Large and giant dogs
Large dog boarding in Gloucester, MA: size-matched groups by day
A big dog brings its own questions to an overnight stay: will it fit, will its joints cope with a day of play, and how do you protect a deep-chested breed from bloat. This page answers each one, says which parts we confirm in person, and sets out the veterinary guidance behind the feeding advice.
Size and fit
Size decides the playgroup, and the evaluation confirms the suite
Playgroups at Dogtown are 7 to 10 dogs, matched by size first and then by temperament and play style. For a large dog that means a day with dogs of a similar build: a young shepherd wrestles with other big adolescents, a placid Newfoundland spends the day in a steadier circle, and nobody lands on a terrier. The evaluation, a temperament test and a few supervised hours on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, is where that group is chosen.
We do not publish suite measurements on this page. Ask to see a suite when you come in for the evaluation, tell the front desk your dog's weight and how it sleeps, stretched flat or curled tight, and they will confirm the fit before you book. That conversation matters most for the giants, the Danes, Mastiffs and Wolfhounds, and for any dog that likes to sleep flat out on its side.
- Groups of 7 to 10, matched by size, then temperament
- Group placement made at the free weekday evaluation
- Suite fit confirmed in person: ask to see one
- Tell us weight, height and sleeping style
Feeding and rest
Big, deep-chested dogs should rest around meals, and the feeding notes should say so
Bloat, or gastric dilatation and volvulus, is a surgical emergency, and the AKC names large and giant breeds as most at risk, among them Great Danes, St. Bernards, Weimaraners, Irish and Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles and Doberman Pinschers. Its guidance notes that dogs fed one meal a day are twice as likely to bloat as dogs fed two, that fast eaters carry five times the risk of slow ones, and that stressed dogs are more likely to bloat.
The AKC's advice on feeding large breeds adds a timing rule: avoid strenuous exercise for one to two hours after eating. Overnight guests eat the food you pack, so much of this is in your hands. Split the daily ration into two or more labeled meals, write the rest rule on the bag, and tell the front desk at drop-off. Ask how meals are timed around the playgroup during a stay, so the answer is agreed before the first breakfast.
Know the warning signs the AKC lists: a swelling belly, retching, drooling, restlessness and pain when the abdomen is pressed. Without treatment a dog can go into shock within an hour or two, which is why your vet's details belong on your dog's file. Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn is open 24 hours; ask the front desk how a medical emergency during a stay is handled.
- 01
Split the daily food into two or more pre-portioned meals
- 02
Label each bag with the dog's name, the day and the meal
- 03
Write the rest rule on the bag: no hard play for one to two hours after eating
- 04
Flag a fast eater, and ask whether to send its slow-feeder bowl
- 05
Leave your vet's details and an emergency contact at drop-off
Joints
Joint care for a big senior comes from the bed, the pace of the day and a low-impact option
Large breeds carry more weight on every joint, and an older Lab, Bernese or shepherd shows it after a long day on any surface. The Dogtown Deluxe bundle, $15 a night on top of the suite, swaps the standard bedding for an upgraded orthopedic memory-foam bed and adds a stuffed Kong or Toppl and a daily treadmill or enrichment session. For a stiff senior that session can be the sniff room or a lick mat rather than exercise.
The treadmill, a supervised session on the dogPACER at $10 on its own, gives steady, low-impact walking to a dog that should not spend the day chasing younger ones. Matching by temperament as well as size means a senior giant can join a group whose pace suits it. Tell us about arthritis, past surgery or a prescribed joint diet at the evaluation, and pack any supplements with written instructions; ask the front desk how they want them labeled.
- Deluxe, +$15 a night: orthopedic memory-foam bed
- Treadmill on the dogPACER, $10, supervised and low-impact
- A group whose pace suits an older big dog
- Arthritis, surgery or joint diet: tell us at the evaluation
Price
The night costs the same for a 100-pound dog; grooming is where size shows
There is no size surcharge on the published overnight rate: $78 a night for a 12-pound terrier and a 140-pound Mastiff alike. The Classic bundle adds $10 a night and the Deluxe $15. Grooming is priced by weight: a bath is $75 for 51 to 90 pounds, $85 over 90 pounds and $95 for an extra-large long coat, and a full service is $110 or $120. The Deluxe takes 15 percent off that groom, the Classic 10 percent.
If you only need the daytime covered, a large dog does not need a suite: daycare is $42 a full day in the same size-matched groups. If a heavy coat has gone thick and tangled, book the bath onto the last day; dematting is $15 per 20 minutes, and a double-coated dog in spring can add Shed Release for $10. Our overnight stays page lists everything the nightly rate includes.
| Item | Large dog, 51 to 90 lb | Extra large, over 90 lb |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight suite, per night | $78 | $78 |
| Dogtown Deluxe bundle, per night | +$15 | +$15 |
| Bath before pick-up | $75 | $85, or $95 for a long coat |
| Full service groom | $110 | $120 |
| Treadmill session | $10 | $10 |
Getting here
A big dog travels easiest on a short drive in a morning window
You will find us at 210 Eastern Ave, Gloucester. Drop-off windows are weekdays 6:30 to 9:30 AM, 12 to 1 PM and 4 to 6:30 PM; Saturday 8 to 10 AM, 12 to 1 PM and 4 to 6 PM; and Sunday, for overnight guests only, 8 to 10 AM and 4 to 6 PM. For a heavy senior that struggles into the car, the morning window means one trip and a full day to settle in before the first night.
The Pup Van runs at $10 each way in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea; outside those towns, ask us for pricing. Ask the front desk whether the van suits a giant breed or a dog that needs help with a step up, because loading a 150-pound dog is a question to settle before the morning of the trip, not on the curb.
At Dogtown
What a big dog's stay draws on
Suites, size-matched daycare groups, the treadmill and enrichment menu, and grooming priced by weight.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Will my Great Dane fit in a suite?
Do large dogs play with small dogs during a stay?
How do you reduce the risk of bloat during a stay?
Is the memory-foam bed worth it for a big dog?
Does a large dog cost more to stay overnight?
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
Bring the big dog to the evaluation.
Book the free weekday-morning evaluation, ask to see a suite, and talk through meals and joints. $78 a night, with the Deluxe memory-foam bed at $15 more.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
