I took my dog here a few times. She had good experience coming here. She was tired after she came home :-) The last time,I dropped her off at 8AM, I saw another small dog (I have a small dog - about 12 lbs), that was put on a crate. They let the small dog out of the crate when we came in and saw them put my dog and the other small dog in the small pen. I didnt even think anything about the crate that the small dog was in. When I came to pick up my dog at 4:15PM, she was in a crate with ANOTHER dog (the same dog I saw in the morning!!!) and the woman behind the counter tells me that "oh, she had only been in the crate with the other dog for 30 minutes." OMG!!! WTF! I pay them $30 a day and I find my dog in a crate with ANOTHER dog? And what a coincidence, the name of the place is crate escapes?! Regardless, I am not taking her there again. If you have a small dog, BEWARE, your dog could be put in a crate and youre paying them $30 a day. What a scam. read more

The Belmont place is an all-indoors facility, and has a very cooped up feeling. Not suitable for energetic large dogs. The dogs may pick up bad habits because they just let them pee on the floor. The staff is variable, some are friendly but some are not. In short, its OK for an occasional use, but I wouldn't recommend it for a regular day care facility. read more

Had a bad experience, they definitely don't follow their posted policies in terms of number of dogs per human or in terms of acclimating a new dog. Your dog deserves better care ! read more

We bring our senior dog to Crate Escape from time to time on Saturdays. The staff there are wonderful. They are very friendly and knowledgeable. The facility is clean - it is a nice temperature in both winter and summer. Our dog is a senior guy with arthritis. Crate Escape has the "retirement community" pen for older dogs. Our dog loves his time at the Crate Escape. We are confident that our pal is in good hands when he is at Crate Escape! We highly recommend them!! read more

I can't think of anything I'd change about Crate Escape -- and I tend toward picky. We have been customers for around 8 years, and have never been disappointed in the care and attentiveness shown to us and our dog. Not once! The people who work there are dedicated animal lovers, and if they don't love their work... they've fooled me for years. Our dog starts lapping the car when we arrive in the parking lot -- he is in heaven to be there both for a day and for overnights. Don't even consider using a kennel when Crate Escape is an option! read more

We've been sending our dog Buddha to Crate since April 2010. He's big, and he's young, so he's bouncy and can get into some mischief. He got very sick 4 times at his old day care - the staff wasn't watching him and he ate some hard plastic pieces which made him really sick. It made us sick too when we saw all the vet bills and the staff was less than apologetic. He hasn't had a single problem eating anything or getting sick at Crate. I feel confident that they are always watching him and taking care of my dog as if he were their own. He is happy to go and he looks disappointed when it's time to leave. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and dependable. They sell only all natural and organic food and treats and their facility is clean, big, airy and safe. Highly recommend this establishment if you want to send your dog to a safe, friendly and happy environment to tire them out and to socialize. A++ read more

I just started sending my dog there and it is great! They have a huge space with separate play areas for different size dogs. They also do pick-ups and drop-offs! The staff is great. My dog comes home *exhausted* after a day playing there. I should also mention that when I have had concerns, they have been addressed in an excellent manner. Although the place isn't perfect, they do listen and they deserve a lot of credit for that. read more

I moved to Belmont & needed just a nail trim for my 2 Dachshunds. They fit me right in with their groomer & I had it done that day. My dogs came out wagging their tails which is never the case. They were wonderful with my babies & I have been back since. They offer a lot of services including daycare. It's an awesome, clean facility & they are very knowledgeable. I am excited to try out the daycare soon. They have some great items for sale up front too & fenced in areas for the dogs to play on your way in & out. Again all very clean! It is a cool place & great people! read more

I brought my high energy dog here a few times a week while I was living in Watertown. She would come home tired and happy! I never had to worry about her being home alone for long hours. The staff is great. Sometimes I would call and check on her and they were always polite and informative. One day they even took her out of playtime because they thought she wasn't feeling well - they pay attention and notice these things and they informed me of the decision. My dog never looked back when I dropped her off in the mornings - she was always clearly very happy to be there. Now that I am moving and am looking for a doggie daycare in another city I am finding this place will be very hard, if not impossible, to beat. read more

