About Grey Standard Canine Training

Grey Standard Canine Training is a boutique residential board and train based in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, serving families across Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. Dogs live and train with owner Bobby Bartolomeo, with pickup and drop-off included, a final session in the family’s home and support for the life of the dog. Bobby specializes in aggressive, reactive and anxious dogs and high-drive working breeds.

Meet Bobby Bartolomeo, Owner & Trainer

Bobby grew up around professional dog training and saw early that consistency and accountability produce results that last. A background in high-pressure environments taught him clarity, composure and disciplined follow-through, and that same mindset defines his work with dogs.

Clients notice right away how accurately he reads a dog, and how clearly he explains it to the owner. His approach is calm, direct and structured, and owners leave knowing not just what to do, but why.

Bobby Bartolomeo, owner of Grey Standard Canine Training, with his Australian Shepherd Reyna

Most of Life Exists in the Grey

There is no single formula that fits every dog or every family. Structure is essential, but a trainer anchored to a fixed protocol instead of the dog in front of him gets limited results. The Grey Standard is not a rejection of structure. It’s a rejection of blind allegiance to protocol.

Bobby starts with observation, not a script. The dog determines the pace, the pressure and the progression, and structure is applied deliberately and adjusted when clarity demands it. Every program starts with your goals. What do you want your dog to do?

Australian Shepherd lying calmly on a leash inside a busy airport terminal

Meet Reyna, Bobby’s Australian Shepherd

Reyna, the Australian Shepherd you’ll see across this site, comes from purpose-bred working lines from Wildling Aussies in Newport, Rhode Island. Her structure started at four months old, and before six months she was traveling internationally, holding position in airports, staying neutral around wildlife and responding reliably at a distance in busy places.

Not because she was naturally easy, but because structure was applied early and consistently. Reliability is built through consistency, and that principle now defines every dog Bobby works with.

Reyna the Australian Shepherd sitting calmly in a crowded city square

Check Out Our Reviews

★★★★★
Rated 5.0 on Google
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Dianne D.September 2026
★★★★★

Bobby helped us with our three year old Bernadoodle Shelby. He was wonderful and helped to calm Shelby down. We also boarded Shelby with Bobby. I love the relationship he has with her.

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Rachel H.September 2026
★★★★★

Bobby is truly the dog whisperer, and we highly recommend Grey Standard Canine Training. When we reached out to him, we were completely at a loss. We adopted Gogo as a 10-week-old Yorkie puppy, and he had always been joyful and energetic. Then, at 17 months old, he suddenly became aggressive. He fixated on our older dog, Lulu, and snapped without warning. I was bitten twice, and my husband was bitten once. These were not minor bites; Gogo would latch on and refuse to let go. Our vet ruled out any physical problems and said he was in perfect health. The hardest part was that our granddaughter, Alice, loved Gogo, but once his behavior changed, we could no longer allow her to be around him.
Gogo’s behavior became so serious that our vet said she would support euthanasia if it came to that. We considered every option—rehoming him, returning him to the breeder, or euthanasia. The final straw came when Gogo lunged at our daughter and her boyfriend, forcing them to jump onto the couch to get away. I immediately searched for trainers who boarded and worked with aggressive dogs. Bobby responded that same night, and I felt immediate relief.
After speaking with Bobby by phone the next day, I knew he was the right trainer for Gogo. Other trainers were not a good fit, but Bobby listened, explained that Gogo needed to learn how to be calm, and clearly cared about both dogs and their owners. He drove to our house to pick up Gogo, reassured us, and agreed to train and board him for three weeks while we were away. During Gogo’s stay, Bobby stayed in constant communication, and we knew we had made the right decision.
When Bobby brought Gogo home, he spent two hours teaching us how to continue the training. He walked with us and showed us what Gogo had learned. Before training, Gogo would often become scared on Thames Street, stop, and refuse to move. That day, he walked with confidence. Bobby also gave us practical suggestions for creating calm areas in our home, checked in the next day, answered every question, and even stopped by when he was in Newport. His support did not end when training ended.
Gogo has now been home for 12 days, and I recently realized that I am no longer afraid. Our house is calmer than it has ever been. When Alice visited, Gogo was calm and simply wanted to be by her side. Alice was thrilled to spend time with her dog again after more than three months apart.
The changes in Gogo have been remarkable. Before training, he did not eat consistently, pulled and stopped on walks, obeyed only when treats were offered, reacted to Lulu daily, and needed a Baskerville muzzle. Now he eats regularly, walks calmly, responds to verbal commands without treats, and settles quickly when redirected. Since coming home, he has only become upset three times, and each incident was brief because he responded to the tools Bobby taught us. I can now leave him home safely for longer periods without arranging my entire schedule around him.
While Gogo was training with Bobby, a close friend asked whether I thought I would ever trust Gogo again. At the time, I was not sure. Now my answer is yes. Bobby created an individualized training program that gave Gogo—and us—the skills we needed. The results have gone beyond our expectations. Whatever your dog’s training needs may be, look no further than Grey Standard Canine Training.

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Emily K.August 2026
★★★★★

I can’t even begin to express how thankful I am for Bobby and Grey Standard Canine Training! I’ve been training and breeding dogs for years, but I was completely stumped when it came to my dog’s herding drive around my horses. It was getting dangerous, she was constantly getting underfoot, and the confrontational behavior toward my horses was becoming a serious problem. Some horses could tolerate it, but others were more reactive, and honestly, it was a ticking time bomb. I couldn’t address it while on horseback myself, and it felt like a challenge I would never be able to overcome.

