August calendar
Cape Ann dog calendar: August (the dog days, back-to-school routines)
August is the dog days in the old sense: hot, still and long. The beaches are still closed, the town is full, and by the last week everyone is thinking about September. Here is how to get a dog through the heat and ready for the new routine.
Beaches this month
Beaches this month: closed, with the reopening dates in sight
No Cape Ann town beach takes a dog in August, at the time of writing. The wait is nearly over: Essex opens its beaches and Centennial Grove again on September 1, Rockport ends its summer ban after September 15, and Gloucester's season, Crane Beach's leash season and Singing Beach's licensed season all begin in October.
Use August to get a dog beach-ready. Recall on a long line in the yard, a solid leave-it for the wrack line, and a rinse-and-towel habit at the car all pay off on September 1. Ask about a Dogtown Academy day if the recall is not there yet.
- Essex beaches: reopen September 1
- Rockport beaches: reopen September 16
- Gloucester, Crane and Singing Beach: October
Rules and deadlines
Rules and deadlines: nothing due, and new residents get licensed
No town deadline falls in August. It is the month new residents arrive, though, and a dog moving to Gloucester needs a city license from the City Clerk at 9 Dale Ave with a current rabies certificate; Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea license through their own town halls. Our moving-here page covers the first month's paperwork.
For Dogtown the paperwork is the same in any month: a free evaluation on a weekday morning, the Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella records and the license. FIRST15 takes 15 percent off the first daycare day for a new customer.
Weather and hazards
Weather and hazards: peak heat, afternoon thunder and the tide line
August is the hottest and most humid stretch of the Cape Ann year. The AVMA's heat guidance applies every day: early and late walks, water everywhere, no parked cars, and the seven-second pavement test. Thunderstorms roll in from the west in the afternoons, and a dog who fears fireworks usually fears thunder too.
Ticks stay active through the summer, and warm water brings jellyfish and dead fish to the tide line, which matters the moment Essex reopens. Salt water upsets stomachs, so carry fresh water on every outing, and read our beach hazards page before the first September walk.
- Walks before 8 AM and after 7 PM
- A thunder plan that reuses the fireworks safe room
- Tick check after every trail walk, still
At Dogtown this month
Events and at Dogtown this month: the school year is the event
Cape Ann's August is quieter for festivals than June or September; the Schooner Festival waits for Labor Day weekend. The event in every household is the school year. When the family leaves at 7 AM instead of drifting out at 10, the dog who had company all summer is suddenly alone, and August is the time to start the new rhythm.
That is what Dogtown Academy is for: a structured day of training, enrichment, fitness and one-on-one trainer time, $89 a full day or $69 a half, with a report card. For a dog coming three or more days a week, the unlimited daycare membership at $700 a month includes two enrichment sessions and priority holiday overnight reservations.
- 01
Start the school-year schedule two weeks before the first day
- 02
Book an Academy day or a daycare pack for September
- 03
Practice recall and leave-it before the beaches reopen
- 04
Keep the thunder safe room ready
- 05
Book the fall groom before the coat blows
At Dogtown
Ready for September
Academy days that teach the new routine, and a membership for the dog who comes most days.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
When do Cape Ann beaches reopen to dogs after summer?
How do I prepare my dog for the back-to-school routine?
Is Dogtown busier in August?
Daycare or Dogtown Academy for a September start?
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
Next step
Set the September routine in August.
Daycare and Academy both begin with a free evaluation on a weekday morning. Book it before the first day of school, not after.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
