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Topsfield, MA

Board and train for Topsfield, MA dog owners

Topsfield has more dog-friendly land than most towns its size, and more riders on it. Bradley Palmer's paths are shared with horses and bikes, and the large Audubon sanctuary in town does not allow dogs at all. This page covers how a stay in Gloucester prepares a dog for that mix, the drive, the town's licensing calendar, and where to practice.

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Doodle exploring a raised garden bed at Dogtown Academy

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 · by the Dogtown team · reviewed by Gabriella Pope, Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist

Getting to Eastern Ave
Route 97 south to Route 128, then 128 north to its end in Gloucester and Eastern Avenue (Route 127); about 35 minutes outside rush hour, by our estimate
The Pup Van
No: Topsfield is outside the Pup Van towns; ask us about pick-up
Dog licensing
Town Clerk, Town Hall, 8 West Common Street: $15 spayed or neutered, $20 intact; renew by January 31, $25 late fee per dog from February 1 (topsfield-ma.gov)
The beach rule
No town-wide leash requirement in chapter 111; Animal Control can require dogs kept from running at large in schools, playgrounds, parks and recreation areas; fines $25, then $50
A trail we know
Bradley Palmer State Park, 40 Asbury Street (DCR): dogs allowed on a leash of ten feet or less, sunrise to sunset; Donibristle Reservation (Essex County Greenbelt): dog walking listed
Dogtown dogs from here
Ask us about Dogtown dogs from Topsfield

Why Topsfield books

Topsfield's trails are shared with horses and bikes, and a calm, attentive dog is what a stay builds

A dog that stays relaxed while a horse goes by, and turns back to you when a bike comes up behind, can walk almost anywhere in Topsfield. That calm is a skill, and it can be taught with rewards rather than corrections. Advanced, the two-week program, works on exactly that: distraction proofing, neutrality, impulse control, confidence building and real-world outings, on top of everything in Foundation. Foundation alone, one week, suits a puppy or young dog that first needs leash skills, place, stay, recall and household manners.

The training is fear- and force-free, built on positive reinforcement and led by Gabriella Pope, our Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist. We do not publish a single board-and-train price, because each plan is tailored after a short assessment; individual sessions start from $94. Our board and train page sets out both programs side by side, and the consult is where we tell you which one your dog needs, or whether another program would serve it better.

Getting to Gloucester

Route 97 south meets Route 128, and 128 ends in Gloucester: about 35 minutes

Route 97 is the road to know. It runs south out of Topsfield to Route 128; turn north there, and 128 carries you through Beverly and Manchester-by-the-Sea to the point where it ends in Gloucester. Our building sits on Eastern Avenue, which is also Route 127, a short way past the end of the highway. From Topsfield that is about 35 minutes outside rush hour, by our estimate.

Topsfield is not on the Pup Van's route, so ask us about pick-up; the van runs at $10 each way only in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Expect separate trips for the free evaluation on a weekday morning between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, for drop-off at the start of the stay, and for the go-home lesson at the end. Advanced adds a second scheduled coaching lesson to that list.

  • Route 97 south, Route 128 north, then Eastern Avenue
  • About 35 minutes outside rush hour, by our estimate
  • Free evaluation: weekdays 6:30 to 9:30 AM, by appointment
  • Pup Van: not in Topsfield; ask us about pick-up

Practice spots

Bradley Palmer and Donibristle welcome dogs; the Ipswich River sanctuary does not

Bradley Palmer State Park, at 40 Asbury Street, is 721 acres of a former estate's pine-needle paths and open meadows, marked dogs allowed by DCR and open sunrise to sunset. DCR's statewide terms apply: a leash of no more than ten feet, a leash in every parking area, no more than four dogs per person and tags on the collar. Horses and mountain bikes share the paths, so this is where neutrality gets its real test. Daily parking fees run from May 23 to October 12, and DCR lists hunting at Cleveland Farm and archery only at Prospect Hill.

Donibristle Reservation, Essex County Greenbelt land at Hill Street and Rowley Bridge Road, is the short option: 44 acres and 0.9 mile of trail, with dog walking listed. Greenbelt's directions are to pull into the driveway and park on the side of the road, and its rules on every property are a leash carried, waste carried out and use between sunrise and sunset. It suits the first outings after a stay, before a big park's riders and weekend crowds.

Leave the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary at 87 Perkins Row off the list. Mass Audubon's page says dog walking and horseback riding are both prohibited there and asks visitors to leave pets at home, with service animals welcome. The sanctuary covers 1,978 acres with 12 miles of trail, open dawn to dusk from Tuesday to Sunday and on Monday holidays, so it is easy to drift toward on a map. With the dog in the car, choose Bradley Palmer or Donibristle and save Perkins Row for a day on your own.

