Daycare
Large dog daycare in Gloucester, MA: playgroups matched by size
A big dog's daycare day can go wrong in two ways: it spends the day tiptoeing around small dogs, or it plays flat out until its joints and its coat pay for it. This page explains how size-matched groups and built-in rest deal with both, what the day costs, and how a 90-pound dog gets to Eastern Ave.
Who this is for
Large-dog groups suit big dogs who enjoy other big dogs, from young retrievers to steady giants
Four kinds of big dog fill a large-dog group. The young retriever, lab or doodle plays with its whole body and needs partners who can take a shoulder bump without flinching. The working and herding breeds, shepherds, pointers and their mixes, want room to run and someone to chase who runs back. The giant breeds, Bernese, Newfoundlands and the like, play in short, heavy bursts and then lie down. And the northern breeds, huskies and malamutes, carry a coat built for a far colder place than a Gloucester July.
Some big dogs are better served elsewhere. A large dog that pins, body-slams or keeps chasing a dog that has asked it to stop needs structure before a group, which is what Dogtown Academy and our training team provide. A senior giant with sore hips may enjoy a half day at $33 far more than a full one. And a big dog that simply needs a midday break while you work can have a 30-minute walk at home for $35, if we cover your address.
- Young retrievers, labs and doodles who play with their whole bodies
- Shepherds, pointers and other runners who want a fair chase
- Giant breeds who play in short, heavy bursts and then rest
- Not yet: a large dog that pins or will not take a no from other dogs; Academy or training first
The day
Play comes in blocks with rest between them, because big joints need the breaks as much as big lungs do
The morning starts in the drop-off window, 6:30 to 9:30 AM on weekdays or 8 to 10 AM on Saturday, and your dog joins the large-dog group it was placed in at the evaluation. The first play block is the loudest of the day: greetings, chases, the first dive into a splash pool. Rest breaks and water stations are built into the day rather than left for the dogs to choose, and the team keeps a close eye on every dog.
Rest matters more for a big dog than a small one. The AKC notes that hip dysplasia is most often seen in large and giant breeds, that obesity puts real stress on joints, and that too much or too little exercise can both play a part. Hard play in blocks, with real stops between them, suits a 90-pound body better than six unbroken hours. Tell us about any diagnosis before the evaluation; our team tailors each dog's day to its needs.
Heavy coats are the summer question. There is no separate heat program to sell you; what a malamute or a Bernese has on a hot day is what every group has: water stations, rest breaks, the splash pools, shade under the platforms and the indoor play floors. Heavy-coated and flat-faced dogs feel heat sooner, so on the hottest days a half day is often the kinder booking, and the report card and photos at pick-up show how your dog coped.
- 01
Drop-off: 6:30 to 9:30 AM on weekdays, 8 to 10 AM on Saturday, on a leash with a secure collar or harness
- 02
The first play block with the large-dog group on the turf, the pools and the platforms
- 03
A rest break and water before the next round, with the indoor floors used when the weather calls for it
- 04
Further play blocks through the day, each followed by a break, plus any enrichment add-on you booked
- 05
Pick-up from 4 to 6:30 PM on weekdays or 4 to 6 PM on Saturday, with the report card and photos
Price
Size does not change the daycare price: $42 a full day, $33 a half day
Daycare is priced by session, not by weight. A full day is $42 and a half day $33; the full-day 5-pack is $200 and the 10-pack $380, and the half-day packs are $150 and $290. A big dog coming four or more days a week should look at the unlimited membership, $700 a month for daycare Monday through Saturday, which also carries 15 percent off grooming. First-time customers save 15 percent on the first daycare visit with the code FIRST15.
Size does change the grooming price, and a big coat that has spent a day on the turf often goes home better for a bath. Baths are $75 for 51 to 90 pounds, $85 over 90 pounds and $95 for an extra-large long-haired dog, and Shed Release, a $10 de-shedding add-on, suits the double coats. Grooming can be booked during a daycare day, so one drop-off covers both. The full list of packages is on our dog daycare page.
| Service | Price | Notes for a large dog |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day daycare | $42 | Same rate at every size |
| Half-day daycare | $33 | A kinder booking for hot days and stiff joints |
| Full-day 10-pack | $380 | $38 a day |
| Unlimited membership | $700 a month | Monday to Saturday, 15 percent off grooming |
| Bath, 51 to 90 lb | $75 | Bookable during a daycare day |
| Bath, over 90 lb | $85 | $95 for an extra-large long-haired dog |
| Pup Van | $10 each way | Rockport, Gloucester, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea |
Why Dogtown
Matched groups, room to move and a grooming studio under the same roof
Size matching is the point of this page. At the free evaluation a certified team member runs a temperament test and then watches your dog for a few hours in a group, so the placement reflects size, play style and temperament together. A gentle 80-pound lab and a rowdy 80-pound shepherd weigh the same and may still belong in different circles. Groups stay at 7 to 10 dogs, small enough for real socialization without overwhelm.
The building does the rest. Our 10,000 square feet hold indoor play floors and an outdoor turf yard with pools and platforms, so a big group has room to run and somewhere to go when a nor'easter shuts the yard. The grooming studio is in the same building for the bath, and Dogtown Academy, a structured day with a trainer at $89, is there for the big adolescent who needs a job as well as a run.
- Groups matched by size, then play style and temperament, at the evaluation
- 7 to 10 dogs per group, with certified staff
- Turf, pools, platforms and indoor floors in one 10,000 square foot building
- Grooming and Dogtown Academy under the same roof
Getting here
Big dogs come by car or by Pup Van; ask the front desk about the van for a 90-pound dog
The Pup Van collects and returns dogs for $10 each way in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea; elsewhere, ask us for pricing. A very large dog is a fair question to raise before you count on the van, so tell the front desk your dog's weight and any trouble with steps when you ask, and they will confirm what works for your dog. Every van rider has passed the free evaluation first.
Driving in, Dogtown is at 210 Eastern Ave in Gloucester, on the road out toward Rockport. The train is no option for a big dog at rush hour anyway: the MBTA's rider rules keep large dogs off the trains during weekday peak hours. And the beaches close in summer, with Good Harbor shut to dogs from April 1 to September 30 and Wingaersheek from May 1 to September 30, which is when a large dog's free run disappears and a daycare day matters most.
At Dogtown
Daycare, grooming and the van for a big dog
The size-matched playgroups, the studio that washes off a day on the turf, and the ride to Eastern Ave.
Pick-up & drop-off
The Pup Van comes to you.
Pup Van pick-up and drop-off is available for $10 each way in the Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea area. Not in the area? Ask us for pricing.
- Rockport
- Gloucester
- Essex
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Is there a weight limit for daycare at Dogtown?
Will my big dog get breaks on hot days?
Can you bathe my large dog during his daycare day?
My dog has hip dysplasia. Can he still come?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- AKC: hip dysplasia in dogs
- AVMA: pets and heat
- MBTA rider rules and regulations
- City of Gloucester: beaches, detailed information
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
Room for a big dog to play.
Book the free weekday evaluation and our team places your dog with dogs its own size who play the way it does. Use FIRST15 for 15 percent off the first daycare visit.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
