RiverDog

Well where to start… We had an a great doggy day care where we lived before. Our playful dog was so happily exhausted when he would come home. They also would give us a detailed overview of how his day went and different things they were working on. Being new to the area we checked out RiverDog and read the 5 star reviews.
Unfortunately after trying it out the last few months we were continually disappointed. And we are not going back anymore! Something just doesn’t seem right and we hate the way we are treated. We would pick up our dog and when we got home he was hyper! What is he doing at RiverDog??? Not playing? He would also be very hungry since we couldn’t bring his food. Our previous dog care always asked if he had breakfast and if not we would bring it for him. Why don’t they allow him to have food?
The customer service… rude and disinterested in the individual needs of every dog. From the beginning they were very pushy trying to get us to sign up for classes and to buy their food. It just makes you feel taken advantage of. They also would make odd side comments of our dogs behavior and sigh in annoyance when it was our dogs turn. We have a very active dog but he is a good dog. No dog should be singled out as an annoyance or unworthy. We continually felt insulted and like our dog wasn’t getting proper care. No pictures, no updates, nothing to make you feel like your dog matters. I guess we just don’t fit in with their club.

This place is awesome. You can tell they really love dogs and really love being small business owners. I am so happy I found them and don’t have to buy my dog food or get my dog’s nails clipped at a chain.

We had less than positive experiences with their daycare services. After passing their evaluation and going to our fourth daycare session, we picked up our dog one day only to be taken aside and told that she «barked too much when people left the room» and could not come to daycare anymore unless she learned to «manage it” — and, when prompted, the staff recommended a «low level shock collar.»
I don’t at all fault them for deciding that my dog isn’t suited for their daycare; some dogs simply don’t enjoy and thrive in that environment and after this experience I know my dog is one of them. My criticisms have to do with the ways in which Riverdog mishandled the situation:
1) Poor communication. Our dog passed the evaluation with flying colors. Every other session, they said she had been «great» and «played well.» Giving us no prior warning AT ALL about the barking — a non-​aggressive issue– until the day they kicked us out. We are lucky to have flexibility in our work schedules, so it was only a minor inconvenience to have daycare removed as an option, but others might not be so fortunate. They knew they had goofed, too, because the staffer started off saying «So-​and-​so has already mentioned the barking to you…», to which we corrected her, saying that no, no one had ever mentioned it, and she was clearly at a loss.
2) Their tone and lack of professionalism. We were greeted by a curt «we need to talk about [dog]‘s barking,» then given a speech about how she needed to learn to «manage it» and that she «wanted attention.» (Of course she wants attention! We all do! This is why social media exists.) It felt like we were being taken aside to be reprimanded by the principal for the misbehavior of our child. If they had framed it in terms of OUR DOG’S well being– saying something about her barking showed that she was stressed by daycare procedures and might not be a good fit for Riverdog– instead of making it out like our dog wasn’t polished enough to attend Miss Manner’s School for Demure Young Canines, it wouldn’t have left us with a bad taste in our mouths.
3) The shock collar suggestion, which we were told came from the owner. We were taken aback by this; my dog’s barking is manageable for us, and we hadn’t given them any indication of the contrary. Why the owner was recommending shock collars, without us present, without ever having asked us about our situation, I can’t comprehend. I understand people have differing philosophies when it comes to shock collars but I am NOT going to shock my dog (no matter how «low-​level» the shocks are) just so she can continue to attend pricey daycare. Our positive reward-​based reinforcement system works fine for us at home; I understand that it would be hard to implement food-​based training in daycare but that doesn’t mean they should immediately jump to suggesting a shock collar. Most trainers I’ve spoken to or read say that shock collars are used as last resorts or long-​distance communication in hunting; many (especially of the younger generation) are against shock collars altogether. They don’t have to agree, but as part of the petcare/​training community, Riverdog should understand that there are different philosophies when it comes to punishment-​based conditioning and employ sensitivity, knowledge, and good judgment when recommending it.
4) I also have to wonder how often the staff left the dogs unattended if my dog barked enough such that it was a problem. Is it that unreasonable to assume that one person will be in the room for the vast majority of the time? I pay exorbitant amounts of my grad school stipend to take my dog to daycare so she WON’T be left alone. (And, yes, to socialize with other dogs, but in a middle school dance context– there should always be chaperones!)
To their credit, they did refund the leftover unused sessions on our five pack promptly when asked. It also seemed like a busy season for the daycare, so maybe they were less well-​equipped to handle clients. I do think they are well-​intended folks, and your dog may do better if they are older, lower energy or less people-​oriented than ours. But they have a lot they could improve on in terms of professionalism. Don’t rely on their services without a backup, and recognize that their training philosophy involves corrections.
Also, let me be clear: I am not the kind of dogowner who thinks that their precious baby can do no wrong even after mauling five people. I know my dog’s personality and quirks, and she’s a little rascal. I wouldn’t fault Riverdog at all for simply and professionally deciding that their daycare was not great for my dog, based on her personality– in fact, I would be a little sad because we’d be missing out on what was clearly a great place that cared about my dog’s needs! As it stands, I am GLAD they kicked us out because they amply demonstrated that my dog is better off without them.

