Especially for Pets

Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. My pooch loves coming in! They’ve become my main point for purchasing doggie goodies.

Not often I get motivated to write a review for a pet store, but Especially for Pets has become my exception. Here is why. I recently bought some dog food for my best buddy and it didn’t agree with him. I bought the big bag too. I took it back to the store and the Assistant Manager Mary took care of me. She didn’t argue, she didn’t question, she just asked me if my dog was okay and she even came around the counter and gave him some love. You can tell this woman loves her job and the pets that come through the front door. She explained to me the difference in dog foods (and there is a big difference) and she steered me towards the food he should be eating. She knew her stuff and I couldn’t have been more impressed with the way she handled the return. I know this does not sound like that big of deal, but in this day and age of substandard customer service it is so REFRESHING to find someone who is outstanding at their job. I know there are other pet stores out there… after today there is only one store for me and my dog Beau. Thank you Especially for Pets… keep up the great work.

Only the best for my Dogs. This is my favorite neighborhood store, not just pet store but store. What makes it the best is it’s an ‘Old School’ run business. Here’s what that means… you are greeted by name and so is your dog (because they know you both) they do special favors for you like write up your dogs grooming schedule and text it to you when you forget, the staff is polite and actually help you find what you need. They clearly like where they work. Colby, the Manager is great, professional and somehow she finds the best quality people to work for her (maybe it’s because she’s great and professional). The store is always immaculate and offers everything (quality not junk) you need to care for your pets. They will make educated recommendations. The store has cat adoption days, bunny things, dogs get togethers, animal awareness and fundraisers, they have trainers and classes and it’s a very fun busy store.
The grooming by Laura and Tom is superior yet relaxed and my dogs are happy when I get them and look and smell great. My little dogs are groomed every 3 weeks, I never worry about anything when I leave them at Especially for Pets. Sometimes I run late, no worries, the staff will deal (take my dogs out for a wee) and check on them until I get there.

Great store — always friendly and informative staff available to help answer questions. Many of them pet owners, they can speak from experience regarding some of the items in their store.
For bones, games and chewies they have an excellent selection. I don’t have my dog on a raw diet, but I think they cater to the raw diet customers quite well from what I hear. I don’t have a cat, so I can’t really speak to that.
They keep their shelves very well stocked, I’ve never come in to find they’ve run out of something. They were also open during one of this winter’s harsh snowstorms, which was super helpful for people like me who just don’t tend to plan well! They offer to help carry large bags of dog food to my car.
I am excited to maybe do some obedience training here too with my big bulky lab/​pyr mix. After such a long winter, it’ll be good to get her around some other dogs in a supervised setting.
Keep up the great customer service, clean store, and great selection of food, toys, treats, grooming, leashes, solution-​based items, etc.

Everyone here is super nice, friendly, and helpful. The worst thing I can say about this store is that some of the customers are d-​bags, but given the location that’s to be expected. They don’t always have the products we’re looking for, but they have a lot of great deals (it’s their 25^th Anniversary year-​long celebration right now, so there are awesome sales pretty much all year, I think).
We also take puppy obedience classes here and those are PHENOMENAL! Seriously, our trainer is the best! We love her, she’s amazing, and we enjoy everyone at the store. I do wish it were bigger, or the lawn outside were fenced in because traffic is crazy and not safe for pets at all.
Also, we’ve been to other Especially for Pets locations, and the Wayland store is by far a standout. While location/​size isn’t always the greatest, the staff makes all the difference.

We started going here when our dog was a pup. Our lab, Maggie, has food allergies and can’t have any chicken or chicken by-​products. Adam is extremely knowledgeable about the different dog food options. He even gave me some samples so I could see what she liked before buying a large bag of food. They are incredibly helpful whenever I have had a question. I also like that they give rescue groups space to show pets for adoption. Maggie loves to go visit with me!

I’ve been shopping here as long as they have been in business. They have been a great resource for pet food suggestions, both for my dogs and my kitty. I switch protein sources for the dogs every 6 months. I tried a seafood variety a few months ago and one dog wouldn’t eat it. Finally he was hungry and did then subsequently threw up. come to find some dogs just don’t tolerate seafood. they let me return the entire bag (my other dog loved it!) for full credit and suggested an alternative. Always helpful staff there., Adam is just full of information for both dogs and cats. Yes, some of their things are more expensive but their selection and service more than make up for it. they also offer some dog training classes and there are rescue groups that have their kitties for adoption there as well.