This daycare center is AMAZING. I have a high energy boxer puppy who loves, loves, loves it here and has been going to daycare and overnights when I have to leave town. He starts wagging and panting as soon as we pull into the parking lot and drags me up the stairs when we get there. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the pups-sometimes I'll see them taking lunch outside and they'll stop me to tell me about my dog's day. When I said I needed a dog walker, even though it meant less business for them, they graciously put me in touch with someone. Even though I only see the 2 women who staff the front desk regularly (the puppy play area is off limits to non-staff to keep the dogs from working themselves into a frenzy everytime a new person walks through the door), they all seem to know the dogs and their owners by name. My pup, who is normally bouncing off the walls, comes home happy and tired. Their services are actually cheaper than alot of the other places in the area, and their facility is by far the largest and cleanest one I've seen. I've taken my pup to other daycares and this is the place I've chosen for him. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for daycare. A side note: The most important aspect of this place is that they are very serious about temperament testing. As an owner below noted, they will not accept dogs that show signs of aggression. I can see why that might be frustrating for the owners of dogs that are under-socialized and/or have aggression issues, but I am grateful that they are so diligent about screening. This policy helps to ensure that a dog with issues won't maul mine @ daycare. I've encountered a similar attitude at dog parks, where it's everyone else's responsibility to grin and bear it while their aggro dog terrorizes the other dogs that *were* romping peacefully, because it needs to be socialized-how else will it learn to play nice? These are the same owners who rarely take any responsibility when their dogs do go off and hurt someone else's pup. I hate to generalize, but I've seen it entirely too often for it to be a coincidence. With that said, it's never the dog's fault--it is an owner's responsibility to step up and help their dog. Look on yelp, find a trainer, be a strong pack leader, and accept responsibility for your dog. You can't drop an aggressive dog off @ a daycare and expect that it will solve the issue-you, as the pack leader, have to put in the effort. I've heard that Bettie Yip in Arlington is amazing. Good luck. read more

I adore the facility and the staff here. We adopted a dog recently and wanted to make sure that he would get regular socialization with other dogs. The staff here was great. I'm not sure why other people mention not being able to see the play group. When we went for the temperament test, they were happy to give us a full tour giving us a chance to even spy on our little guy playing with his new friend. We've only been a couple of times, but our pup has come back tired and happy both times. A tired puppy is a very well-behaved puppy. I'm not sure how they do it, but the staff there seem to remember every dog's name and story. It's the type of place where you know the reason they seem to care is because they actually do. Highly recommended and prices are quite reasonable when you take into consideration the level of service and quality. read more

My two year old dog LOVES this place, and is always exhausted and happy when I pick her up after her play days. I'll happily drive across town to let her run and wiggle with all the other dogs. The staff are really friendly and seem to love the dogs, and are sweet with my little pup. Its run by the same people who own Raining Cats and Dogs in uber-bougie Huron Village, so they stock hippy-bourgeoise holistic dog food and toys, etc. They also have an in-house groomer who is really sweet and did a great job when she groomed my dog. The per-hour rate might be on the pricey side, but a whole day is only $30, which is completely worth it to me. read more

WOW - the staff at Crate-Escape are wonderful. Searching for a great daycare was agonizing for us. After our pups' temperament test, we had a tour of the large play areas and met the play-yard staff. We have a very high energy lab and a much more mellow shepherd mix. The staff are sensitive to the needs of each of our kids. They are so excited when we drop them off, and they are happy, sleepy campers when they get back home. We also use their van service when we cannot pick our dogs up at the end of the day - another fantastic service! When we call, they always know our names and our pups names. We rest easy when our girls are with Crate-Escape. read more

