No Bones About It

My man Murray has spent his days at No Bones since he was a young pup. The crew here is very chill, and I appreciate their flexibility. I’m a pretty consistent offender of pick-​up time… but annoying as I’m sure that is when they are trying to vacuum and get out of there, they are still always friendly. I’ve also gotten a lot of useful advice from the staff on everything from grooming to food to boarding services. When I picked Murray up tonight I thought it was so nice that they gave all the dogs Christmas doggy bags with their names printed on them with a toy and treats. No bones is affordable, convenient, and trustworthy. Highly recommended!

I dunno… Today when I went to pick up my dog I saw workers there yelling at the dogs to shut up and I watched another worker push a dog so hard that it lost it’s balance. I wondered why it was so silent when I got there, then I saw that there were at least 20 dogs there. One barked at me, and it started a cascade… that’s when the yelling, «shut up!» started. The dogs were obviously scared to make a sound.
If that’s what they do when an owner is there, what do they do when the owners aren’t there? I wish I got the push/​yelling on video… I’ll leave my camera on next time. If they’re not being nice to dogs, they should get new jobs. We bring our dogs to daycare because we love them, not because we want them screamed at.

I’ve been bringing my 8 month old puppy to No Bones About It for a month or so and have nothing but wonderful things to say about Ingrid and her wonderful devotion to her pups! My puppy, Kalliope, knows when we’re driving towards No Bones and starts getting excited in the car as soon as she figures out where we’re going. She comes home completely exhausted and sleeps for a day afterwards! She also comes home smelling fresh and clean as if she’s gotten a bath (I know she hasn’t but wow). Ingrid really cares about her dogs and does a great job with mine and the others! It’s a small space but I guarantee you, your pup will come home totally spent! She charges $ 25 and has drop off at 7:30 and pick up at 6:30 which I think is a bargain compared to other places in the area.

I really can’t say enough good things about the staff at No Bones. When I drop my pup there for daycare, she wants «in» so badly I can hardly hang on to the leash. And it’s clear they adore her in return. These are true, knowledgeable «dog» people who know how to manage the pack while also paying attention to each individual dog — that much is clear in the conversations I have with them when I pick up my lil’ girl. In short, I trust them. I trust their judgment. And I am totally grateful for the positive role they play in my dog’s life. It is true what other reviewers say: the space isn’t huge. But as the owner of a high-​energy, 10-​month puppy, I can tell you that a great environment full of friendly, social dogs, awesome people, and plenty of activity is more than enough to ensure your dog comes home happy, healthy, and tired as all get-​out!

I had a bit of a mixed experience with No Bones. I would have loved to use No Bones for daycare, since the business is just three blocks from me, it would have been very convenient. But I opted out. I sometimes pass their walkers on the street when I am walking my dog and it is a mixed bag. Some of the walkers seem to really love dogs, some, not so much, hurrying up them up. And when I have purchased dog food the, I found some of the staff there pretty surly. I think No Bones would be ok for small dogs, but I cannot imagine how a big dog would fare in that small space.
Ironically (to one of the previous posters), we ended up using Beantown Bed and Biscuit for the past year. And I absolutely love everything about that place. Interesting how one place works for some owners and dogs, and not for others.

