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. read more

I am very happy I discovered river dog day ! My 4 month old golden loves coming here!! She plays all day and the staff is wonderful! She also is being gently trained. Love them!!! read more

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. read more

My puppy loves coming here...she gets so excited as soon as we walk in! Her tail is wagging like crazy and she runs to greet all of the staff. My 8 month old pup goes to day care here once a week and we will be taking her more often in the Fall. The staff is great and I feel at ease leaving my dog in their care. read more

The best! I've had nothing but great experiences with riverdog. The staff is incredible and clearly enjoy dogs. Our dog has been a regular for over a year and we highly recommend Riverdog! read more

Our dog loves RiverDog. The Union Square location is extremely convenient and the staff is always very friendly. We have a rescue dog that was very timid when we first got her. However, she really warmed up to the staff at RiverDog and always gave lots of tail wags and kisses to everyone there! Some days they literally had to pick her up and carry her out since she didn't want to leave daycare. The pricing is very reasonable and our dog obviously loves the place. We highly recommend!! read more

We LOVE this place! After our visit we found great products, a good vibe, and a safe environment . OHHHH.. and the fact they're in the square and open 7AM-7PM is ideal!!! read more

Dog day care at its finest. Our dog is always exhausted but happy after and dragging to get in, staff knows our names and work with him on commands. couldnt ask for more. also good (but expensive) stuff in the store. read more

Our dog, Wilson, has been going to RiverDog since Peter & Priscilla opened many years ago. They do an amazing job there and their love for animals really shows! I would highly recommend stopping in to check Riverdog out for Doggy Daycare & also all your pet supplies. Thanks RiverDog! read more

My dog and I love River Dog! The staff is wonderful - really knowledgeable about dogs in general and the likes and dislikes of each dog that comes to day care. I feel very comfortable leaving my dog with them. And my dog can't get in the building fast enough! When she sees that we've pulled-up to River Dog, she wants to jump out of the car immediately and join her friends! If you're looking for dog daycare, definitely check-out River Dog (my dog has played at the Somerville and Peabody locations and loves them both!). read more

I came here for my pup's summer grooming and can't say I'm completely a fan. When I first checked in with my paperwork, the woman didn't ask/tell me anything about how long or what I wanted for the cut. I had to ask her these questions as she began to slowly walk away with my dog. Three hours later I call to check on my dog, and they say he's done and I need to get him as soon as possible. I asked what time they closed and she responded, "You can't just leave him here. You have to get him as soon as possible." Following up with a list of reasons as to why and I had to cut her off letting her know I'd be there soon, I was just curious. But my pup came out pretty and he wasn't terrified like he normally is when he comes out from Petsmart's grooming salon. I did have to trim his backside more when we got home. $50 for 3 hours... eh. Anyways, all the other reviews are 5 stars so maybe I just came on an off day. Probably going to try another place before coming back here. read more

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! read more

This place is awesome. They're still only just opened, but the owners are super friendly and if you don't see something you are looking for, they are more than happy to look into stocking it! My partner requested cloud star's buddy biscuits as well as a different dog bed (one without straw because of my allergies), and the biscuits were at the store within a week, and the bed a week and a half! Did I mention the fact they are reasonably priced for food and treats, as well as daycare and toys? My partner and I use the daycare currently, and feel that Peter and Priscilla care for our pup just as we would. The pup loves them (almost as much as his real parents, which makes me mildly jealous), and comes home happy and sleepy, which makes for happy owners. We have had some concerns about the pup (some food and toy possessiveness), but Peter and Priscilla know how to handle dogs, so there hasn't been any issues. There is also a very distinct transparency within their business. When my partner stopped by for the first time, Peter actually took the time to show her around the entire store, including the daycare center along with the renovated upstairs grooming area. Peter was very willing to show a potential customer around just on the first day. This store is also looking to be involved in the community; they attended the Memorial Day parade with SomDog, and seem to be looking to make other connections with members of the dog-owning community in Union Square and throughout. These are good peoples, and here's to hoping they'll be around for a long while! read more

We started brining our 7month old puppy here in the past month for occasional daycare, and he seems to love it there. As the other reviews say, the owner is really nice and I am confident that our pup is in a clean and safe environment. When we pull up to the door he gets excited and runs up the stairs, and he doesn't even give it a second thought that he's being left there! read more

I have been taking my pup to Riverdog since it opened. The owners are the nicest, warmest people, as are the staff. My dog is so excited to attend daycare, she bounds up the stairs and gives wags and kisses to everyone she sees. After a day at Riverdog she is always exhausted. I highly recommend the daycare! read more

