Answers
Answers: your Dogtown questions, answered plainly
The questions we hear at the front desk and on the phone, answered with the real price, the real window and the real policy. Each one links to the page that books it.
Daycare
What happens at the Dogtown evaluation?
A free weekday-morning temperament test plus a few supervised hours in a small group. What to bring and what we watch.
Read Health requirementsWhat vaccinations does my dog need for daycare?
Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella, plus a city license, shown once at the free evaluation. Why each one is on the list.
Read PaperworkDoes my dog need a city license for daycare?
Yes, a current town license is required. Gloucester's comes from 9 Dale Ave for $20 plus $1, due by April 30.
Read PuppiesHow old does a puppy have to be for daycare?
No minimum age at Dogtown: the gate is three vaccines, a city license and the free evaluation. A puppy's first year, in order.
Read A full dayWhat does a day at Dogtown look like?
Drop-off from 6:30 AM, matched groups of 7 to 10, rest breaks, a midday changeover and a report card at 4 to 6:30 PM pick-up.
Read PlaygroupsHow are playgroups matched at Dogtown?
Size, play style and temperament, decided at the free evaluation and re-checked as your dog changes. Groups of 7 to 10.
Read Anxious dogsIs dog daycare good for anxious dogs?
Sometimes. It depends what the dog fears. How Dogtown tests it safely, and the services for dogs who should not be in a group.
Read FrequencyHow many days a week should a dog go to daycare?
Two or three days for most adults, fewer for puppies and seniors, and the $700 membership when it reaches five.
Read After pick-upWhy is my dog so tired after daycare?
Play, social reading and new smells use up a dog. Healthy tired versus overtired, and the three levers to adjust the day.
Read RestDo dogs nap at daycare?
Yes: rest breaks between play, a midday settle and a quiet spot for a dog who is done. Which dogs sleep and which only watch.
Read Daycare answersWhat if my dog doesn't pass the evaluation?
No charge, an honest reason, and a route back through training, quiet exposure or a second weekday morning.
Read Daycare answersDo I need to book daycare in advance?
Yes: the evaluation comes first, groups of 7 to 10 fill, and summer and holiday weeks on Cape Ann need weeks of notice.
Read Daycare answersCan I drop off outside the drop-off windows?
Weekday and Saturday windows, why they exist, and what to do when yours will not bend: call first, or book the Pup Van.
Read Daycare answersWhat happens if I'm late for pick-up?
Call first; your dog stays with a handler. No late fee is quoted here; the front desk confirms, and a $78 suite is the fallback.
Read Daycare answersDoes daycare help with socialization?
Yes, in small matched groups with a handler present. What a playgroup teaches, what it cannot, and how to read the results.
Read Daycare answersCan two dogs from one home attend daycare together?
Yes: one drop-off, two evaluations, and a group placement for each dog. Same group only when size and temperament fit.
Read Daycare answersWhat breeds do well at daycare?
No breed list at Dogtown: temperament decides. The patterns our handlers see, group by group, and how any dog earns its place.
Read Daycare answersDo you separate small and large dogs?
Yes: size first, then temperament, in groups of 7 to 10 running side by side. How placement works and where the exceptions lie.
Read Daycare answersHow do you handle rough play at daycare?
A handler with every group, a ladder of quiet interruptions, matching that prevents most of it, and honesty when it repeats.
Read Daycare answersWhat is a temperament test for dogs?
A watched first meeting, not an exam: what the handler reads, how it fits the free evaluation, and how to prepare your dog.
ReadOvernight
What do overnight stays at Dogtown include?
A $78 suite, a daycare day in a matched group, bedding and 24/7 monitoring, with Classic and Deluxe bundles on top.
Read Overnight staysIs an overnight stay the same as boarding?
Yes, it is what you mean by boarding, but the day is a daycare playgroup and the suite is only for the night. $78 a night.
Read Overnight staysDoes my dog need an evaluation for an overnight stay?
Yes. The free weekday-morning evaluation comes before the first night, because the day of a stay is spent in a playgroup.
Read Overnight staysWhat are the Sunday pick-up and drop-off windows?
Sunday is overnight guests only: 8 to 10 AM and 4 to 6 PM. How to plan a weekend stay around the two windows.
