Board and train for Swampscott, MA dog owners

From October 1 to May 20 a Swampscott dog may run free between the high water mark and the water's edge, but only under the direct control and supervision of its owner, and a dog the Animal Control Officer judges a nuisance can be barred from every public beach in town. That rule rewards a dog that comes when called, leaves wildlife alone and walks calmly to and from the sand. Foundation, one week, builds recall, place, stay, impulse control and leash skills.

Advanced, two weeks, adds distraction proofing, neutrality around dogs and people, confidence building and real-world outings, which suits an adolescent that knows its cues at home but forgets them on a windy beach. During either stay your dog sleeps at Dogtown, trains daily with our team under Gabriella Pope, joins a matched playgroup when ready, and you read a daily update in the Dogtown app. Every method we use is fear- and force-free and built on positive reinforcement.

A Board of Health regulation posted in November 2020 lists the town land where dogs may and may not go. Harold King Forest, at the end of Nichols Street, Ewing Woods, reached from Whitman Road or the Forest Avenue extension, and Linscott Park are open to dogs on a leash, provided you carry a way to collect and remove the waste. Playing fields, synthetic turf, courts, playgrounds, Windsor Park, Phillips Park and the cemetery are closed to dogs at any time of day or year, with fines of $100, $200 and $300.

The woods suit the slow work after a stay: loose-leash walking on a trail, a sit when another walker approaches, a few seconds of settle before you turn back. The beaches suit the recall, from October 1 to May 20: walk leashed to the high water mark, call your dog back a few times on a long line, and let the line go only when it comes back every time. The fenced SPOT dog park behind Swampscott Cemetery needs a $5 yearly Pooch Pass and bans food and treats inside, so build the rewarded recall elsewhere first.

Foundation closes with a go-home lesson and Advanced with two scheduled coaching lessons, both held at Dogtown. You see each cue the way your dog has learned it, then handle the leash yourself while the trainer works on your timing, voice and rewards. Mention the beach rule at the consult, so the coaching covers the leashed walk to the high water mark and the recall you will rely on below it.

If the recall fades after a few weeks of beach mornings, private sessions start from $94. Canine Campus, two, four or six weeks of day training with your dog home each night, suits a dog that needs many more repetitions; it includes pick-up and drop-off, and from Swampscott you should ask whether your address is covered before planning on it. Send questions through the training form, or message the front desk in the Dogtown app.