Board and train near Boston: up Route 128 to Gloucester

From the city, head north on I-93 or Route 1 until you reach Route 128. Stay with 128 where I-95 splits off toward New Hampshire in Peabody, then follow it east through Danvers, Beverly, Wenham and Manchester-by-the-Sea into Gloucester. Route 128 ends near the water in Gloucester, just past its junction with Route 127 at Eastern Avenue, and our building at 210 Eastern Ave is a short run from that junction. By our estimate the trip from downtown takes about 60 minutes outside rush hour.

Time the drive to our windows, not the other way round. Drop-off and pick-up run on weekdays from 6:30 to 9:30 AM, 12 to 1 PM and 4 to 6:30 PM, and on Saturdays from 8 to 10 AM, 12 to 1 PM and 4 to 6 PM. The noon window falls between the two commutes, which is why we suggest it to families driving up from the city. Ask the front desk about parking and where to bring your dog in when you book the drop-off.

If you do not drive, the Rockport branch of the commuter rail runs from North Station to Gloucester. The MBTA's rider rules let larger dogs that do not fit in a carrier ride only off-peak and on a leash, and keep them off at weekday peak hours. Small dogs in a secure carrier may ride at any time. Staff can restrict a pet because of crowds or the animal's behavior, and the rules ask riders to avoid bringing pets on holidays and during large events.

From Gloucester station you still need a ride to Eastern Ave, so arrange that before you set off. Boston sits outside the Pup Van towns, which are Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea at $10 each way; ask us about pick-up from anywhere else. The train is also a fair exam after an Advanced stay. A dog who can wait on a platform and ride quietly is showing exactly the neutrality that the second week works on.

Training travels home with you, so city sidewalks, elevators and stairwells are where it has to hold, not our turf yard. Use the order from the go-home lesson: the quiet room first, then your hallway or your street, then a busier block. A dog who held a stay beside the playgroup needs the same patience on a crowded corner, and the first week is about easy wins rather than tests.

If you want more coaching, private sessions start from $94 and are booked through the same training form. Canine Campus, the hybrid day-training program, includes pick-up and drop-off but is built around dogs who come in by day, so ask whether your address works before counting on it. Families who are often on Cape Ann can add Dogtown Academy days, $89 for a full day or $69 for a half, to keep the cues sharp. Our board and train page sets out both programs in full.