Very friendly staff, plenty of parking, upscale atmosphere. We adopted our first cat there, so we are partial to this place. However, I would like to point out a few things for the value conscience fellow shoppers.
The price of premium wet/​dry cat food they offer in this store is similar to Whole Foods and likes. However, some cat toys are nearly double the price than their competitors (Home Goods, Target).
Since this is our first cat, we bought all our items here, including toys, brushes, mats, etc. When I saw exactly the same mats and brushes costs half at Target, I cannot help but feeling a little let down, I don’t mind paying premium since it is a premium store compare to Home Goods and Target, but paying double, it feels like a little over the top. I don’t regret spending a lot in this store in the past few months because we appreciate their afford of supporting local charity organizations. However, I’ll probably visit them much less in the future.
Overall, a very good place to shop.

Great place to pick up your pet supplies. They use the space for rescue groups as well. Take you dog in on a short lead. They’re welcome, and will probably get a treat from the friendly staff.
When my elkhound ran away she ran TO this place.

Cute, clean little store with friendly & helpful employees. They have the best little spider toy that the kitty’s LOVE that we can’t get at Petco.
Lots of parking too!

I really like all the staff at the Wayland location. They are always very helpful and knowledgeable. There are usually one or two dogs that are «working» there as well and the staff are always very nice to my kids and let them give the dogs treats and have them come out from behind the counter for my kids to pet the dogs. My 4 year old was so attached to one of the dogs, Georgia, that he would talk about her all the time to the point that people thought he was talking about our dog — when she passed away a few months ago my son was devastated and still says how he misses her every time we buy food there.
I cannot give a review on any of their services as I just buy food, treats and toys for our dog there but I know many people give the trainer in the Sudbury store rave reviews. I have heard people say that the prices are expensive but I think that the food prices are in line with the big box stores and I’d much rather support a local business. They offer a rewards program as well.

I have been to the Especially for Pets in Wayland, Canton, and Newton, and the Wayland store is by far the best location in terms of layout, merchandise in stock, and helpful service. They have an excellent selection of premium dog foods, treats, toys, and other pet supplies. They also have a reward card type program that creates a savings account for you with each purchase so that you can eventually put your savings toward a discount on a future purchase.

I really respect this store. Not only do they sell excellent products and give good service, but they are very committed to helping all the local animal rescue groups.

I’ve only been in there 3 – 4 times. They do have better quality food brands than the usual petco and petsmart. There are also some interesting treats and toys as well. My experience with the staff is varied. A couple times, the staff was very courteous, knowledgeable, and nice.
Another time, I asked about this «doggie bday cake» they have on the bakery display. They said it has consistency of a cake but she doesnt know what it is made out of. I bought it, and when I open it at home and try to cut it, it’s like cutting a rock. It might had a consistency of a cake, but that was probably like a few months ago. It is now stale. Good thing my dog eats anything. So it didnt go to waste. But probably wasnt worth it. Most of the stuff over there is on the more expensive side.

An excellent pet store. The variety is impressive and high-​quality and the staff is both knowledgeable and helpful. Plus if you bring in a certificate of pet adoption, they give you 10% off your purchases for a month.
Even better, they have adoptable kittens at this location every Saturday — even if you’re not able to adopt, it’s always fun to play with kittens!

2 stars, sorry meg.
so heres the scoop. we went here for approx 10 grooms, i know that cause they had a buy 9 get one free dealio, so hence 10 times. 10 very very expensive times. you catching on yet?
so whenever we bought the little guy in, well i should say after the first time, we were informed of this method. drop off the howler at 10 after 9, 15 minutes after the uppercrust would drop off their little precious and we will groom him right away. why? well it turns out our little prince a) doesnt like to be caged at a strange place and b) beagles are very vocal pups (we knew that btw be4 we got him)
so, that being said, the woman groomer did not like hearing howling for 25 minutes while all the riche woman dropped off fifi for eartrims.
ok, so speedy service, that should count huh jer? well it was quick cause they didnt do what they were charging us for. (cover your ears now kids) anal glands?! hupf! no way, they said they were done, but lo and behold when we went to the vet (which we only do now) those babies flushed out like the fat guy after three trips to the fire and ice buffet (i warned you) and the vet said, these were obv not done!
also the counter people were rarely nice to me, better to wifey, but not so nice to me for some reason. i will say their selection was there saving grace from the depths of 1 stardom.