After having hands-​down the worst experience with the Beantown Bed & Biscuit, I turned to No Bones About It for my dog’s daycare. Remind me why I ever went anywhere else?
This place is great – no bones about it. They gave my dog an evaluation (which B³ didn’t do) and he met all the other dogs before he was allowed for daycare.
After meeting Christina once, she remembered my name, my dog, and everything I told her. You can see her genuine love for animals, and that love is seen throughout the staff.
The dogs get walked multiple times throughout the day, and at other places you’d have to pay $ 10 just to do this. It’s also almost half of what the other places (looking at you, B³) cost at only $ 25 a day, with other specials for return doggies.
Is No Bones About It a «smaller» space? Yes. There’s no use denying it.
Does No Bones About It handle the smaller space well? Yes.
I didn’t feel like it was overcrowded or that my dog wasn’t getting enough attention. When I dropped him off, his face LIT UP, like it was doggy Christmas. All the other canines are well-​behaved like him and got along well, and even though my guy is fourteen, the others accepted him into what I jokingly call «the pack.»
There are beds for the dogs to sleep on and they all seemed to be there when I picked him up at the end of the day. Each one looked happy and relaxed, and I actually had to drag my dog away. Very different from the stone-​faced look I’d get from him out of other Brookline daycares.
Christina gave me a full report on what he did that day and ended it by saying, «He’s always welcome back.» What a sigh of relief for me, a girl who worries about her pup ²⁴⁄₇ and wants only the best.
Is your dog well-​behaved? Are you looking for affordable daycare? Do you love friendly service? Great dog handlers? Ensuring your dog gets a walk?
Head on over to No Bones About It.

I LOVE «No Bones About It». I have been taking my dogs there since the day they opened, which is well over 10 years ago. I have always been accomodated regarding my dogs needs, whether it was giving them meds, feeding them, etc. I had a Rottweiler named Nikki who loved going there until she passed away at 11 years old. I now have another Rotti named Callie who is 6, and she has been going there since she was a puppy. I use the daycare and grooming services and I highly recommend them. Nikki and Callie have always come home smelling and looking great after grooming, and completely tired after a full day of daycare, which is great, especially after a full day of work. The staff is wonderful, and the owner Karen is awesome. I also purchase my food, treats, and toys there. They have a great selection of quality items. I have always been impressed with the information I get regarding the different foods, and what is best to feed my Rottweiler. I can say that we have never had a bad experience at No Bones About It.

I have taken my dog there to get his nails trimmed a few times, then groomed, and finally day care. He’s older (7) and had never been in a day care situation before, but seemed depressed when we moved and I figured I’d try it out. It’s a quick walk from my apt and I can hop on the T to work right after, so it’s really convenient. The staff is usually pretty friendly and accommodating. I’ve had a couple of days where I feel like I am invisible, but I think that’s true of any business. It’s not a lot of fluff, but it’s exactly what dogs need: to be in a pack. And here they spend the day doing dog stuff with other dogs, going on walks, and being a pup. It’s perfect. My dog has been noticeably less stressed since he started coming here, he LOVES «going to school,» and it makes me feel a thousand times better knowing that he’s happy. I think the price is maybe slightly higher than what I would expect, but it’s definitely on par with other doggy day cares and not unreasonable by any stretch. And it’s worth it to see my pooch so happy.

I highly recommend No Bones About It to all the dog parents out there! My small dog Duncan has been going to doggie daycare since the second day we rescued him (which was over a year ago). All the staff at No Bones are super friendly and genuinely care for the dogs — they have become like Duncan’s second family. Duncan goes to daycare three times a week for 10 – 11 hours and gets ridiculously excited when I take him inside — he has made so many doggie friends there and is always exhausted by the time I pick him up.
I really appreciate the hard work that the staff put in to ensure that Duncan and all the other dogs have a great and safe time while their parents are at work /​busy. Prices are the lowest you will encounter in the Brookline area, and quality is in my opinion the best you will get!

