Board and train for North Andover, MA dog owners

Section 60-6 of North Andover's dog bylaw says that, off private property, a dog must be on a leash no longer than six feet that the person in charge is physically holding or has secured to their body. It adds that voice control and electronic collars do not qualify as restraint. That shapes what a good result looks like for a North Andover dog: walking on a slack leash past runners and strollers, waiting while you talk to a neighbor, and turning back to you when a squirrel bolts across the trail.

Our programs never use shock, prong or choke collars. We teach with positive reinforcement, mindfulness and clear communication, in line with the AVSAB's 2021 position statement that reward-based methods should be used for all dog training. Foundation, one week, builds leash skills, place, stay and recall, impulse control and household manners. Advanced, two weeks, adds distraction proofing, real-world outings and neutrality, which is what a busy Saturday trailhead asks of a dog.

The Trustees' Weir Hill, at 65 Stevens Street, covers 194 acres with four miles of trail over a 305-foot double drumlin and along more than a mile of Lake Cochichewick's shore. Dogs walk on leash, admission is free, the reservation is open daily from sunrise to sunset, and hunting is not permitted, which makes it the calmer pick from October on. The lake is a public drinking water supply, so The Trustees restrict dog access to it: practice a leave-it at the water's edge instead of a swim.

Harold Parker State Forest, with its headquarters at 305 Middleton Road, has 35 miles of trail and 11 ponds; DCR suggests starting on the Yellow Diamond Trail to Salem Pond. DCR's dog guide lists the forest among the few places where dogs may be off leash on trails outside the recreation area and campgrounds, but leashes are required in all parking areas and each walker may bring no more than four dogs. For the first months after a stay, keep the leash on and use those trails for focus and check-ins. Daily parking is $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others from May 23 to October 12.

Pick-up comes with a go-home lesson at Eastern Ave covering the cues, rewards and routines your dog learned during the stay, explained so you can use them on your own leash. Advanced adds a second scheduled coaching lesson; set its date when you book the stay rather than fitting it around Route 114 traffic later. Read the daily updates as they arrive, so you reach pick-up already knowing which cues your dog answers best.

Home visits in North Andover are not on our published menu; ask the front desk. When a skill needs more work, private sessions start from $94 at our building, and Canine Campus runs two, four or six weeks of training days with your dog sleeping at home. Canine Campus includes pick-up and drop-off, so ask whether a North Andover address can be covered. Dogtown Academy days at $89 add a session with our trainer to structured group time, a useful tune-up between Weir Hill walks. For the full program details, start from our board and train page.