This place is amazing!! They run it like a daycare center and they love dogs!! I have called to ask how my dog is doing and they were incredibly helpful and friendly, putting the needs of my dog at top priority. We go here two to three times a week and we probably will forever. A puppy exhausted from a day of playing is a happy puppy!!! read more

My dog LOVES coming here. He's extremely fond of the staff and is completely tuckered out when I pick him up at the end of the day. He's usually put in the back section with other high energy dogs, and although you cannot see what they are doing back there, he always comes out happy. The fenced in gravel area outside is great for cooling him down after all that play too. I can't imagine what we would do without Crate Escape. read more

I have been taking "Ruby" for 1-2 days per week for the past few months. The staff has been great. You get a little written report on your dogs day! ;) She has had some separation anxiety issues (she is rescue dog) and they have been patient dealing with her. She comes home happy and zonked. Fees seem reasonable. Only con: Wish they were open until 7pm (not 6:30pm). Owners also own Raining Cats and Dogs in Cambridge..also very cool. read more

While I'm not someone who refers to refers to herself as her dog's "mom," I *was* a little nervous about letting strangers care for my (sometimes tempermental) dog. But I would definitely recommend Crate Escape. No, the gals who check you in and out aren't super chatty, and yes it's a little on the pricey side. But my dog always seems happy to be there, and he hasn't shown any signs of trauma since I started taking him to Crate Escape. Basically, all I care about is that my dog is safe and healthy when I pick him up - and on that point they deliver. I have never seen the outdoor space, and I've only sort of peeked at the indoor space. While I wouldn't necessarily describe them as "secretive" about the facility, I understand how some dog owners would feel more comfortable taking a more extensive tour. I guess it's tough for them to give tours with all the dogs there. Again, I get the gut feeling that the place is well-run - they're just not overly anxious to allay your every fear. Again - my dog seems perfectly content to get dropped off, and is perfectly fine when I pick him up. This place is a good choice in my book. read more

My dog literally drags me up the stairs when we pull in. He loves it here! My Mastiff is my life and my best friend, so when I think to leave him somewhere for more than 8 hours a day, I have to feel confident that he is safe and well cared for. Well, the staff at Crate Escape have more than allayed my fears. Everyone there knows my dog and he is greeted warmly when we arrive. He is always pooped when I pick him up and I can tell that he enjoys the place. To those who think that the Crate is expensive, let me break it down for you. At thirty dollars a day, if you drop your pooch off at 7AM and pick him up at 6:30PM, that comes out to $2.60 per hour. Very cheap for what you get and not to take away from some very capable dog walkers, but I don't have a stranger coming into my house and it's cheaper than a dog walker. I cannot recommend Crate Escape highly enough as a place for dog lovers run by dog lovers! read more

My dog and I moved to the area from the South Shore where he went to my best friend's doggie day care. He was loved like family there and I was sure that experience was all over until I met the people at Crate Escape. My dog Mulligan is a very active and chatty (okay he growls when he plays) yellow lab. The people at Crate really understand his quirks and pair him with other dogs that "speak his language" and he could not be happier! He comes home EXHAUSTED and happy after every single visit. The only problem is that on the way home it is hard to hear the radio over the snoring from the back seat! Mulligan has also stayed overnight many times. It is so comforting to know that he is not crated and that he can curl up on a blanket or bed near his new friends or cuddle near the person on duty. Although I miss him each time I leave him for the weekend, he never looks back!! He has a fantastic time and comes home zonked, happy and healthy!!! The people at both Crate Escape and Raining Cats and Dogs are as knowledgeable as they are warm and friendly. It is great to see the owners Bradley and Stephanie expanding and growing their business because they truly care about our dogs, their staff and the community in which they live and own a business. Bring your dog(s) here! You will NOT regret it and they will LOVE you for it! read more

