Dogtown for Georgetown, MA dog owners: daycare, boarding, grooming and training

The Department of Conservation and Recreation names Georgetown-Rowley State Forest among the properties in its North Region where dogs may go off leash, in this case on the trails. The forest covers more than 1,000 acres off Route 97, is open from sunrise to sunset, and has parking off Pingree Farm Road, with the Bay Circuit Trail running through. Hunting is among the activities DCR lists for the forest, so wear something bright, and put something bright on your dog, during hunting seasons.

Off leash, in DCR's terms, means your dog stays in sight, comes the moment it is called, stays when told, and never charges or chases people, dogs, horses or wildlife. Every dog is leashed in the parking area and when entering or leaving the off-leash trails, the owner carries one leash in hand for each dog, and no one brings more than four dogs at a time. DCR also asks that every dog wear current license and rabies tags.

The quick way leaves Georgetown on Route 133 to Interstate 95, heads south to Route 1 and Route 62, then east on 62 to Route 128 north. From there it is 128 to its end in Gloucester and a short run along Eastern Avenue to number 210, about 45 minutes outside rush hour, by our estimate. The back way is Route 133 east through Rowley, Ipswich and Essex to Route 128 in West Gloucester: shorter on the map, slower on the clock, about 55 minutes outside rush hour, by our estimate.

Georgetown is outside the Pup Van towns; ask us about pick-up. The van's $10 each-way price is set for Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea, and for a Georgetown street the front desk will tell you what is possible and what it would cost. If you drive, aim for the early window, 6:30 to 9:30 AM on weekdays, and collect between 4 and 6:30 PM; Saturdays run 8 to 10 AM and 4 to 6 PM, with a midday window from 12 to 1 PM on both.

The free evaluation is a temperament test followed by a few supervised hours in a group, on a weekday between 6:30 and 9:30 AM by appointment. We watch how your dog plays, rests and responds to our handlers, then place it in the group that fits. It is required for daycare, Academy days, overnight stays and walks; grooming books straight in online or in the Dogtown app.

We publish stories about Dogtown dogs from Georgetown only with the family's written permission, so for now, ask us how Georgetown dogs settle in when you call. Bring the license and the vaccination records on the first morning, and use FIRST15 for 15 percent off the first daycare visit. After each visit, a report card in the Dogtown app tells you how the day went.