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
Why do vaccinated dogs still get kennel cough?
Kennel cough has many causes and Bordetella is only one; how it spreads, who carries it and what vaccines still do.
Read After kennel coughShould my dog keep going to daycare after kennel cough?
When to return after kennel cough, the vet note to ask for, and what any daycare should do when several dogs cough.
Read Thirst after playWhy is my dog so thirsty after daycare?
Why dogs drink so much after a playgroup day, how much water is normal by weight, and the thirst signs that need a vet.
Read Loose stoolWhy does my dog have diarrhea after daycare?
Stress colitis, gulped water and germs like Giardia: what causes loose stool after daycare and when it is a vet visit.
Read Play marksWhy does my dog have scratches after daycare?
What normal play scratches look like, how a bite differs, the evening check, and what to ask our staff at pick-up.
Read Daycare and reactivityCan daycare make a dog more reactive?
How over-arousal, long hours and the wrong group can make a dog more reactive, and how rest and matched groups prevent it.
Read Hours at daycareHow many hours a day should a dog be at daycare?
Why rest matters more than total hours at daycare, how the drop-off windows set the day, and which dogs suit a half day.
Read After spay or neuterWhen can a dog go to daycare after spay or neuter?
The usual 10 to 14 day recovery, why group play is the risk, what to ask your vet, and how to plan the first days back.
Read Puppies and potty trainingCan daycare help with potty training?
What a daycare routine does for house training, why the real lesson happens at home, and how to make both days match.
ReadOvernight
What if my dog comes home from boarding with an upset stomach?
Excitement colitis, food and water changes, what is normal for 48 hours after a stay, and when to call the vet.
Read After an overnight stayWhy is my dog acting different after boarding?
Why dogs sleep, drink, cling or keep their distance after a stay, how long it lasts, and the signs worth a call.
Read After an overnight stayWhy is my dog drinking so much after boarding?
Why dogs drink more after a stay, how much water is normal for their weight, how to measure it, and when to call the vet.
Read EtiquetteShould I tip at a dog boarding facility?
Is tipping customary at a boarding facility? What etiquette guides say, who cares for your dog, and free ways to say thanks.
Read Stress at a stayWhat is kennel stress in dogs?
Kennel stress explained: the signs to watch for, what research says helps, and which dogs need a gentler start.
ReadGrooming
How 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 Slow regrowthWhy is my dog's hair not growing back after shaving?
Resting follicles, post-clipping alopecia and patchy double coats: how long regrowth takes, and when a bare patch needs a vet.
Read Doodle lengthHow short should a doodle be cut?
Blade numbers, matting, beach season and winter: how to choose a doodle length you can actually brush, and what to ask for.
Read Grooming pricesWhy is dog grooming so expensive?
Time, size, coat condition and handling: what a groom's price pays for, with Dogtown's $55 to $120 menu broken down.
ReadTraining
What 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 Training wordsWhat is a release cue?
The word that ends a sit, stay or place: why every hold needs one, why it works as a reward, and how to teach it.
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.
Read Reaching the deskWhat is the fastest way to reach Dogtown?
Phone for today, app messages for changes, forms for new customers and training, and the hours the desk is busiest.
Read Vaccines and policyDo you require the canine influenza vaccine?
Not on the published list of Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella and a city license. What vets advise about the two-dose flu shot.
Read Grooming policyIs there a cancellation fee for grooming?
Yes: $10 for a grooming appointment cancelled without notice. How to move a groom instead, and when to call.
Read Grooming savingsHow can I save on dog grooming?
Rebook at pick-up for $5 off, keep the coat on schedule to avoid dematting, and use the membership and bundle discounts.
ReadHealth
Can dogs eat lobster?
Plain cooked meat versus shells, butter and garlic, raw lobster and allergies, and a cookout plan for a dog underfoot.
Read Senior healthWhy is my senior dog sleeping so much?
Normal aging versus pain, thyroid, heart and other causes of extra sleep in older dogs, and when to call the vet.
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