In just a few sessions, Bobby completely transformed the dynamic between my dog and horses. I never thought it was possible, but now my dog runs alongside me on horseback, and she doesn’t try to herd or nip at my horse’s legs. She’s calm, focused, and I can’t believe how smooth and natural everything feels now. The behavior that once felt uncontrollable and dangerous is gone.

What stands out most is Bobby’s intuitive understanding of both the dog’s natural instincts and the challenges I was facing with my horses. Bobby didn’t just apply basic training techniques; he tailored everything to fit my specific needs and the environment I was working in. It was clear that Bobby had a deep understanding of not just canine behavior, but how to adapt that understanding to real-life situations, like riding alongside horses.

I can finally ride with my dog by my side in a way I always dreamed of but thought was impossible. It’s such a relief to know that I can trust my dog around my horses, and the bond we’ve formed from this training is stronger than ever. I’m amazed by how quickly Bobby was able to address a situation that seemed so complicated. I never thought it would be possible to have a harmonious relationship between my dog and my horses, but Bobby proved me wrong.

If you're facing any kind of behavioral issues with your dog, I highly recommend Grey Standard Canine Training. Bobby is an expert, and the results speak for themselves. My heart is so full to be living this dream, and I can’t thank Bobby enough for making it a reality!

J
Joanne D.June 2026
★★★★★

Bobby trained both of our dogs, Skye and Luna, and we’re really happy with how they came home. They’re calmer, listening better, and just easier to manage day to day.

What we liked most was that Bobby didn’t just train them to follow commands. He helped us understand them better too, which made a big difference once they were back home.

Skye and Luna are still themselves, just with more structure and a lot more confidence. We’re really grateful for the work Bobby put into them and would definitely recommend Grey Standard.

M
Mickeal P.June 2026
★★★★★

Before taking him to Bobby, snoopy would be hyper and unable to relax. You take him for a walk and he’s walking you. Now after his training I can tell he’s learned a lot. He’s much easier to walk with and now can sit in a room without needing constant attention. He’s done a wonderful job with my dog and I would definitely recommend him to anyone else looking for a trainer!

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Cristina M.May 2026
★★★★★

Where do I begin…I can’t thank Bobby enough. Since the first phone call I knew that he was the one for my Chuckie! The attention to detail, the knowledge, his personality, he made me feel comfortable and the worry and pressure came off my shoulders instantly!!! Pit bulls definitely get judged fast, and when you have one that has shown some aggression, it is really not easy finding a trainer who will even take that on. Most won’t. Bobby seriously blew us away with how good he was with my Chuckie. Honestly I didn’t know what we were going to do at that point. He stepped in, kept in touch with us the whole way through, and did everything he could to help. He ended up taking our dog for a board and train and the difference has been huge! He is doing so much better now. I really can’t recommend Bobby enough! He is not just a trainer, he’s family. He just has a natural feel for dogs and that is honestly rare. Bobby said that a piece of him stays with all the dogs he trains and I truly feel that…Thank you

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Emily H.May 2026
★★★★★

I can’t say enough good things about our experience with Bobby. We brought him a very challenging situation—a 3-year-old male Great Dane rescue with a traumatic past who was showing serious aggression toward our other dog and had begun resource guarding me. He came to us with no basic training or structure and with his intimidating size, and a young child in our home, we were facing the heartbreaking possibility of having to rehome him if things didn’t improve.
From the very beginning, Bobby approached the situation with confidence, honesty, and a level of realism that we truly appreciated. He didn’t sugarcoat anything, but instead gave us a clear understanding of what needed to be done and what to expect. His approach is unlike anything we’ve seen before—he takes the time to truly read each dog and works at a pace that’s appropriate for them, especially in high-stress, behavioral cases like ours.
We enrolled our dog in a two-week board and train program, and the transformation has been incredible. Bobby not only worked through the aggression issues, but also helped build a foundation of structure, communication, and trust that our dog had clearly never experienced before. Not to mention the additional tricks he learned along the way; sit, place, stay, heel. We are so impressed. The progress we’ve seen has given us real hope!

There is still work ahead, but thanks to Bobby, we now have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to continue moving forward safely and successfully as a family. Quite honestly, we believe he saved our dog’s life, without this intervention, he would not have been able to thrive in a home environment.

What sets Bobby apart is the support he provides even after the training is complete. He takes the time to work closely with you to make sure you feel comfortable, confident, and fully prepared to maintain the progress at home. He genuinely cares about both the dogs and their families!!

We feel incredibly lucky to have found Bobby. For anyone dealing with a difficult or aggressive dog, especially in a high-stakes situation, we cannot recommend him highly enough!!

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Natasha S.May 2026
★★★★★

We got our Golden Retriever puppy and reached out to Bobby early on to help get him on the right track. We started with puppy lessons and later did a board and train, and it made such a difference. Our dog is calmer, more confident, listens really well, and is not jumping all over us like he used to. We’re super happy with how it all went and really glad we found Bobby. Would definitely recommend him.

L
Lynn F.April 2026
★★★★★

Bobby did a great job with our dog. The board and train program was tailored to our dog’s specific needs, and it was clear from the start how much thought and care went into everything. He was professional, thorough, and focused on getting real results. We saw a big improvement in behavior, and he made everything easy for us to understand on our end too. Highly recommend.

Where We Work

Grey Standard Canine Training is based in East Greenwich. Bobby picks up and drops off every dog at home across Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts.

East Greenwich Warwick Providence Cranston North Kingstown Narragansett Newport Barrington Bristol Attleboro, MA area

Ready to Talk to Bobby?

Book a free consultation with Bobby. Tell him what you want your dog to do, and he’ll share a few tips and build a custom training plan around your goals.