My dog has been at Crate Escape for over 1 1/2 years and if she could type, she'd say that she is very content. Like many people, my dog is not simply a pet, she's a member of the family and it's important for me to trust and have confidence in those who I entrust her care. I think they are as concerned for the safety and well-being of my dog as I am. They know customers and dogs by name, even if they haven't seen the human in months, and can tell you all about who your dog hangs out with in the day time. Facility: I love the new facility design. There is a lot of room and there are different areas for different size/energy dogs. My dog had to be temperament tested and I am glad they were vigilant about it. Like the previous poster, I see people at dog parks who let the dog in and then ignore what they are doing. I get the sense that bad dog behavior is not tolerated at Crate and this is for the safety of all. There is a day care near my house and the room is small and only one person is there to manage the dogs and the retail store. I love to shop there to support local merchants, but leaving my dog? No thank you. Staff: Unbelievably accommodating, kind, and understanding. I often dog sit for a friend's dog who also goes to Crate and they are flexible enough to pick up at one house and drop off at another. Schedule changes are kindly accommodated with reasonable notice. I have had friends get their dogs groomed there and they have also been thrilled with the outcome. Van: The van service timing is consistent (especially given the crazy traffic) and the drivers are really great. Now a word from my fur-faced-friend: WOOF! WOOF! read more

My dog jumps out of her crate in the car when we turn the corner...she loves this place and no matter how many other options I try, she only responds like that for Crate Escape. She really loves it there and everyone I have met is really great that works there...I have been a faithful client now for 5 years- they are really terrific! CHELLY read more

My dog loves this place so much that my husband and I can't even say the words "Crate Escape" without her going into utter excitement meltdown. That being said, we've used CE for about 2 and a half years. It's a little pricy but so worth it! She goes to play about once or twice a week and occasionally does overnights too. She's always so tired when she comes home which is super awesome because we have a very high energy Weimaraner! They clip her nails when asked and do a great job. The staff is so friendly and I can tell they are truly all animal lovers! read more

Molly LOVES spending the day here with all of her human and doggy friends. The staff has made us feel welcome from the first day. My other dog Trouble loves to visit too. He is excited to go even though he doesn't go to daycare; he loves all of the pets and cookies that he gets. And maybe excited to drop off Molly for the day so he can have a break. read more

My husband and I are very grateful to have Crate Escape in the neighborhood. We take our pup there at least once a week for a day off for us and a day of non-stop play for him. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and we feel confident leaving our dog with them. It's also very clean. And, unlike other doggy daycares I've heard of, there's never a feeling that the staff is overwhelmed by having too many dogs to care for. They also have a selection of treats and quality dog foods. read more

I frequently take care of my friend's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Not only is CE great about taking him last minute (he does a ride along with my dog on the van) but they also have groomed him a few times and as with my dog, the work is consistently good. He came back to us looking so suave and sleek, and each one of my wacky requirements (ears short, but not too short, please keep his whiskers, please make sure all his feathers on his legs and belly are gone and his tail is still plume-y but not too plume-y!) was fulfilled. I have yet to meet their groomer (which says a lot about the trust I place in Crate Escape) and she seems to get me through second hand email?! read more

Pro: My dog and I both love Crate Escape! It is great that I can drop her for a flexible amount of time. She is always excited to get there and totally wiped out when she leaves. The staff are uniformly friendly and seem to really love the dogs. Con: I noticed another reviewer mentioned not being able to watch the dogs in the play area and I agree that it would be great to watch my pup interact. They could do a one-way mirror or even just a closed-circuit TV/ webcam. read more