Extremely nice and knowledgeable owner. He used to work at the MSPCA in JP and gives great advice for training and bahviour. Also made recommendations based on what was best for our needs, not just suggesting the most expensive options. We asked a question about our dog’s teeth and he immediately got down on all fours and looked into her mouth to make an appropriate recommendation. My husband hates spending money when we could find it cheaper online, and even he said he felt the service was worth the price.

Our dog (a six year old Golden Retriever) has been going to Riverdog for doggy daycare for the past five years — since we moved to Boston. We are moving on to California, but we are very sad to be leaving the Riverdog family! We LOVE it there, and our dog always comes home happy and tired after a day there. The owners Peter and Priscilla are wonderful to us and to our dog, who greets them every time with a wagging tail. We also love the other members of the Riverdog team — they really go above and beyond to give our dog extra love during the day. They know his particular quirks (an obsession with tennis balls) and his affinities for napping, and they always give us updates on his activities during the day. In short, this is a fantastic place for dogs.

Woah I was really disappointed with River Dog. I am coming from the South End area, where boutique shops have 2 to 3 times the selection. They don’t really have many great options (I was looking for marrow bones), and their toy selection is mainly ChewGuard stuff. They had Taste of the Wild food though, which is nice. My dog’s Iguana ChewGuard toy was also $ 22, which I believe is on the high end.
The place is sooo smelly too. I would not take my pup there for daycare. Other spots I have been to that have a boutique + daycare smell way nicer and were much cleaner.

It is so nice to have an independent, local pet store in the neighborhood. Whenever we need more dog food, I take my little guy here as part of our walk. The staff are wonderful. They are careful groomers, as well — when Fig Newton needs his nails cut, they file his darker nails rather than cut them, so I never have to worry about a traumatizing experience. I can’t speak to their classes or boarding services, but everything else is top notch. There is a good selection of toys, treats and other items in this small store. Five stars.

We found Riverdog at the Union Square spring fling. They carry a great Eco-​friendly brand of poop bags that we discovered that day, so when we ran out– I ran to Riverdog for more. Our pup happened to be out of food and I still didn’t LOVE the brand we were feeding her. Though it was grain free and had limited ingredients, it scored pretty poorly overall. The owners were so patient and helpful and really went above and beyond to make sure that I had all of the information that I needed to make the right switch to a better food. They gave me information on the family that makes the food, their history in dog food making, and when I still seemed undecided, gave me three different flavors to try to allow my pup to speak for herself. Needless to say my pooch gobbled up the brand that the owner recommended and now finishes both breakfast and dinner almost immediately after I serve it to her. That speaks volumes in terms of kibble brands if you ask me. Great customer service, friendly and efficient staff, some of the best products. bonus points: supporting our local businesses! Riverdog will definitely be our new go to!
Edit: since leaving Boston, we have yet to find a pet spot that has the same love and consideration as Riverdog!