Read Overnight staysHow far in advance should I book holiday boarding?
Book the day the travel is fixed. Which Cape Ann holidays fill first, and what has to be done before the nights can be booked.
Read Overnight staysCan I bring my dog's own food and bed?
Food yes, portioned by meal. Bedding is provided; bring one small comfort item instead of a bed. What the suite already has.
Read Overnight staysWhat are the Dogtown Classic and Deluxe bundles?
Classic +$10: pupsicle, 10 percent off grooming. Deluxe +$15: Kong, treadmill or enrichment, memory-foam bed, 15 percent off.
Read Overnight staysWill my dog be alone at night?
Own suite, 24/7 monitoring, other guests nearby, after a full daycare day. What the night looks like from the dog's side.
Read Overnight staysDo dogs sleep in crates or suites at Dogtown?
Suites with comfortable bedding and 24/7 monitoring at night, playgroups of 7 to 10 by day, $78 a night.
Read Overnight staysCan my dog board without going to daycare first?
Yes, once the free evaluation is done. Daycare days are a rehearsal, not a rule, and here is a two-week timeline.
Read Overnight staysHow do you handle separation anxiety during a stay?
Company by day, a quiet suite and enrichment by night, updates in the app, and honesty about which dogs need training first.
Read Overnight staysDo you send updates during an overnight stay?
Report cards, photos and a message line to the front desk, all in the free Dogtown app, for one night or a fortnight.
Read Overnight staysWhat if my dog gets sick during a stay?
24/7 monitoring, your vet and an emergency contact on file, and the 24-hour hospital in Woburn. What to leave with us.
Read Overnight staysIs there a minimum or maximum overnight stay?
$78 a night from a single night to a month, no published limit, and what to plan for as the nights add up.
Read Overnight staysWhat time is check-out after an overnight stay?
Any pick-up window on the last day: weekday, Saturday and Sunday windows, the Pup Van, and what to do if you are late.
ReadGrooming
How often should a dog be groomed?
Every 4 to 12 weeks depending on coat: doodles every 4 to 8, double coats every 6 to 12, nails every 3 to 6.
Read Timing a groomHow long does a dog groom take?
About 1 to 2 hours for a bath, 2 to 4 for a full service, longer for mats or giants. The studio confirms when you book.
Read Full service, definedWhat is included in a full-service groom?
Warm bath, blow-dry, brush-out and a breed-specific or custom haircut, $75 to $120 by size. Nails and teeth are add-ons.
Read Owners and the studioCan I stay with my dog during grooming?
As a rule the studio grooms without owners present, and dogs are calmer for it. Ask at booking if you have a concern.
Read Matted coat pricingHow much does it cost to groom a matted dog?
Full service by size ($75 to $120) plus de-matting at $15 per 20 minutes, confirmed at check-in. A shave is often kinder.
Read The kind shaveWhy do groomers shave matted dogs?
A mat is rooted to the skin and pulling it out hurts. Why the clipper is kinder, and how Dogtown decides at check-in.
Read De-shedding, explainedWhat is Shed Release?
A $10 de-shedding add-on: treatment in the bath, high-velocity dry and brush-out for Bernese, goldens, huskies and labs.
Read Anal glands at the groomerDo you express anal glands?
Yes, externally, as a $40 add-on to any bath or groom. Impacted or infected glands are your vet's job, and we say so.
Read Nail careHow often should a dog's nails be trimmed?
Every three to four weeks for most dogs, sooner on turf and sand. Nail clipping at Dogtown is $16, trimmed then buffed.
Read Skin and coatWhat is an antiseptic or fungal shampoo for?
A medicated wash for itchy or irritated skin, $8 with any bath. Used at the groomer's discretion or on your vet's advice.
Read BookingCan I book a groom for the same day?
Sometimes. Book online or call 978 491-5922; same-day slots depend on the day. A bath is easier to fit than a haircut.
Read Hygiene trimsWhat is a sanitary trim?
A short clip around the rear, belly and inner thighs so nothing clings. A $10 add-on to any bath or full service at Dogtown.
Read HaircutsDo you do breed-standard cuts?
Yes. Full service is a bath plus a breed-specific or custom haircut, $75 to $120 by size. Bring a photo.