Our dog has been going to Riverdog for daycare for over a year now starting when he was a puppy. He LOVES Riverdog and goes absolutely bonkers every time we show up! The staff is always smiling and ready to greet our pup with a welcome treat! I feel that our dog is in excellent hands as you can tell the staff really loves all the dogs and treats them like they would their own animals. Overall the facility appears to be kept clean and I've never seen it overcrowded. There isn't an outside area for the dogs to play like they have at the Peabody location, but I don't think our dog even cares!! Prices are competitive for the area and they offer discounts if you buy packages. Location is super convenient for drop off/pick-up right in Union Square. There aren't any cameras that you can log into to spy on your dog during the day, but It's a trade off I'm willing to make because our dog has received far superior care at Riverdog than he has at some of the other "boutique-y" doggy day care facilities. read more

Riverdog is just amazing. Peter and Priscilla are not only unbelievably nice, but also incredibly knowledgable about pets and all the products in their store. Within one visit they had learned me and my dogs names and took an interest in his development. The store is great. Lots of wonderful healthy treats, toys and pet accessories. They helped me choose the proper harness for my dog and gave me a lot of helpful information (and samples) of the various food choices. Daycare is also great. The dogs are fully supervised every single minute and they separate dogs based on size and personality. My little guy is still a puppy and they have made a tremendous effort to help him socialize. Finally, Riverdog is staffed by extremely knowledgable people. Every step of my puppy's development they have given helpful advice and feedback. I had far more luck training my dog with Peter's suggested techniques than with those offered by an expensive dog trainer. I could go on and on. Bottom line: if you have a dog or cat - go to Riverdog. read more

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. read more

Riverdog is a great asset to dog (and cat) lovers in and around the area, and a vast improvement over the previous business that was in this space. You can tell immediately that Peter and Pricilla care about and love dogs, and know how to run a good business for pets. They have a really nice groomer, excellent daycare and great products in the store. What more could a pet lover ask for? read more

I took (my at the time 4 month old puppy) there for a puppy 101 class at the recommendation from a friend. 4 months later, she attends daycare there 3 days a week, I buy her food, treats, and toys from them. Even my cats food now comes from them. All I have to do is mention the owners name to my puppy and she gets all excited, she lays nicely in the back seat of the car until we turn on the street and then she is bouncy and wagging her tail, and dragging me in the dog ready to go play with the other puppies and staff. I love the owners, and they love their puppies, I can not recommend this place enough for all you pets needs. read more

There really isn't a single bad thing I have to say about this place. Plain and simple; if you own a pet in and around Union square, it's in your best interest to check out this place for your supplies. read more

We've been taking our Samoyed puppy to RiverDog for two months now. I can't say enough great things about the attentive staff there; they are so loving, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and organized with our dog. I rarely take the time to write Yelp reviews, but this is such a lovely place. As someone who is actively working on having a well-trained dog - I actively choose a smaller facility because the dogs are very well watched so as to be given a structured, secure environment with enforced rules. I read one review I felt it was important to respond to - I've always felt supported, never ever judged; all the great care and support is a lot of the reason we entrust our pup there. A side note: the puppy classes with Melissa are wonderful too; his loose leash walking is night and day since the basic manners class (which isn't even over yet!). read more

I was nervous given the difficulty of finding reputable dog walking/daycare services and the reputation of the business that was in the space previously, but I have used the daycare services at Riverdog and have been very pleased with their services. I got a rescue dog who desperately needed to be socialized, both with people and other dogs. And in full disclosure, I also get terrible dog mother guilt about leaving him all day. Riverdog is open early enough that I can walk my dog there in the morning and then hop on the bus to work right after. Because they have not been open that long there are not that many other dogs at daycare (the first time he was the only dog!), but I think with time that will change. And that just meant that my dog got all the attention! My dog was very nervous the couple times I went in there to check it out and drop off the paperwork for daycare, but by his 2nd time at daycare, he was wagging into the owner's waiting arms. He only goes once a week to once every other week, but I see him probably going more as the weather gets colder and it starts to get darker out earlier. Very fair pricing, I got a discount for buying a bulk of daycare appointments. read more

My pooch has been attending daycare here regularly for a year and he absolutely LOVES it. He is never more excited than when he realizes it is a Riverdog day. Plus he is so tired by the end of the day that if I'm not fast he'll crawl into his crate and go to sleep before I get a chance to take his collar and lead off. The staff are not only friendly and knowledgeable, they genuinely seem to enjoy being with the dogs. It is such a comfort to have this wonderful place close by for those days when I know he needs to get some extra energy out. read more

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. read more

Have been taking our nervous, shy rescue of a dog here for over a year now and have noticed a huge change in her personality for the better. She is too pooped to party when she gets back, but that's why we are paying! It is definitely expensive, but worth it if your pup is a furry family member. read more

i creepily stalked reviews for doggie daycare because i am a nervous wreck about the idea of leaving my puppy alone. riverdog has changed that. frankly, my dog would rather be there than with boring old me. she freaks out every time she goes, and is exhausted for days. they are super nice there and have a great set-up, and they don't have those weird rules that make me uncomfortable where you aren't allowed to see the dogs at play without calling ahead. they are clearly comfortable with owners seeing what goes on there, which is the high watermark for me. read more