So the boyfriend and I always get into arguments on what type of haircut our beloved 2 year old female springer spaniel will be getting whenever it's time for her to get groomed. I prefer a very short cut so there's no fuss and very little brushing needed which is obviously not a "springer" cut. The boyfriend prefers to keep her fur longer and have the traditional cut on her which keeps her feathering long and flowy. She's half city and half country dog because of where our families live. I like it short so when she's running around with her dog relatives I won't have to spend hours bathing and brushing out ticks, burrs, and anything else that sticks to her fur. The boyfriend is appalled that she's not as traditional as her dog relatives are (his parents own our dog's biological mom and aunt). We just moved from Southie to Belmont so we were in need of a new grooming place. I called Crate-Escaped and explained my dilemna and apparently the newest grooming member owns and breeds springer spaniels! Carrieanne (hope I spelled her name accurately) did an AWESOME JOB!!!!! She gave our girl a modified springer cut where it's short on the top, head and sides but kept some of the feathering on her ears, belly and legs. We both were in love with the cut the minute we saw our girl!! Carrieanne got all the matting and tangles out of her fur and our girls coat shined so brightly plus the bonus...WE WERE BOTH HAPPY!!! No groomer has made us both happy at the same time before. And our dog was happy too which is another good sign of a great grooming place. The price was about the same as our old groomers so I was pleased to know we weren't going to be paying a boat load extra for the perfect cut. Crate-Escapes...thank you and we will be returning over and over again!!! read more

Awful grooming service. The shaved my dog down to the skin after saying that they we're going to leave two inches. I believe it was a mistake on their part that they wouldn't own up to and then tried to cover up by saying the dog had matting which he didn't.... absolutely awful experience. read more

I would love to write a review of this facility that reflects the care and attention my dog received while staying there. I'm unable to do that because Crate-Escape canceled my dog's appointment the day before he was scheduled to arrive. The woman I spoke with at the front desk claimed my dog had to attend day care prior to being boarded regardless of the fact that he had passed their 'temperament check' with flying colors. While I understand every facility has their policies, I found their decision to wait until the last minute to enforce this policy jarring and unprofessional. If you need to rely on a facility to watch your dog, please don't use Crate-Escape. read more

We shopped around a LOT before bringing our feisty Jack Russell Terrier pups to the Crate Escape. Right away, we knew we'd come to the right place. The staff are genuinely enthusiastic, real Dog People. The owner even came in especially to meet us, as she is a JRT person too. The Crate Escape is picky about who they accept, which is a good thing. They match groups of dogs by temperament. Every time we bring our dogs in, they cannot WAIT to see their little friends. When we pick them up, they fall over asleep in the car, they're so tuckered out! We know that the Crate Escape is giving them the very best care and attention. The facility is clean and pleasant, and the staff are attentive to the dogs' needs, and give full reports on the day's adventures. Highly, highly recommended. read more

I love this place! They are so wonderful, everyone is so friendly and my dog just adores going here. She is nice and relaxed and sleepy in the evenings after only a half day. I really get the sense that the dogs are well-cared for and the staff all seem like they are trained and know what they are doing. The place is also really clean. I would highly recommend this place. It is pricey, but hey, you pay for what you get, what can I say... read more

Both my dogs are at Crate Escape, they are always happy to be there and I tired when I pick them up. The staff are great, I have seen many of the same people there over the 4 years we have been coming, so it says something about the environment. I have had my dogs groomed as well and they do a wonderful job. I have two golden retrievers with tons of energy. I highly recommend it, nice people, nice dogs and the hours are convenient. My only downside, is the Belmont location, Brighton Street is a nightmare for traffic in the morning. If they were not so great there I would look for a more convenient place, but I look it too much to even consider it read more

Our dog has come home from here and suffered from diarrhea or other stomach issues the next day. It has happened too often to be mere coincidence. I suspect that bacteria from other dogs is being transferred through the shared water bowls and/or the fact that the dogs are expected to do their business inside and it isn't cleaned well enough. If you have polite well trained dogs who ask to go outside to the bathroom, then a day here is also going to be uncomfortable for them. Ours would come out and immediately spend the longest time doing his business, as if he'd been holding it for hours. The manager does a poor job of hiding her irritability and appears to be permanently miserable about having to work there. It's nice that there are large pens, but there seems to be too few people in the pens for the number of dogs. The people in the pens are also not allowed to interact with the dog owners, for reasons I cannot fathom - surely the opposite should be the case so that owners can understand their dog's behavior in social situations. Difficult to recommend for anything except the large pen sizes. read more