I walked over here on a rainy day with my dog hoping to find a rain slicker for him (I know, I know). What do you know! Rain slicker and fleeces! And the dog food I used to get him! What a nice place!
I haven’t tried their grooming or boarding services but the people picking up their dogs looked pretty happy.

I don’t have any pets. However, I wish I did so that I could use River Dog’s services.
Every time I walk by, Dennis the orange cat is sitting on his perch by the window. It took me several weeks to get over how weird it would be just to go inside and pet a cat. I couldn’t resist Dennis’ cuteness, so I went in. He came right up to me, purred, and let me pet him. The owners were so nice about it and joked about how hard Dennis was working. I now go in frequently just to say hi to Dennis.

You fancy pet son-​of-​a-​gun! You’ve done it! You’ve found the best spot in town to buy organic and gluten-​free pet nosh, get your dog sat, and chill with a big orange cat.
We’ve got a cat and a rabbit – clearly not the standard shoppers at this eponymous boutique – but the owners and staff here still manage to set us up with lovely supplies and advice. Dennis the store kitty is a pretty charismatic dude, and sometimes I think about going in just to chat with him.
Our cat’s favorite thing here is the toy bin – they’ve got good deals on lots of little things that your kitter can play with, destroy, and have replaced.
I can’t speak to the dog training/​sitting that goes on, but the pups always seem happy when I stop by for my shopping and chatting.

Not impressed. I had to cancel a daycare evaluation because of the horrendous amount of snow the day of and the guy on the phone seemed pretty annoyed and then said he’d have to charge me for another evaluation because they have a 24 hour cancellation policy. Of all the places I’ve taken my dog, I’ve never run into that, get off your high horse dude.
There are so many good dog care places with friendly understanding folks there’s no reason to play the nickel and dime game with these people. Sorry I don’t control the weather, I’ll take my money somewhere else.

We came here twice this week after getting our 11 week old pup. Very limited selection of supplies. Then we thought that we had our puppy signed up for their kindergarten class, since they said «you’re all set just come in with a check». Came in with a check and class is full but we can sign up for another class in a month and a half. When our puppy will be not quite a puppy. Thanks. Signed up for kindergarten with Zen instead and happy that I did.

RiverDog was the best when it came to our dog ownership process. We got a rather feisty rescue dog and they helped us with everything from food choice, training, daycare, and fitting him with the best harnesses (he was a houdini with getting out of them!). We unfortunately were not able to adopt the dog we had for a few months but RiverDog will always hold a special place for understanding how to help us when we needed it the most.

I love River Dog. I rescued my dog, George, last March and have brought him in a few times. George is extremely shy and skiddish. Even with this, the people working at the store know what they are doing and how to approach him. Someone always sits with him on the floor when we arrive and talks to him in a normal voice. This immediately calms him down and he seems right as ease. Then, as soon as he hears the dog, he is ok. They bring him in with the rest of the dogs to start his day and he always enjoys himself.
I’m thankful for the excellent care they provide my doggie love and the knowledge they give on caring for my rescue pup!

