- Home
- The Dogtown team
- Gabriella Pope: Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist at Dogtown
Director of Training
Gabriella Pope: Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist at Dogtown
Training pages on this site carry Gabriella's review, and this is the page they point back to. It sets out her role, how she works and what she leads, using only what Dogtown publishes about her.
Her role
Gabriella leads Dogtown Professional Training, from puppy school to board and train
As Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist, Gabriella runs the training side of the building on Eastern Ave. The programs are arranged in levels. Level 1 is Tiny Tails Puppy School for pups 8 to 16 weeks, then Bright Beginnings and Brave & Balanced for pups from 4 months. Level 2 is Calm & Connected and Adventure Academy for adolescents, new rescues and adult dogs. Level 3, Focus & Flow, React Less, Relax More and Polished Pup, is for fear, reactivity and more complex behavior.
Alongside the levels sit the AKC programs, which are AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Citizen Academy and a 1:1 Private CGC Fast Track. There is also Canine Campus, a hybrid day-training program of 2, 4 or 6 weeks with the dog home at night, and board and train: Foundation for one week and Advanced for two, both with daily updates and go-home lessons. Every program is tailored, so the plan and the investment are confirmed after a short assessment.
How she trains
Her method is relationship-based and force-free, and it starts with why a dog behaves as it does
Gabby's training rests on positive reinforcement, mindfulness and clear communication between dog and owner. Before she writes a plan she looks for the reason behind the behavior, whether that is fear, frustration, reactivity or sensitivity, because the same pulling or barking can come from very different places. The plan that follows is personal to the dog and aims at confidence and change that lasts beyond the last session.
Force-free has a specific meaning in the profession. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's 2021 position statement says reward-based methods should be used for all dog training, finds no evidence that aversive training is necessary, and names choke chains, prong collars and electronic shock collars among the tools an appropriate trainer avoids. Dogtown publishes that its training is fear- and force-free, and every program Gabriella leads ends with go-home lessons for the family.
- Positive reinforcement at the center of every program
- The cause of a behavior found before the plan is written
- Force-free as the profession uses the term: no prong, choke or shock collars
- Go-home lessons so the skills hold in your house
Background
Her background is a biochemistry degree and more than ten years with behaviorally complex dogs
Gabby holds a B.S. in Biochemistry, and Dogtown describes the approach she brings as science-informed and compassionate. She has ten-plus years of hands-on experience with behaviorally complex dogs, the ones whose fear, frustration, reactivity or sensitivity shapes everyday life for the whole household. Those are the dogs the Level 3 programs, Focus & Flow, React Less, Relax More and Polished Pup, are written for.
Her experience reaches past the training floor. She has worked with Autistic youth, and she has fostered dogs through Cape Ann Animal Aid, the shelter on Paws Lane in Gloucester, helping dogs with a wide range of behavioral needs settle and thrive. Those are the facts Dogtown publishes about her background; ask at the training assessment if you would like to know more about a particular part of it.
- B.S. in Biochemistry
- Ten-plus years with behaviorally complex dogs
- Work with Autistic youth
- Foster work through Cape Ann Animal Aid in Gloucester
Programs
The programs she leads run from one week to ten, and sessions start from $94
Dogtown lists its training programs by length rather than price. Sessions start from $94, and the plan for your dog, with its cost, is confirmed after a short assessment with Gabby. The table sets out each program, who it is built for and the length Dogtown publishes, so you can see roughly where your dog might start before you send the form.
Which program fits is what the assessment decides. A puppy under 16 weeks usually belongs in Tiny Tails, while an adolescent who has lost its manners might suit Calm & Connected. A dog who lunges at other dogs on the street is a candidate for Focus & Flow or React Less, Relax More, and a family short on time might look at Canine Campus or a week of Foundation board and train.
| Program | Built for | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny Tails Puppy School | Pups 8 to 16 weeks | 4, 6 or 8 weeks |
| Bright Beginnings | Obedience and socialization, 4 months and up | 4, 6 or 8 weeks |
| Brave & Balanced | Confidence building, 4 months and up | 4, 6 or 8 weeks |
| Calm & Connected | Adolescents, new rescues and adult dogs | 4, 6 or 8 weeks |
| Adventure Academy | A socialization path, all ages | 4, 6 or 8 weeks |
| Focus & Flow | Trigger work and emotional regulation | 6 weeks, 12 sessions |
| React Less, Relax More | Reactivity and sensitivity | 8 weeks, 16 sessions |
| Polished Pup | Complex cases, including resource guarding | 10 weeks, 20 sessions |
| AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy | Puppies 8 weeks to 6 months | 6 weeks, 12 sessions |
| Canine Citizen Academy | CGC preparation, adolescents and adults | 4, 6 or 8 weeks |
| 1:1 Private CGC Fast Track | All ages, extra support for the CGC | 5 weeks, 10 sessions |
| Canine Campus | Hybrid day training, home at night | 2, 4 or 6 weeks |
| Board and train | Foundation or Advanced | 1 or 2 weeks |
Getting started
Working with Gabriella starts with the training form and a short assessment
Send the training enquiry form with a few lines about your dog and what you want to change. The team replies within one hour on business days. The next step is a short assessment with Gabby to choose the program and the level, and every program finishes with go-home lessons, so what your dog learns at Dogtown keeps working in your kitchen and on your own street in Gloucester or wherever home is on the North Shore.
If your dog will also join daycare, the Academy or overnight stays, the free evaluation covers the group side. It runs on weekday mornings between 6:30 and 9:30 AM by appointment: a temperament test, then a few supervised hours in a playgroup of 7 to 10 dogs matched by size and temperament. Bring Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella records and a current city dog license.
- 01
Send the training form with your dog's age and your goal
- 02
Hear back within one hour on business days
- 03
Meet Gabby for a short assessment
- 04
Start the program and level she recommends
- 05
Use the go-home lessons so the skills hold at home
At Dogtown
The training Gabriella leads
Puppy school, obedience, behavior programs, AKC preparation, Canine Campus and board and train.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
Who is Gabby at Dogtown?
What qualifications does Gabriella Pope have?
Does Gabriella use shock, prong or choke collars?
Does Gabriella work with reactive or fearful dogs?
How do I book a session with Gabriella?
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
Start with a conversation.
New to Dogtown? Book the free weekday-morning evaluation. For training, send the enquiry form and we reply within one hour on business days.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
