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Stay and groom
Board and train with grooming
After a week or two of turf, outings and play, most dogs go home needing a wash. Booking the groom onto the stay saves a second trip down Eastern Ave, and for some dogs the grooming table is a training question as well.
Timing
Book the groom for the last day, so your dog is clean for the go-home lesson
The best slot for a groom is the final day of the stay, close to pick-up, so your dog is not back in a playgroup collecting dust before you arrive. Add it when you book the program, or message the front desk during the stay, and say which pick-up window you are aiming for. The studio is under the same roof as the training floors at 210 Eastern Ave, so there is no transport and no second appointment to drive to.
A clean dog also makes the go-home lesson pleasanter for everyone. You spend that session close to your dog, holding the leash, rewarding from your hand and practicing settles, and it is nicer without a week of yard in the coat. If your dog is due a haircut anyway, book full service rather than a bath, so the cut and the training finish on the same day and the next grooming cycle starts fresh.
- Add the groom when you book the stay, or message during it
- Aim for the last day, close to pick-up
- Tell the front desk which pick-up window you plan to use
- The groom itself needs no evaluation
Prices by size
Bath or full service, priced by weight, with add-ons on top
A bath means a warm wash, a blow-dry and a brush-out. Full service adds a breed-specific or custom haircut, and a photo of the look you want helps. The final price is confirmed at check-in after a coat assessment, which matters at the end of a stay: a coat that was fine at drop-off can tangle after a week of play. Book your next grooming appointment at pick-up and you save $5 on it.
Add-ons cover the details: nail clipping $16, teeth brushing $10, a face trim $10, a sanitary trim $10, antiseptic or fungal shampoo $8, whitening $8, Shed Release $10, dematting $15 per 20 minutes and anal gland expression $40. A $20 behavior or handling surcharge applies when a dog needs extra time on the table. The Dogtown Classic and Deluxe bundles, which take 10 or 15 percent off grooming, are sold with overnight stays; ask at the consult whether either can apply to a board and train.
| Size | Bath only | Full service |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 25 lb | $55 | $75 |
| 26 to 50 lb | $65 | $85 |
| 51 to 90 lb | $75 | $110 |
| Over 90 lb | $85 | $120 |
| Extra large, long hair | $95 | Ask the studio |
Cooperative care
Cooperative care lets a dog agree to handling, and the consult is the place to ask about it
Cooperative care, which the AKC files under husbandry training, is a collaborative way of teaching a dog to take part in its own grooming and vet care. The dog learns a behavior that means go ahead, often a chin resting on a hand or a towel, and handling happens while it holds that position. If it lifts its head, the handling pauses. The AKC's guide suggests letting a dog opt in and out, and AVSAB's 2021 position statement holds that a learner should always feel safe and able to opt out of training.
Cooperative care is not on either board and train program's skill list, so do not assume it is included. If nail trims, ear cleaning or the dryer are a struggle, tell Gabby at the consult and ask whether handling practice belongs in your dog's plan. For young dogs with handling sensitivity, Brave & Balanced, from 4 months, covers cooperative care as part of the program over 4, 6 or 8 weeks, with you taking part.
- 01
Hold a flat hand, palm up, at the height of your dog's chin
- 02
Mark and reward the moment its chin touches your hand
- 03
Add a word such as chin once the dog offers it readily
- 04
Build the hold a second at a time, rewarding while the chin stays down
- 05
Touch a paw or an ear briefly during the hold, then reward
- 06
If the dog lifts its head, stop, and make the next step easier
The coat after a stay
What the coat needs depends on the breed and on the Cape Ann season
Curly and drop coats, such as doodles, poodles and many spaniels, tend to need full service after a stay, because play and pools work tangles in quickly. Double coats, from huskies to shepherds, often need a bath with Shed Release during the spring and fall shed. Short, smooth coats usually need only a bath and a nail trim. The groomer confirms the plan at the coat check and talks you through any matting before work begins.
Season matters on Cape Ann. From October 1, Gloucester's beaches reopen to dogs, Good Harbor on even-numbered days through March 31 and Wingaersheek on odd ones through April 30, so a dog that walked the sand the weekend before drop-off may arrive salty and gritty. In summer those beaches are closed to dogs, and the grit is more likely to come from trails and from the pools in our play yard. Either way, the wash happens here rather than in your tub.
- Doodles, poodles and spaniels: usually full service
- Double coats in the shed: a bath with Shed Release
- Short coats: a bath and a nail trim
- Matting: dematting at $15 per 20 minutes, or a shorter cut
At Dogtown
Training and grooming under one roof
The grooming studio sits beside the training floors at 210 Eastern Ave, so a groom fits into the last day of a stay.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Does my dog need an evaluation to be groomed after board and train?
How much is a full groom for a 70-pound dog after a stay?
Do the overnight-stay bundle discounts apply to board and train?
My dog panics on the grooming table. Should I still book a groom?
Can I book my dog's next groom while I am there?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- AKC: Teaching your dog cooperative grooming skills
- AVSAB: Humane dog training position statement (2021)
- City of Gloucester: beach details
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
Add a groom to your dog's last day
Ask about board and train on the training form, and tell us if you want a bath or full service before the go-home lesson.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