I just picked my dog up from being groomed here. AWFUL! They have you fill out a sheet to explain what you want. Somehow, me requesting them to take 1/4" off of my dog's face to them meant shave my dog. I have a Havanese, who has - well, now HAD long gorgeous hair. She was scheduled to get her picture taken tomorrow, and now we have to cancel because she looks so ridiculous. It will take months and months to grow her hair back.... I'm more than upset, and all they had to say was, "I don't know what to tell you." AWFUL. AWFUL. AWFUL. read more

Our dog loves crate escape! We were super nervous at first going in, since he used to go to a much smaller daycare, but they are great with doing a temperament test first to ease new dogs in, and they have several super large pens to match up play styles and energy levels. They also switch pens for dogs during the day depending on energy level. Our puppy is always super excited to go and is pooped at the end of the day. Scheduling is super easy, billing is automatic (with email notification which is nice) and they are open on Saturdays as well. Hours are long, which is great because it allows for flexibility. Pricing is fair and comparable to the area, and they have package deals. Workers there are friendly and helpful when we have questions. They are definitely very popular; in our building alone we know so many people who also send their dogs to crate escape. So thankful that we have a place close by for our baby to regularly play!! read more

We had a terrible experience here. Brought our small 11 lb dog for her first daycare experience. She was excited to go and happily trotted into the building the first day. I called to check in twice and they said she was fine, but was just not interested in playing so had been put with the senior dogs. This wasn't a problem and we were happy they removed her from the more active pen. When I picked her up, they didn't allow me to go back and get her. The person who brought her out put her harness on wrong. On the way out, she was walking funny and was not acting herself. Throughout the day we noticed she wouldn't walk, and when she did she had a hunched back. We took her to the vet the next day and she had an abnormal gait and was placed on pain meds. When I informed the daycare, the person I spoke to did not apologize or offer any kind words; he simply said the manager would return my call. It took several attempts, but when I finally got in touch with the manager, her reaction did not meet the expectation of what I would have thought it would've been towards a customer whose dog got injured at their facility. The daycare said nothing happened and she was fine all day. We had to take her to a neurologist and turns out she had a slipped disc, costing us just under $1000 for care. She was on strict rest and medications for 3 weeks. The daycare did compensate us for 3/4 of the costs, which was great and we were thankful. However, they barely checked up to see how she was doing and were not very apologetic. We are lucky she fully recovered after several months without an MRI/surgery, etc. As we found out with this experience, our dog is not a great fit for daycare and that is not the fault of the facility. Many other owners and dogs have wonderful experiences here and we brought her after hearing great things. Our pup, however, will certainly not go back here or to another daycare. read more

I made an appointment and went to visit the place today. The staff were very odd and a little rude. For example, the staff member doing the evaluation said as soon as I walked in that she didn't like the looks of my dog because she "obviously has some chow in her" (and chows are sometimes aggressive.) When I explained that she is NOT a chow (and has known lineage), the staff members rolled their eyes at me and insinuated that I am a moron. I can't explain it well, but from the moment I walked in they were very condescending. I walked over to look at the dogs playing, and frankly they looked bored and uncomfortable laying around on hard cement. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! read more

Small businesses need to be professional to win and keep customers. It doesn't take much to convert what could be a pleasant experience into lost customer. At the same time, it doesn't take much to keep a customer. When I "experienced" these folks I found them a bit rude and unprofessional. Not sure why they can't hire people that can act with a higher level of customer service. read more

We were fans of Crate Escape and they've been great. Our dogs loved going there and always came back happily exhausted. The reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is that the staff could be somewhat slow to respond especially for phone calls. read more

Crate-Escape is really, really wonderful. The staff is always super friendly and responsive- I've always been able to rely on them. They are also GREAT for boarding your dog when you go out of town; I always have total peace of mind when I leave my Annie in their care! read more