Small dog daycare
Small dog daycare in Gloucester: playgroups matched by size
Owners of small dogs usually ask one question before any other: who will my dog be in with. This page answers it, explains how a small dog's day runs, what it costs, and which small dogs are happier with a walk or a groom than with a group.
Who this is for
Matched groups suit small dogs who like other small dogs, and not every small dog does
The small dogs who thrive here are the sociable ones: the cavalier who greets every dog on Main Street in Rockport, the schnauzer with a terrier friend down the road, the doodle under 25 pounds who wants to run. They are also the dogs whose people worry, reasonably, about a size gap. A group built from dogs of similar build and similar play style removes the gap, and a handler stays with the group the whole session. The result is a small dog who plays hard with peers instead of dodging bigger ones.
Two kinds of small dog do less well in any group. The first has decided that other dogs are a threat; that dog guards a lap and snaps, and a group makes it worse before it makes it better. The second is the frail senior who wants company but not contact. For the first, our training team's Adventure Academy is built for dog-selective dogs hoping to join the pack; for the second, a 20-minute at-home walk or a half day with a quiet spot fits.
- Small dogs who already have a dog friend or two and want more
- Dogs who play with peers rather than hiding behind their person
- Not for a small dog who snaps at approaching dogs: Adventure Academy first
The day
Small dogs play in their own circle, on the same turf and indoor floors
A small dog's day begins at a drop-off window: 6:30 to 9:30 AM on weekdays, 8 to 10 AM on Saturday. The group meets on the outdoor turf yard when the weather allows, with pools shallow enough for a short-legged dog to stand in and platforms low enough to climb. When the yard is iced or a storm is blowing across Cape Ann, the indoor play floors take over and the routine stays the same. Groups are 7 to 10 dogs matched by size, so a small dog's circle is made up of dogs of similar build.
Rest is built in. Small dogs run hot and tire fast, so every play block ends with water and a settle, and a dog who has had enough gets a quiet spot rather than another round. A lick mat ($5) or a puzzle game ($7) added at booking gives a busy little dog ten minutes of calm work. Pick-up is 12 to 1 PM for a morning half day, or 4 to 6:30 PM on weekdays and 4 to 6 PM on Saturday for a full day, and the report card lands in the app.
- 01
Drop off inside the morning window on a leash with a secure collar or harness
- 02
Your dog joins a group of 7 to 10 similar-sized dogs with a handler present throughout
- 03
Play on the turf yard or the indoor floors, in blocks broken by water and a settle
- 04
Optional enrichment: a lick mat, puzzle game or sniff room session booked in advance
- 05
Collect at the midday or late-afternoon window and read the report card in the app
Price
Small dogs pay the same daycare rate: $42 a full day, $33 a half day
Daycare is priced by session, not by size. A full day is $42 and a half day $33. Packs bring the rate down: half-day 5-pack $150, half-day 10-pack $290, full-day 5-pack $200, full-day 10-pack $380. Dogs coming most days do the math on the unlimited membership at $700 a month, which also carries two enrichment sessions a month and 15 percent off grooming. FIRST15 takes 15 percent off a new customer's first daycare visit.
Where size does change the price is grooming, and it works in a small dog's favor. A bath is $55 and a full-service groom $75 for a dog up to 25 pounds, both bookable inside a daycare day without a separate trip. Nail clipping is $16 on the same visit, and booking the next groom at pick-up saves $5 on it.
| Service | Small dog price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day daycare | $42 | Same rate for every size |
| Half-day daycare | $33 | Morning or afternoon session |
| Full-day 10-pack | $380 | $38 a day |
| Bath, up to 25 lb | $55 | During a daycare day, no evaluation needed |
| Full-service groom, up to 25 lb | $75 | Bath plus haircut |
| Nail clipping | $16 | Add to any bath or groom |
Why Dogtown
Size matching at the evaluation is the whole point, and a handler holds it all day
Plenty of daycares say they separate small and large dogs. The difference at Dogtown is how the groups are built: at the free evaluation a certified handler runs a temperament test and then watches your dog for a few hours in a trial group, so the match is by size, play style and temperament together. A bold 15-pound terrier and a timid 15-pound spaniel are the same size and belong in different circles. Our 10,000 square feet let us run those circles at the same time without crowding.
The team also sees a lot of the breeds Cape Ann favors: cavaliers, miniature poodles, Havanese, French bulldogs, and the small doodles that fill the Rockport summer rentals. Flat-faced dogs get shorter play blocks in the heat and more shade; coated dogs get a bath in the studio before they go home covered in turf, and anything your dog needs goes on the card the handler reads each morning.
- A temperament test and a trial group at the evaluation, not a weigh-in
- Groups matched on size, play style and temperament together
- Shorter play blocks and shade for flat-faced small dogs on hot days
- Grooming studio on site, so a turf-covered dog goes home clean
Getting here
Eastern Ave is a short drive from every Cape Ann town, and the Pup Van covers four of them
We are at 210 Eastern Ave in Gloucester, on the way out toward Rockport. Weekday windows are 6:30 to 9:30 AM, 12 to 1 PM and 4 to 6:30 PM; Saturday windows are 8 to 10 AM, 12 to 1 PM and 4 to 6 PM; Sunday is closed for daycare. The Pup Van picks up and drops off for $10 each way in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea, and a small dog who dislikes the car often settles faster in the van beside a familiar handler than in the back seat. Not in those towns? Ask us for pricing.
Small dogs and Cape Ann beaches are a seasonal pairing. Good Harbor Beach takes dogs October 1 to April 30 on even-numbered days only, and closes to dogs from April 1 for nesting piping plovers; Wingaersheek takes odd-numbered days in the same season. Rockport's beaches are closed to dogs June 1 to September 15. A daycare day on the dates the beach is off limits keeps a small dog's social life going through the summer. Bring a current city license too: Gloucester's come from the City Clerk at 9 Dale Ave, $20 for a spayed or neutered dog plus a small fee, due by April 30.
At Dogtown
Daycare, grooming and the van for a small dog
The matched playgroups, the studio that cleans up a turf-covered coat, and the ride that spares a small dog the back seat.
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.
Do you keep small dogs separate from large dogs?
My small dog is a barker. Is daycare a bad idea?
Can my small dog do a half day and a groom on the same visit?
Is the unlimited membership worth it for a small dog?
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
A group built for small dogs.
Book the free evaluation for a weekday morning and let our handlers match your dog to its circle. New customers 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
