Board and train for North Andover, MA dogs

Foundation or Advanced for a North Andover dog?

Pick Foundation for a puppy or young dog that needs the basics, and Advanced for an adolescent who knows the cues at home but loses them outdoors. Gabby, our Director of Training & Canine Behaviorist, confirms the choice at the short assessment that opens every program.

Foundation covers obedience, leash skills, place, stay and recall, impulse control, and crate and household manners, with one go-home lesson. Advanced adds distraction proofing, real-world outings, neutrality and confidence building over a second week, with two scheduled go-home lessons. For the commute, Advanced also spreads your coaching across two visits, which helps if the first one raises new questions. Our one week vs two weeks guide goes deeper.

Local places to practise once your dog is home

North Andover has good training ground close to home, and a clear leash rule to plan around. The town’s general bylaws require a dog off its owner’s property to be on a leash of six feet or less, held by a person. Voice control does not count, so practise loose-leash walking on a standard six-foot lead.

Weir Hill, the Trustees property on Stevens Street, allows dog walking on leash and gives you quiet trails for early check-ins. Lake Cochichewick is the town’s drinking water supply, so dog access near the water is restricted: practise on the Weir Hill trails, not at the shore. Harold Parker State Forest is a step up, with more dogs, horses and bikes on a weekend; check DCR’s current dog rules before you go. The Old Center and the Main Street sidewalks are your final exam, with café tables, strollers and traffic.

• First week home: cues in the house and yard, exactly as coached
• Then: Weir Hill on a quiet weekday morning
• Then: Harold Parker trails at off-peak times
• Last: a slow lap of Main Street with frequent rewards

Paperwork from the North Andover Town Clerk

Before your dog can stay, we need a current dog license and three vaccines on file: Rabies, DHPP (distemper) and Bordetella. North Andover licenses come from the Town Clerk’s Office at 120 Main Street, and the town offers online licensing, so renewing is quick if it has lapsed.

Pack your dog’s usual food in pre-portioned bags, any medications clearly labeled, and one comfort item. Dogtown supplies bedding and enrichment. The full checklist is on our what to pack page.

What it costs and how to start

The price for a stay is quoted after the short assessment, because a week of puppy basics and two weeks of distraction work for a strong adolescent are different jobs. The temperament evaluation is free. Send the enquiry form and we reply within one hour on business days.

If your dog’s issue is fear, reactivity or guarding rather than manners, say so up front. Some of those dogs fit Advanced; others do better in Dogtown’s behavior-modification programs of six to ten weeks, and Gabby will tell you honestly which path fits. We do not promise results; we make sure you leave knowing how to practise.