family and your dog so that you can peacefully co-exist. Contact us now for a behavior evaluation. Consultations:

Choosing the Right Dog for You:
Puppy or Adult? Which Breed? Adopt or Purchase from a Breeder? Once you have decided to bring a dog into your family we can help you to choose the dog that will best fit your family and lifestyle. If you decide to adopt, and we hope you will, we can ensure that you find a reputable rescue group or shelter. Puppy Preparation:
Are you a first time dog owner bringing a new puppy (or an older adopted dog) into your home? We can help you prepare by puppy proofing your home, providing a list of items you will need, giving you instruction on house training and crate training, teaching you the best way to introduce your new puppy to children and other pets, and more.

Happy to have the beaches open to dogs again! Lots of great smells to explore and warm enough to get in the water if the...
10/21/2026

Happy to have the beaches open to dogs again! Lots of great smells to explore and warm enough to get in the water if they choose. Brenna is afraid of the horseshoe crab shells and Luce runs around with them in her mouth! We usually walk them on long lines which provides freedom and some control. Lots of off leash dogs with no recall coming at us. Long lines give us the option of keeping them close when needed.

10/11/2026

Such important information. Can you read your dog’s body language?

10/05/2026

We are so lucky to still be in the water. Today we practiced the exercise Tow a Boat without a boat. We don't always have access to a boat so we improvise. I started on land to get Brenna used to having things dragging behind her. Here I tied her bumper and line to a boogie board. I let her drag it around where it was shallow, before she started swimming with it, then moved to deeper water. Slow, steady progression is important to build your dog's confidence.
Today she wanted nothing to do with retrieving her life jacket that she was obsessed with the last time she was in the water. Back to reinforcing it on land. Life with a teenager!

Looks like it’s National Black Dog Day. Black dogs waiting in shelters and rescues often get overlooked for no other rea...
10/01/2026

Looks like it’s National Black Dog Day. Black dogs waiting in shelters and rescues often get overlooked for no other reason than their color. Here are some of our past fosters and some of our own.

09/29/2026

When I'm out and about, especially at dog related events I see a lot of dogs being asked to sit. Some do, some don't. I hear people asking multiple times with no answer. Sometimes they ask louder. I also see the outdated method of pushing the dog into a sit which makes me crazy. Maybe they sit perfectly, every time, at home and just need more work in distracting environments.
If you want to strengthen your dog's sit, grab your clicker and put 5-10 treats in your hand. Give the cue to sit (once). When your dog has his butt on the ground, click, and toss a treat. As soon as he eats the treat, ask again and repeat until your treats are gone.
In the video you can see that Brenna's sit is not 100%. It could be her adolescent brain. Sometimes she looks at me like I'm speaking another language. When she didn't sit, I just waited for it and didn't ask again because I know it is not a question of her understanding the cue. When watching the video I noticed that I moved my body when she didn't sit. That was unintentional. I don't want to make any changes to my position as it could become part of the cue.
Questions or comments?

Today is our 15th Anniversary! Here's to Rocky whose baffling behavior started me on this journey and to sweet Lola who ...
09/09/2026

Today is our 15th Anniversary! Here's to Rocky whose baffling behavior started me on this journey and to sweet Lola who was my training partner.

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since Jack was sitting on our couch. Jack did what Jack wanted, when he wanted to do ...
09/07/2026

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since Jack was sitting on our couch. Jack did what Jack wanted, when he wanted to do it. That was fine with us. Adopting a senior is the best! Jack came to us at 9 1/2 yrs old. He was not in good shape and we didn't expect him to last the month. Lucky for us he surprised us and gave us another year and a half.

08/18/2026

We've been practicing on our own most of the summer but today we had a brave "drowning" victim. Thanks Julia for helping! Brenna enthusiastically swam out to save her.

New statement by the AVSAB on choosing a trainer.
08/13/2026

New statement by the AVSAB on choosing a trainer.

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Grafton, MA
01519

Telephone

+17742871398

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