Hmm. RiverDog is decidedly an improvement over previous businesses which have occupied this (cursed?) space in Union Square.
That said, I’m not sold.
They sell your average pet boutique products – holistic treats, durable toys, the latest ergonomically correct harness, and, yes, dog clothes, which were fun to explore around Halloween. I can’t speak to the doggie daycare at all, since I’ve just come in looking for products and to inquire about training classes.
Both owners have been friendly, but I’m not convinced I’d send my dog to training classes sponsored by this business. I inquired about classes back in September and knew nothing was final yet since they were looking for a large space, so I put my name on a wait list for information at the store – after already sending them an email.
Fast-​forward to January, when I was on a walk with Woof and stopped in to check the upcoming class schedule. There were two classes that sounded like they might make sense for us (not agility, though, since they are still looking for a space), but when I asked for more detail, I was told they weren’t quite sure what they’d teach in each one yet.
For $ 180-​$ 210 for 4 – 6 week sessions, I’d like to have more information to go on before booking a class.
There was no pressure to sign up or anything, but I wasn’t wowed by the options on the table.
I’d been really looking forward to options for dog training much closer to me that Arlington or Malden, but if you’re looking for comprehensive training classes and/​or development of additional skills (tricks or agility, for example), both of those schools meet those needs.
Nothing against the retail outfit or daycare, but I’m not convinced I’d recommend this spot for dog training.

This place is absolutely great. I echo previous poster’s sentiments about Peter and Priscilla — they are very knowledgeable and carry a lot of great products as well
We take our dog to daycare here on Fridays and she absolutely loves it. All of the staff that work there are very helpful and knowledgeable as well and we have total confidence that our dog is having a great time and being attended to
When we first got our dog, we had some trouble walking her. We stopped by RiverDog since it was down the street from the dog park we were at and they fitted her for a harness and even marked where the harness was supposed to go (stomach, back, etc) to make it easier for us to use.
Fast forward almost a year and we’ve been in there to buy other products such as leashes, toys, treats, additional harnesses as well as weekly daycare visits
They truly care about the dogs that are there and our dog is always so excited to go there

I have to add another glowing review to River Dog– they are really awesome!
I’ve never left my little Napoleon here because he doesn’t need daycare, but if I ever had to leave him somewhere during the day, it would absolutely be River Dog. I go in every few weeks to buy some Taste of the Wild kibble (when I first moved here last summer, I panicked at first when I couldn’t find the brand of grain-​free kibble I feed my pampered pooch, but luckily River Dog stocks TotW along with many other health-​centered canine [and feline] products). I always end up picking up a special treat or two when I come in for the food because they have so many enticing options– my Shar Pei goes wild for the «bully sticks» and the duck breast jerky.
We’ve also picked up a number of out-​of-​the-​ordinary toys for the pup here two, most memorably a wooden treat-​hiding puzzle, which he adores.
As for the day-​care: every time I’m in the store I peek through the divider where all the dogs are playing together and they look SO happy! It really brings joy to my heart to see a day-​care that is so clean and well cared for. I’ve seen so many places where the dogs are all standing alone in corners, but at River Dog the dogs seem really content and peaceful.

RiverDog rocks! I have been taking Langley, my high strung husky mix dog, here since September and both my dog and I could not be happier! Peter and Priscilla are so sweet and you can tell they really care about the dogs. Langley takes a while to warm up to people and new settings and the fact that she gets so excited to come here says it all. I love hearing about how social she is becoming. Peter seems very happy to see her progress and I can tell how much he cares about her comfort.
Additionally, RiverDog has a great food and toy selection and sells Taste of the Wild for both dogs and cats, so I will never need to go anywhere else for pet food.

I’m glad to have a pet store back in Union, and the owners are exceptionally nice. Gone is the smell of stanky dogs, which is what the previous business smelled of towards the end of them being open.
I went in with Ruby soon after her surgery looking for a harness, and while they didn’t have one, I found a toy. They weren’t completely open and didn’t have the credit card machines up, so they told me to come back another time. I thought that was a really positive way to start a relationship with a new customer! I went in the following weekend and paid for the toy, and bought a bottle of really nice dog shampoo that was organic and contained no sulfates. Ruby has never been shinier! I stopped in this weekend and let Ruby pick out a toy again and had a nice interactions with the owners.
I’d totally be interested in daycare services here, which I wouldn’t say about the past business that was in this space. The owners definitely love and care for pets, and I wish them the best!