If you're tired of the Costco-style experience of going to Petco, you should give Maggie's Doghouse…read morea try. Located in Downtown Hingham, the whole vibe of this place is refreshing.
There are some people who work at pet supply places as a job, and then there is Kathy who clearly runs the place out of love. I hear the owner Kim is just as passionate. I've been there twice when Kathy was tending shop, and I've seen several owners bring their dogs in, and they all love Kathy. Btw, Maggie is the name of Kim's dog.
Need a really cute or snazzy dog collar or leash? They've got a great selection.
Need some primo chow for your obedient family member (obviously not talking about the hubby or the kids)? So, I went shopping for something special for this little pug that's addicted to eggs (hard-boiled), sausage, and Dingo sticks, and Kathy suggested this chow made by a company called Earthbound.
Well, since dogs are derived from wolves, I figured that the Bison meal would be a good bet. A note about this pug, she's got a refined palate. Translation: she's not going to eat just any slop that I put in front of her.
Also, this pug's got some street swag. That's why my nickname for her is Notorious P.U.G.
For the first couple of days, she would sniff around but she never actually tried it. Then once she did take a bite, she became addicted to it. How addicted? I'd run these little experiments where I took her long-time favorite kibble bits and put them on half of a plate, and then I'd put the Earthbound Bison Meal on the other half of the plate. Every time she'd gobble down the Earthbound Bison Meal and leave the other kibbles untouched.
I'm sure that while she's eating that Earthbound stuff, her genes are kicking in and sending her all sorts of subliminal reminders of her ancestors' time roaming the Great Plains and eating bison. Yo, wait, were pugs even in America when bison used to roam the Great Plains in huge numbers?
The point is that Maggie's Doghouse carries high-quality stuff that's hard to find at your large local pet supply company or your warehouse-style shopping center. The other thing is that they have this wonderful high-end bakery display where they have all sorts of treats. I'm not much into taking pictures as those who have read my previous reviews know. But the stuff here is just too cute to accurately describe. So, I'll have to include pics with this review.
But by far and away, the really appealing aspect of this establishment is that Kathy really love dogs. Some people like dogs, some people love dogs because dogs provide them with companionship, and then there are people like Kathy who just love dogs simply because they are dogs. In other words, Kathy is a dog person who just looks to give love without the expectation of receiving it. Dogs are incredibly perceptive, and that's probably why every dog I've seen walk into that place suddenly gets all excited like a kid on Christmas morning. When I see people like Kathy, I want the place to succeed.
And it's even better because the store is so immaculate, meticulously arranged, and inviting. The fact that this is a small business is just another great reason to bring your business here.
The final great thing is the location. Whoa, they're next to Bloomy Rind, which I've also written a review about. Hey, if you're going to treat your dog, you might as well treat yourself at Bloomy Rind, and vice versa.
P.S. I gave Notorious P.U.G. the pink heart-shaped Woof treat, and she went completely nuts and gobbled it down like it was the last dog treat on earth. Kim bakes all the dog treats herself, so you know that they're made with the highest quality ingredients, and now I know where to go to get gifts whenever I visit a friend with a dog.