  • Bradley Palmer (DCR): dogs allowed, leash of ten feet or less
  • Hunting at Cleveland Farm; archery only at Prospect Hill
  • Donibristle (Greenbelt): 0.9 mile of trail, dog walking listed
  • Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary: no dog walking

Town rules

Topsfield licenses are due by January 31, and leash orders come from Animal Control

There is no blanket leash rule in Topsfield's dog bylaw, Chapter 111, at the time of writing. Instead it lets the Animal Control Officer require owners to keep dogs from running at large in schools, school playgrounds, parks and public recreational areas, and to restrain a dog found to be an annoyance, dangerous, damaging, or on land whose owner does not want it there. Violations carry a $25 fine for a first offense and $50 for each one after.

Licenses are renewed every year by January 31 with the Town Clerk at Town Hall, 8 West Common Street, at $15 for a spayed or neutered dog and $20 for an intact one. A $25 late fee per dog applies from February 1, and the Animal Control Officer can ticket unlicensed dogs as well. The bylaw gives a dog that joins a Topsfield household after January 1 thirty days to be registered, and the clerk asks for puppies to be licensed once they have had their first rabies shots. Renew online, by mail, through the secure mail slot at Town Hall or in person.

After pick-up

Go-home lessons happen in Gloucester; the next month of practice happens in Topsfield

Your dog comes home after a go-home lesson at our building, where our trainer hands over the cues, markers and rewards and then coaches you while you use them. After Advanced there are two scheduled coaching lessons. Both take place on Eastern Ave, so leave room in the calendar for the drive back, and bring anyone who will walk the dog on Topsfield's trails.

Further help is also in Gloucester. Private sessions start from $94. Canine Campus gives two, four or six weeks of day training with nights at home and includes pick-up and drop-off; ask whether that reaches Topsfield before relying on it. Adventure Academy, a socialization path with controlled introductions and carefully matched social experiences, suits a dog who is still unsure around other dogs after the stay.

  1. 01

    First week: cues indoors and in the yard, a few minutes at a time

  2. 02

    Second week: Donibristle on a leash, rewarding every check-in

  3. 03

    Third week: Bradley Palmer on a quiet day, letting riders pass at a distance

  4. 04

    Fourth week: longer loops, and a private session if a skill slips

At Dogtown

The services behind a Topsfield stay

Training with our team, an overnight suite each night, and Academy days for structure once the stay is done.

Australian shepherd sitting attentively during training Dog TrainingFrom $94 per session · Explore Golden retriever resting on a cozy bed in a Dogtown boarding suite Overnight StaysFrom $78 · Explore Dogtown trainer playing with a small doodle on the outdoor turf Dogtown AcademyNewFrom $69 · Explore

Every price on one page

Asked and answered

Questions people ask about this

Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.

Is there a leash law in Topsfield?
Not a town-wide one in Chapter 111 at the time of writing. The Animal Control Officer can order owners to keep dogs from running at large in schools, school playgrounds, parks and public recreational areas, and to restrain a dog that is a nuisance or dangerous. Bradley Palmer follows DCR's rule of a leash no longer than ten feet.
Can I practice with my dog at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary?
Not with a pet dog. The sanctuary's page says dog walking and horseback riding are both prohibited, and only service animals are welcome. For long practice walks in Topsfield, Bradley Palmer State Park allows dogs on DCR's leash terms, and Greenbelt's Donibristle Reservation lists dog walking among its uses.
Do I need my Topsfield license for the evaluation?
Yes. The free evaluation, on a weekday morning between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, needs a current license from your town plus Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella records. Topsfield licenses are renewed by January 31, at $15 for a spayed or neutered dog and $20 for an intact one, with a $25 late fee per dog from February 1.
Will a board and train make my dog calm around horses?
We cannot promise a result with any animal, and we train with rewards rather than pressure. Advanced, the two-week program, works on neutrality, impulse control and distraction proofing, which are the skills a dog leans on when a rider passes. The go-home lessons show you how to keep building them at a comfortable distance on Topsfield's shared trails.
Does the Pup Van reach Topsfield?
No. Its fixed route and $10-each-way fare cover Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Ask us about pick-up from Topsfield when you enquire. Driving yourself, Route 97 south to Route 128 and then 128 to its end takes about 35 minutes outside rush hour, by our estimate.

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

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