This review is for grooming services only, I have never used the daycare service.
I have taken my Maltese mix here probably 10 – 15 times. It is the only place I have had her groomed since I moved to Boston in 2009. They always worked with accommodating my schedule (I would drop her off first thing in the morning when they open and pick her up at 2 as I explained to them I work at 3, this gave them 6 hours to work with). I would always remind them of this deal when I made her appointments and they always held their end of the bargain. Her first 3 – 4 cuts were very mixed, I never got her back looking the same. Some times she was completely naked and others she would just have too much hair in some places (too much hair still on her head and ears). I always asked for the puppy cut. Regardless I stuck with them and they got it right after a certain point. However my most recent grooming experience with them will be my last. I made an appointment which was two weeks out from when I called — they had never had that long of a wait before but I waited as this was «our place». They called my emergency contact person (my sister) at around 12 wanting to know if she could be picked up later because they were busy — she let them know that no one else would be available to get her and she needed to be ready for 2pm and reiterated that it was for a work schedule. I have no idea how they lost my number. I came to pick her up at 1:55 and she was on the table being cut and wasnt even half way done. Of course then she started cooperating less for the groomer when she saw me come in, and the groomer seemed irritated about it, but I was irritated they were going to make me late to work! The cut was very uneven and clearly was hurried. I think we finally walked out at about 2:25 — 2:30. The staff member at the register was apologetic and thanked me for waiting, but that didn’t help the fact I was late to work and had to hear it from my boss. At the end of the day it was still $ 56 for my 10lb dog (cant imagine what they charge for big dogs!) and there are other businesses in the area that I will be trying instead.

I can only comment about their doggy daycare service which I have used extensively in the last couple of years of getting our dog. Initially I had some reservations about this place which seemed a tad small for the number of dogs they keep. But then I realized that dogs are ridiculously happy jostling over each other in a small space (at least mine is). When my dog comes back home from No Bones, he is so tired of playing that he sleeps for 12 hrs straight.
They are very conveniently located. Their prices are very reasonable (cheaper than most other places). The owner (Ingrid) knows all the dogs by name and so do their staff. They genuinely love dogs and you can see it.
I highly recommend them for doggy daycare.

No Bones has an acceptable, standard level of service for what you get. They’re conveniently located and have a pretty decent selection of food, including some raw and frozen diets. You can also drop your doggie at the last minute for a reasonably priced daycare.
For one, they really do a great job with grooming. My long-​haired toy has never been cut short, and I was convinced to give a teddy bear /​puppy cut a try to make her more comfortable in the summer. When I picked my baby up, she had never looked so darling! She smelled great for over a month, and some folks thought she was a whole new dog. Plus she left with a cute little bandana and the groomer was very sweet with my doggie and didn’t show an ounce of frustration when I was late picking her up.
Daycare is essentially a no-​frills, indoor area where the dogs are walked a few times (2 or 3?) a day. Twinkie the kid (as another reviewer called him) gets easily annoyed with customers, but he’s gentle and sweet with the dogs, calling them «babies» or «girls» or «sweeties» while they’re circling the block. The gal with the mohawk is the most competent and often jumps in when other walkers get frustrated with the animals or can’t manage the register and the dogs at the same time.
One bad thing that I did witness — and I will be very, very, VERY careful about over-​exaggerating or letting this get misconstrued — is seeing the male dog walker (middle aged guy with the thick Boston accent) «kick» two dogs to separate them and keep them from fighting.
This was not a hard kick to inflict pain, but one given out of frustration on a day when the big dogs were going after each other aggressively and they were clearly over capacity for pups. I was a little horrified, but probably about the same you might feel about seeing a very frustrated parent «lose it» with their kids. I thought it was inappropriate.
Aside from this, a so-​so daycare service, average customer service, average selection in the store, and really solid grooming.

It’s ok

Excellent Service! No Bones About That!
We’ve brought our mini schnauzer puppy here a few times for grooming. We used to live pretty close by, but now we drive into Brookline just to bring him here. They’ll usually keep him for a few hours, which is nice because we have enough time to run some errands. They do an excellent job and take all our requests for how he should be groomed.
My favorite part is that Clubber comes back smelling SO GOOD. Normally he just smells like a dog, but whatever shampoo they use leaves him smelling nice and fresh!
I’m giving 4 stars because this is the only groomer we’ve taken him to, and this is our first dog. I can’t imagine they get much better than this though!