Read Doodle coatsWhy does grooming cost more for doodles?
Time: doodle coats hold water, dry slowly and mat. Dogtown prices by size, $75 to $120, with dematting added only if needed.
Read Bath firstDoes my dog need a bath before a haircut?
Yes, and we do it. Every full service starts with a bath and full dry, inside the $75 to $120 price. Skip the home bath.
ReadCats
Do cats need professional grooming?
Which cats need a groomer, how often, and what Dogtown's quiet cat studio charges, from $20 nails to the $120 Full Service.
Read Cat grooming answersWhat happens at a cat grooming appointment?
The appointment step by step: the quiet studio, the coat check, the breaks, the bath, the drying and what to bring.
Read Cat grooming answersWhy does my cat get matted?
How mats form, why Cape Ann's March shed and winter static make them worse, and how they are removed without pulling.
Read Cat grooming answersShould I shave my long-haired cat in summer?
When a summer shave helps a long-haired cat, when a de-shed is better, and the mid-May to June window that works on Cape Ann.
Read Cat grooming answersCan you groom a cat that hates being brushed?
Why cats come to hate brushing, how a quiet studio and low-stress handling change it, and when the vet is the right next call.
Read Cat grooming answersDoes a cat bath help with shedding?
Why a bath plus a brush-out removes weeks of shedding in one session, which cats benefit, and the Cape Ann calendar.
Read Cat grooming answersDo cats need nail trims?
Which cats need nail trims and how often, what a $20 clip at the cat studio involves, and how to do it at home a paw at a time.
Read Cat grooming answersCan you groom a senior cat?
How a senior cat is groomed at Dogtown: what the groomer weighs, which service fits, and what to sort out with the vet first.
Read Cat grooming answersWhat are "minimal trims" for cats?
Dogtown's $45 cat service explained: trimming and partial shaving without a bath, who it suits and how it compares to the menu.
Read Cat grooming answersDo you groom kittens?
Kitten grooming at Dogtown: short, dry first visits, what the groomer considers, where to start and how to prepare at home.
ReadTraining
What is fear-free, force-free training?
Rewards, management and no fear: what force-free means and how every Dogtown program applies it.
Read Puppy timingWhen should puppy training start?
Start the week the puppy comes home: the 8 to 16 week window, the vaccine question and Dogtown's programs by age.
Read AKC programsWhat is the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test?
Six weeks of class, then a 20-step AKC test that grades the owner too: what it covers and how Dogtown runs it.
Read AKC programsWhat is the Canine Good Citizen test?
The AKC's ten-step manners test explained: who gives it, who can take it, and how Dogtown prepares Cape Ann dogs.
Read Board and trainHow long does board and train take to work?
One week or two for the trainer's part; the dog, the age and the homework afterward decide what holds. A realistic timeline.
Read Board and trainDoes board and train work for reactive dogs?
Why a stay is the wrong shape for reactivity, and the owner-present programs Dogtown uses instead.
Read Day trainingWhat is Canine Campus?
Trainer-led training and adventure days with pick-up and drop-off, at 2, 4 or 6 weeks, and your dog home every night.
Read PlanningHow many training sessions does my dog need?
Every Dogtown program by session count, the five factors that move the number, and how the assessment sets it.
Read Senior dogsCan you train an older dog?
Yes. Adults and seniors train in Calm & Connected or a Level 3 program, paced to the body, from $94 a session.
Read Behavior, plainlyWhat is the difference between reactivity and aggression?
Reactivity is a loud, distance-seeking response; aggression intends contact. How the assessment tells them apart.
Read Honest answerDoes daycare help with leash reactivity?
Not directly: group play is not leash work. What helps instead, from Calm & Connected to Adventure Academy and Level 3.
Read Anxiety, honestlyCan training fix separation anxiety?
It helps, slowly. A graded plan, management to stop the panic rehearsing, and your vet where needed. No promises.
Read One cue, many usesWhat is the "place" command and why teach it?
A send to a cot or mat, a stay in any position and a release. Why it replaces a dozen no's and how Dogtown teaches it.
Read The first appointmentWhat is a behavior consultation?
The short assessment with Gabriella Pope that finds the why and picks the program and level before any training is sold.