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. read more

I cannot possibly rate or recommend RiverDog highly enough. It is one of the most amazing, extraordinary businesses I've ever had the unique pleasure of dealing with. They are professional, courteous, nice, helpful, and enthusiastic. Their services consistently exceed even my highest expectations. Most importantly, my 11 month old German Shepherd (whose opinion tends to rule, whether I like it or not) LOVES and ADORES RiverDog and is always, always, always excited to be there. read more

I have known Peter & Pris for many years and they are excellent with animals and will give them all personal attention. They have been very responsible pet owners and I wish them all the best in the new shop. read more

I took my anxious rescue dog to get his first grooming here at River Dog and I was thoroughly impressed. They were so helpful when we were making the appointment (I had tried to go to another groomer down the street from me but the customer service was horrible.) and on the day of. After dropping off the dog, we got a call about 2 hours later and found a very clean, soft, great smelling, happy dog. We now have a great groomer and would highly recommend to anyone! read more

I love this place. I'm moving out of town but will continue to come here for my dog's food. The owner is so knowledgeable! I was describing my dog and he instantly understood her background and dietary needs. I was also impressed that while I was there, he was teaching a couple how to teach their dog to walk on the leash. He's really amazing, helpful, honest, and informative. read more

The top dogs shop here. Literally, the Guide Dogs, the world's most elite and well-trained dogs, shop here. Or at least, mine do. I just pay for their purchases. I have two Labrador Guide Dogs, as boisterous in play and fun as they are serious in work. I found River Dogs on Yelp after hunting fruitlessly through the Boston Petcos and Petsmarts for toys and equipment that could stand up to the abuse my dogs put things through. I got sick and tired of asking Petco employees for very specific things that expert dog handlers ask for all the time: a good sturdy waterproof jacket, toys that won't fall apart after much abuse and have pieces chewed off, healthy high value treats, a backpack that is as comfortable as it is functional for my dog to wear under her harness... The Petco employees usually had almost no ideas and the things they did suggest were generic: Kongs, Pawz and other things I already own that I want to supplement. I was skeptical of trying this place though, as neighborhood pet stores usually fall short of my super high expectations. I called ahead, told them a few of the things I was looking for, and when I walked in, the sales associate already had things out and ready for me to touch and try on my dog. There were lots of dogs in back barking and playing and seemingly having a wonderful time at day care. ONe of them was working with an employee, either training or socializing. The woman assisting me was patient, showed me how to use unfamiliar products, read me labels, gave her knowledgeable recommendations,, and was friendly and competent and businesslike when handling my Guide Dog. Several other customers came in to drop off dogs or have their pets' nails trimmed. Each time, the sales associates greeted the dogs by name, and said hello to the owners. It was truly a show of why we humans walk at the back end of the leash. It's all about the dogs here. Which, in a store like this, is how it should be. They cared for the wellbeing of my dog and I as a team, and were careful to select products that will serve my guide well in her travels and will stand up to her rough play and chewing. She takes work hard, play hard to the enth degree, and her toys are how she burns off a long stressful day guiding me around the noisy, bustling Boston streets. I find toys here that wouldn't be in your average chain pet store, toys that make dogs think, and work to solve problems, and stimulate them, mind and body. My dog is relaxed and focused after a good play session with the toys I found here, and i'm sure that in future, this will be her favorite store! If it's good enough for the top dogs on earth, all dogs should go here! And bring their humans to foot the bill. Side Note: I didn't use their day care services, but I did note that there was always someone interacting with and watching the dogs in the back, someone who cares and is kind and loves what she's doing. Dogs are loved here. It's a safe, happy place for them. I wouldn't bring my dog near any place I felt wasn't the best, since my dog is my safety, and if something happens to my dog, I'm up a creek. My dog is an extension of my body, and I would definitely feel comfortable having my dogs cared for here. read more

Stopped in to River Dog yesterday to purchase some food for my new rescue dog a mini Schnauzer named Pepper. In the course of conversation with the owner about his pulling on the leash and how unpleasant it was for both dog and owner to take a walk he suggested the Sense-ation No Pull Dog Harness. Peter told me if I brought Pepper in he would fit him for the correct harness. So I went back home and grabbed Pepper and brougt him back for a fitting. Not only did Peter fit the harness he gave me a lesson both inside and outside the store showing me the correct way to use the harness. What amazing customer service! The difference in walking with Pepper was immediate. When my stepson took him for a walk later in the day he said the same thing it was a miraculous difference. Pepper and I met Dennis the mascot cat (he really is more like a dog) and some of the dogs in day care. I want him to go to day care because he is so high energy, but was told by another facility (after a 5 minute evaluation) that he seems like a dominant aggressive dog and they would not accept him. Peter told me he feels Pepper may actually be fine in day care and told me that they require a half-day (not 5 minute) evaluation where the gradually introduce a new dog into the pack. I will definitely be taking him up on his evaluation offer as soon as we complete a training course, (already paid for or I would get my training at River Dog.) I highly recommend this facility for all of your dog's needs! read more