Dogtown Professional Training · Gloucester, MA
Unlock your dog’s potential.
Relationship-based, fear- and force-free training for every stage of your dog’s journey: puppy school, obedience, confidence building, behavior modification, AKC prep, Canine Campus and board & train.
About Training
Dog Training at Dogtown.
Dogtown Professional Training is led by Gabriella Pope, our Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist. Every program is rooted in trust, communication and consistency, using positive reinforcement, mindfulness and clear communication to build confidence and lasting change.
Programs run from Tiny Tails Puppy School through advanced obedience, resilience and behavior modification, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen prep, our hybrid Canine Campus and one- or two-week board & train. Tell us about your dog and we’ll recommend the right path.
Meet the trainer
Gabriella Pope
Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist
Training rooted in trust, communication and consistency, for happier dogs and confident owners.
As a Dogtown Trainer, Gabby uses relationship-based, fear- and force-free training centered on positive reinforcement, mindfulness and clear communication. She focuses on the why behind behavior, whether fear, frustration, reactivity or sensitivity, to create personalized plans that build confidence and lasting change.
With a B.S. in Biochemistry and ten-plus years of hands-on experience with behaviorally complex dogs, Gabby brings a science-informed, compassionate approach to training. Her experience also includes working with Autistic youth and fostering dogs through Cape Ann Animal Aid, helping dogs with diverse behavioral needs thrive.
Service benefits
Why choose Dogtown?
Discover how Dogtown in Gloucester, MA brings joy to your pet with personalized care, expert staff and a safe, fun environment, every visit.
Puppy & foundations
Tiny Tails Puppy School, Bright Beginnings obedience and Brave & Balanced confidence building for pups from 8 weeks.
Adolescence & advanced
Calm & Connected and Adventure Academy for teenagers, new rescues and adult dogs of every age.
Resilience & behavior
Focus & Flow, React Less Relax More and Polished Pup for fear, reactivity and complex behavior challenges.
AKC programs
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen prep and a 1:1 private CGC fast track.
Canine Campus
Hybrid 2-, 4- and 6-week programs mixing training and adventure days with pick-up and drop-off.
Board & train
One-week Foundation and two-week Advanced stays with daily updates and go-home lessons.
Pricing
Training programs
Sessions start from $94. Every program is tailored to your dog, so we confirm the plan and the investment after a short assessment.
Pups 8–16 weeks
Tiny Tails Puppy School
A positive, relationship-based puppy program focused on life skills, confidence, socialization, enrichment and preventing common puppy challenges.
- 4 weeks / 8 sessions
- 6 weeks / 12 sessions
- 8 weeks / 16 sessions
Basic obedience & socialization · pups 4 months+
Bright Beginnings
Builds essential everyday manners, recall, focus, impulse control, engagement, communication, leash skills, social skills and reliable foundational behaviors.
- 4 weeks / 8 sessions
- 6 weeks / 12 sessions
- 8 weeks / 16 sessions
Confidence builder · pups 4 months+
Brave & Balanced
For young pups who need additional support with confidence, fear-based behaviors, handling sensitivity, stranger danger, leash skills and cooperative care.
- 4 weeks / 8 sessions
- 6 weeks / 12 sessions
- 8 weeks / 16 sessions
Adolescents, new rescues and adult dogs · all ages
Calm & Connected
Strengthens foundational skills while addressing struggles with impulse control, minor leash reactivity, stranger concerns, handling sensitivity and real-world reliability.
- 4 weeks / 8 sessions
- 6 weeks / 12 sessions
- 8 weeks / 16 sessions
Socialization path · all ages
Adventure Academy
Confidence building, structured socialization, controlled introductions, leash and dog-reactivity support, and carefully matched opportunities to build positive social experiences. An excellent start for dog-selective pups and dogs hoping to join the daycare pack.
- 4 weeks / 8 sessions
- 6 weeks / 12 sessions
- 8 weeks / 16 sessions
For pups with big feelings: fear, reactivity, environmental sensitivity or more complex behavior challenges. These programs focus on emotional regulation, behavior modification, trigger work, confidence, replacement behaviors, counter-conditioning, desensitization and clear communication, not just obedience.
6 weeks / 12 sessions
Focus & Flow
A focused block of trigger work, emotional regulation and replacement behaviors.
8 weeks / 16 sessions
React Less, Relax More
A longer program for reactivity and sensitivity, with time to generalize calm behavior across real-world settings.
10 weeks / 20 sessions
Polished Pup
Designed for more complex cases including significant reactivity, sensitivity, resource guarding, unpredictable high-arousal behavior, fear-based reactivity and other challenges affecting everyday life.
Puppies 8 weeks – 6 months · 6 weeks / 12 sessions
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
Give your puppy the best start: confidence, good manners, socialization, handling skills, leash skills, recall and foundational obedience while working toward the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy requirements.
CGC prep · adolescents & adults
Canine Citizen Academy
Preparation for the AKC Canine Good Citizen 10-step test with an emphasis on dependable manners, public behavior, confidence and real-world reliability.
- 4 weeks / 8 sessions
- 6 weeks / 12 sessions
- 8 weeks / 16 sessions
All ages · 5 weeks / 10 sessions
1:1 Private CGC Fast Track
Individualized preparation for dogs with more specific challenges that need additional support mastering the CGC requirements.
Hybrid programs that mix training and adventure days with pick-up and drop-off, enrichment, walks, real-world exposure, daycare integration when appropriate, daily reports, homework and an end-of-program lesson.
2-week hybrid · about 10 training/adventure days
Freshman · Foundations
Foundations, real-world exposure and daycare integration for young dogs and new arrivals.
4-week hybrid · about 20 sessions
Dean’s List · Advanced Skills
Leash skills, impulse control, obedience, confidence, neutrality, household manners and mild-to-moderate reactivity.
6-week hybrid · about 30 sessions
Graduate · Advanced Resilience
For more complex behavior cases: reactivity, significant leash struggles, impulse control, confidence, environmental neutrality and generalization.
Canine Campus plans vary with the intensity and complexity of your dog’s needs.
Puppies, young dogs & foundational manners
Foundation · 1 week
- Basic obedience and leash skills
- Place, stay and recall
- Impulse control
- Crate and household manners
- Daycare integration and enrichment
- Daily updates and a go-home lesson
Adolescent dogs & real-world reliability
Advanced · 2 weeks
- Everything in Foundation
- Advanced obedience and distraction proofing
- Real-world outings
- Neutrality and impulse control
- Confidence building and structured socialization
- 2 scheduled go-home coaching lessons
Getting started
How it works
Tell us the goal
Send the training form. We reply within one hour on business days.
Meet Gabby
A short assessment to pick the right program and level for your dog.
Train and transfer
Every program ends with go-home lessons so results hold at home.
In pictures
Smiles and happy tails.
A look at training days at Dogtown. Tap any photo to zoom.
Google reviews
What pet parents say
Real reviews from pet parents across the North Shore, straight from Google.
Had a great visit? Leave us a review on Google
Go deeper
More on training at Dogtown.
The specific page for your dog and your week, and the questions families ask before they book.
FAQs
Dog Training questions
Straight answers on hours, evaluations, vaccinations and what to bring.
What is the evaluation process, and why is it required?
What vaccinations and paperwork are required for my dog to attend?
Do you offer pick-up and drop-off?
How do you handle dogs with special behavioral needs?
Do you offer training services?
Do I need an evaluation for grooming?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Pairs well with
Related services.
Next step
Ready for a tail-wagging day?
Book online in a few taps, send the customer inquiry, or come see the facility for yourself. Every dog starts with a free evaluation. No evaluation needed for grooming.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