Read Daycare with a trainerCan my dog train during daycare?
Yes: Dogtown Academy is daycare with a daily training session and one-on-one trainer time, $89 full or $69 half.
Read Level 3 explainedWhat is React Less, Relax More?
Dogtown's 8-week, 16-session Level 3 program for reactive dogs: threshold work, counter-conditioning and time to generalize.
ReadWalking
How does at-home dog walking work?
A staff walker comes to your home for a solo 20, 30 or 60 minute walk, then sends a photo and a note. The whole arrangement.
Read Keys and codesDo dog walkers need a key or a code?
Yes, a walker needs a way in: key, code, lockbox or a person at home. How to set it up, test it and keep it safe.
Read Solo walksAre Dogtown walks solo or in a group?
Solo, always: one dog, one Dogtown walker, no shared leash. Why we do it that way and which dogs it suits best.
Read CoverageWhich addresses can Dogtown walk?
No town list for walks, on purpose: coverage is decided per address and per season. How to ask, and what to do if it is not yet.
Read WeatherDo you walk in rain, snow or heat?
Weather changes a walk more than it stops one. How rain, snow and heat shape the route, and what to settle with the front desk.
Read Walk reportsDo you send a photo after each walk?
Yes: a photo and a short note after every walk. What it covers, how to read the notes over a season, and how to ask for what matters.
Read Feeding and medsCan a walk include feeding or medication?
Settled case by case, not by a printed rule. What to ask the front desk, what to leave on the counter and how to write it down.
Read WeekendsDo you walk dogs on weekends?
No published weekend walking schedule: ask for your address. Saturday daycare and overnight stays are the alternatives.
ReadAcademy
What does a Dogtown Academy day include?
Training, enrichment, fitness, play and one-on-one trainer time in one structured day: $89 full, $69 half, report card included.
Read Puppies at the AcademyIs Dogtown Academy right for a puppy?
Yes, in half days at $69, once vaccines are complete and the evaluation is passed. Garden time, short training, real naps.
Read Academy report cardsDoes the Academy include a report card?
Yes. Every Academy day ends with a trainer's report card in the app: what your dog loved, found hard and should practice at home.
ReadEnrichment
What is a pupsicle?
A frozen treat made in-house, $6 on any daycare, Academy or overnight day. Cools a hot dog, settles a nervous one.
Read Treadmill sessionsIs a treadmill safe for dogs?
Yes, when supervised, sized to the dog and kept short. Dogtown's $10 dogPACER sessions, and who should ask a vet first.
Read Lick matsWhat is a lick mat for?
Calming. A textured mat spread with soft food that a dog licks clean, $5 as an add-on and our first pick for a mid-day reset.
Read Puzzle gamesWhat are puzzle games for dogs?
Feeders and toys a dog has to solve to reach food. Four levels, a six-step start at home, and the $7 add-on at Dogtown.
Read Enrichment vs exerciseCan enrichment replace exercise?
No. Brain work and body work do different jobs, and a Cape Ann week needs both. How the season and the dog set the balance.
ReadPolicies
What are the requirements for dog daycare in Massachusetts?
Rabies by state law, a license from your town, then each daycare's own rules. Dogtown's list, and what Ollie's Law changes.
Read New customersHow do I become a Dogtown customer?
Inquiry form, free weekday-morning evaluation, vaccine records and a town license, then book with FIRST15.
Read Pick-up and drop-offHow does the Pup Van work?
Add a ride each way to a daycare, Academy or overnight booking: $10 a leg in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester.
Read The Dogtown appHow do I book on the Dogtown app?
Install Northshore Dogtown, book a service and a day, add the Pup Van or enrichment, and check out with FIRST15.
Read Holiday hoursWhat are Dogtown's holiday hours?
Holiday hours are announced in the app and at the front desk; overnight guests are monitored 24/7 whatever the date.
Read Snow emergenciesWhat happens at Dogtown in a snow emergency?
Storm changes are announced in the app and at the desk; overnight guests stay monitored 24/7. How to plan around a nor'easter.
ReadNext step
Ready for a tail-wagging day?
Book online in a few taps, send the customer inquiry, or come see the facility for yourself. Every dog starts with a free evaluation. No evaluation needed for grooming.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