I had been grooming my 7 year old maltese myself to save money for the last year and finally coudn’t make her beautiful body look so messed up anymore. I called No Bones About It and was hesitant being the nervous mom that I am having read some of the reviews. They were beyond polite, had her finished and looking beautiful under my time table and she was beyond happy when I picked her up! the stress had been relieved.
On top of it, I had recalled reading a review of a «teenage looking girl» which I suspect was Jenny, the adorable person who took care of my little baby. As someone who got told this morning I look 10 years younger than I am, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. She was beyond professional and was amazing with Chanel. I highly recommend her and am a loyal follower.

I have been having my dog groomed here for 9 years. The owner and staff are very professional and I am always pleased with the way my bichon (Teddy) looks after he’s been groomed. Recently I adopted a small dog (Molly) from Angell and she accompanied my bichon and together they came out looking wonderful! They did the puppy cut on Molly, and the folks at Angell thought she looked terrific after her beauty makeover. I see the employees walking the dogs in the neighborhood all day, mostly one dog at a time. For grooming with No Bones there is one price but I’ve been told that at Petco they break down every little charge — so the ad might say one price but when you add shampoo, conditioner, blow dry, etc you really end up paying a lot more than you expected.
No Bones Daycare is fine and for the average city dog it beats sitting in a crate, all alone in an empty apt/​house, for hours until someone walks them for 30 minutes and then puts them back in the crate until their family comes home. Yes, at times they «stare through the wire fence,» but they interact with other dogs and people all day. For city dogs, it’s a pretty good life to spend it at No Bones. Do dogs get injured? Nothing has ever happened to mine and I have never heard of any dogs being injured. Children get injured at Daycare — these are all living beings we’re talking about here. My son was bitten in preschool by another preschooler so accidents can happen.

I like No Bones About it. I don’t even have a dog (I have one devil cat). I dog sit for a few dogs that go to day care there. The owners seem to like it a lot.
I go there to pick up the occasional toy or treat for Potato (the cat). The staff is always really nice and give good advice if you can’t find what you are looking for.

I gave No Bones a second chance, and I was pleasantly surprised…
The people there were happy to see peppy and treated her very nicely, and I dropped her off very dirty after a romp in the park
When I picked her up, the groomer said how good she had been and how sweet she was…
There were no problems, the cut was perfect, and my mind has been changed

I brought the love of my life aka my chihuahua mix Pepe to get his nails cut here. I called earlier in the day and was able to get an appointment at 2 pm, but was told in an irritated voice «DO NOT COME LATE WHEN I HAVE DAY CARE PICK UP». I should have stayed away after this.
Its a 5 minute walk from my apartment and at the time I didn’t have a car. The girl behind the counter looked like she was 15, and when I told her I was there to have my dog’s nails cut, she took him in her arms. I assumed she was going to give him to the groomer or someone who has experience in dealing with dogs, but she ended up cutting his nails right in front of me!
While you may think cutting a dog’s nails doesn’t take skill or experience your wrong. If the nail is cut too short, it can cause the nail to bleed and a dog can actually die from this. I was shocked that a teenager was put in charge of this.
I’ve started going to the groomer at Petco in Brighton on Western Ave., and feel more comfortable bringing my dog there. I usually have to book appointments farther in advance, but its worth it.
PS I’m shocked that No Bones has «day care» as it mainly is a small caged area in the back where large and small dogs are put together… I’ve been to other doggie day cares and they usually separate the dogs based on size

I walk in the store and the staff is so RUDE!
I had more then one negative experience… First they charged me $ 35 the first time I had my shih tzu groomed and $ 60 the second time! On top of that they wanted to charge me and extra $ 17 to let my dog have «daycare» instead of be caged while he waited for me to pick him up after! I mean the place is TINY and they have way too many dogs. The grooming table area no more then 6×10ft is were the «daycare» dogs are kept, while they groom more dogs. Behind that is a 6x5ft space that houses more dogs. the staff has to step over them! One is better off paying a service to pick up their dog and take it to a field.
What really bothered me was how poor the customer service is (the older staff/​owners), especially when it comes to animal lovers you want to make sure your leaving your loved ones with the right people.