Bath only
Bath and brush for dogs: $55 to $95 by size
Most dogs on Cape Ann do not need a haircut. They need the beach washed off them. The bath-only service exists for the lab who swam at Wingaersheek, the shepherd who rolled in something at Ravenswood, and the short-coated dog who simply smells like a dog. Here is what is included and what it costs.
Who it fits
Short coats, double coats and any dog between haircuts
The bath-only service is for dogs whose coats do not get cut: labs, goldens, pointers, boxers, pit mixes, huskies, shepherds, beagles and the many mixes in our playgroups. It also fits coated dogs between full grooms, when a doodle or a shih tzu is at a good length but has picked up salt, mud or the smell of low tide. And it fits the dog who is about to meet houseguests, sit at a wedding, or ride in a clean car.
It is not the service for a coat that needs shaping or is matted. A doodle whose coat has felted behind the ears needs de-matting or a full groom, not a bath, and washing a matted coat tightens the mats. If you are unsure, book the bath and ask; our groomers assess the coat at check-in and will tell you if a full service makes more sense before any water goes on.
- Labs, goldens, pointers, boxers, huskies, shepherds and short- or double-coated mixes
- Coated dogs between haircuts who need the beach washed out
- Dogs about to go somewhere clean: a wedding, a guest room, a new car
- Not for matted coats, which need de-matting or a full groom first
What is included
Warm bath, full dry, brush-out, ears checked
Every bath starts with a look at the coat and skin, then a warm wash in the stainless steel tub with a shampoo matched to the coat, a conditioner where the coat wants one, and a thorough rinse, because leftover shampoo is what makes a dog itch two days later. Then a high-velocity dry to the skin. We do not send dogs home damp; a damp double coat in a Cape Ann November is uncomfortable for the dog and smells for days.
The brush-out follows the dry. On a short coat that is a rubber curry and a bristle brush to lift the last loose hair; on a double coat it is a slicker and an undercoat rake; on a coated dog between cuts it is a comb to the skin to catch tangles before they become mats. Ears are wiped and checked, and the pads are looked over for cuts, salt or sand. A bath appointment takes roughly one to two hours depending on size and coat.
- 01
Coat and skin check at the tub, and a chat about any add-ons
- 02
Warm wash with a shampoo chosen for the coat, then conditioner if it helps
- 03
A long rinse so no residue is left to itch
- 04
High-velocity dry to the skin, not just the surface
- 05
Brush-out matched to the coat type, ears wiped, pads checked
- 06
Add-ons if booked, then a final once-over before pick-up
Price
$55 to $95 by weight, add-ons from $8
Bath only is priced by size: $55 up to 25 pounds, $65 for 26 to 50 pounds, $75 for 51 to 90 pounds, $85 over 90 pounds, and $95 for an extra-large dog with long hair, the Newfoundland and long-coated Bernese band. That covers the wash, dry and brush-out. Add nail clipping for $16, teeth brushing for $10, Shed Release for $10, a sanitary trim for $10, a face trim for $10, whitening shampoo for $8, or an antiseptic or fungal shampoo for $8 if your vet has suggested one.
If you want the coat cut as well, full service runs $75, $85, $110 and $120 for the same weight bands and includes the bath. Book the next bath at pick-up and take $5 off it. Overnight guests on the Classic bundle save 10 percent on grooming and Deluxe guests 15 percent; unlimited daycare members save 15 percent all year round.
| Size | Bath only | Full service |
|---|---|---|
| Small, up to 25 lb | $55 | $75 |
| Medium, 26 to 50 lb | $65 | $85 |
| Large, 51 to 90 lb | $75 | $110 |
| Extra large, over 90 lb | $85 | $120 |
| Extra large, long hair | $95 | $120 (over 90 lb band) |
When to book
After the beach, after the mud, before the guests
Cape Ann gives dogs plenty of reasons to need a bath. Gloucester's beaches open to dogs from October 1 to April 30, Good Harbor on even-numbered days and Wingaersheek on odd, and salt water dries the skin and leaves sand deep in the coat; a rinse at home helps, a proper bath fixes it. Mud season, March into April, turns Dogtown Common and Ravenswood into a wading pool. And the dog who rolled in something at low tide needs a bath the same day, not next week.
Then there is the calendar. Families book baths before Thanksgiving guests arrive, before the Schooner Festival weekend when the dog rides in the car to the harbor, and before the summer cookouts. And the everyday reason: a dog who comes to daycare four days a week, plays in the pools and rolls on the turf, is due a bath every few weeks whatever the season. Add it to a daycare day and the timing takes care of itself.
- After beach season swims between October and April
- Mud season in March and April
- Before holiday guests, weddings and festival weekends
- Every few weeks for daycare regulars who use the pools
Getting here
Drop-off windows, the Pup Van and a bath during daycare
Drop off inside a window: weekdays at 6:30 to 9:30 AM, 12 to 1 PM or 4 to 6:30 PM, Saturdays at 8 to 10 AM, 12 to 1 PM or 4 to 6 PM. The Pup Van collects and returns dogs for $10 each way across Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea, and outside those towns the front desk can quote a price. Riders on the Rockport line know the MBTA keeps dogs off peak trains, so the van covers the commute-day bath.
The easiest bath is the one you never drive to. Add it to a daycare day and your dog is bathed after the morning playgroup, dried fully and brought back to a rest spot, then goes home clean at the afternoon window. Overnight guests are bathed on their last morning so they come home smelling of nothing. Grooming needs no evaluation, so a bath can be your dog's first ever visit to 210 Eastern Ave.
At Dogtown
Where the bath fits
The grooming studio, the daycare day a bath can ride on, and the overnight stay that ends with one.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
What is the difference between a bath and a full-service groom?
How long does a bath and brush take?
Do you use my dog's own shampoo?
Can you bathe my dog the same day?
Can I add Shed Release to a bath?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Wash the beach off.
Book a bath for your dog's size online or in the Dogtown app, add nails, teeth or Shed Release if you want them, and drop off at any window. No evaluation 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
