Board and train in Lawrence, MA

Board and train for Lawrence, MA dogs: fear-free one- or two-week Gloucester stays for city manners, with a free evaluation and van pick-up priced on request.

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Trainer teaching an Australian shepherd the place command on a cot

The short answer

Board and train for Lawrence dogs happens at Dogtown in Gloucester, reached by I-495 and I-95 to Route 128 or by Route 114 east. Your dog lives with us for one week (Foundation) or two (Advanced) and practises every day with a fear-free team led by Gabriella Pope. For city dogs dealing with busy sidewalks, mill-building hallways and noisy streets, the two-week program is often the better fit.

At a glance

Drive: I-495 to I-95 south and Route 128 north, or Route 114 east
Stays: Foundation 1 week, Advanced 2 weeks
License: Lawrence City Clerk, 200 Common St; year starts April 1
Van: Lawrence pick-up by arrangement: ask for pricing
Price: Quoted after the assessment; evaluation free

By the Dogtown Training team in Gloucester, MA · Last reviewed October 28, 2026 · Our trainer and methods

City dogs need city skills

A Lawrence dog meets more in one walk than a rural dog meets in a week: delivery trucks on Broadway, music from passing cars, crowds outside shops on Essex Street, other dogs behind every second fence. Skills taught only in a quiet living room tend to vanish in that setting.

That is why many Lawrence owners choose the two-week Advanced program. Its second week is about distraction proofing, neutrality around other dogs and people, real-world outings and confidence building. Puppies and dogs still learning the basics usually start with one-week Foundation: obedience, leash skills, place, stay, recall, impulse control and crate manners. Gabby, our Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist, confirms which fits at the short assessment.

Why a stay instead of weekly classes from Lawrence

Lawrence to Gloucester is a highway drive, not a neighbourhood errand, so a stay keeps the travel to a few trips. You come for the free evaluation on a weekday morning between 6:30 and 9:30, drop your dog off, and return for pick-up and go-home coaching.

In between, your dog trains in short sessions daily, rests in an overnight suite with 24/7 monitoring, and gets enrichment in our 10,000 sq. ft. facility plus small, matched playgroups once ready. A daily update keeps you in the loop. Read what board and train includes for the full list.

How to get to 210 Eastern Ave

Take I-495 east to I-95 south, then Route 128 north at Peabody and stay on it to the end in Gloucester. Route 114 east through North Andover and Middleton to Route 128 is the other common choice. Either way, finish on Eastern Ave.

No car, or no time? The Pup Van’s $10 flat fare covers Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea only, but board-and-train dogs from Lawrence can be collected too. Ask for van pricing from Lawrence in the enquiry and we will quote it.

Practising on the Spicket River Greenway and around the mills

The Spicket River Greenway is a strong first stop after the stay. It links about three and a half miles of paths and parks, including a connection to the commuter rail station, so you can choose a quiet stretch or a busier one. Keep your dog on a leash of six feet or less, which the city’s ordinance requires off your own property, and pick up after your dog; check the current rules with the city if in doubt.

Work up gradually. A quiet greenway section on a weekday morning comes first; the paths near the McGovern Transportation Center, where Haverhill-line trains and buses come and go, come much later. In mill buildings and apartment blocks, practise the place cue near your door and a calm wait before stepping into the hallway.

Quiet greenway paths: loose-leash walking and check-ins
Busier greenway sections: calm passing of bikes and other dogs
Your building: wait at the door, settle while neighbours pass
Essex Street and the station area: short visits, lots of rewards, leave early

Lawrence license, vaccines and packing

Lawrence dog licenses are issued in person by the City Clerk’s Office at 200 Common Street, and the license year begins April 1. The city charges a late fee for late renewals and can fine owners of unlicensed dogs, so sort it out before booking.

Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella must be on file too. Pack pre-portioned meals of your dog’s usual food, labeled medications and one comfort item; we provide bedding. See the packing list for details.

Cost and honest limits

We do not publish a board-and-train price. Each stay is quoted after the assessment, and the evaluation is free. Enquiries get a reply within an hour on business days.

If your dog has bitten, guards food or toys seriously, or panics in public, say so in the enquiry. A short stay may not be the right tool; Dogtown also runs behavior-modification programs of six to ten weeks, and sometimes the right first step is your vet or a veterinary behaviorist. We never promise results, but we make sure you leave knowing how to practise.

The two programs

1 week · Puppies, young dogs & foundational manners Foundation Board & Train A one-week stay for puppies, young dogs and dogs missing the basics: obedience, leash skills, place, stay, recall, impulse control and household manners, with daily updates and a go-home lesson. Read about Foundation 2 weeks · Adolescent dogs & real-world reliability Advanced Board & Train A two-week stay for adolescent dogs and dogs who know their cues at home but lose them everywhere else: everything in Foundation, plus distraction proofing, real-world outings, neutrality and two go-home coaching lessons. Read about Advanced

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