Pet Pampering

A Guide to Pet Businesses around Town

By Kerrie Kennedy

Owning a pet has never been easier. With more than two-thirds of all U.S. households now owners of at least one pet, businesses that cater to pets are sprouting up everywhere. From pet photographers to pet birthday party planners and doggie boutiques to doggie day care, there are about a million ways to pamper your little prince or princess here in Chicago. Here’s a sampling:

DOGGIE DAY CARE and BOARDING

All for Doggies
1760 N. Kilbourn Ave.
773.395.0900
allfordoggies.com
From its 2,500-square-feet climate-controlled, ventilated kennel to its roomy private sleeping quarters/individual dog runs, this is the perfect place to board energetic dogs with high exercise requirements. While he’s there, you might want to sign your pooch up for an agility class, a competitive sport for dogs in which a handler directs the dog through obstacles while racing against the clock. The dogs learn to fly through hoops, speed through tunnels, traverse a seesaw, glide over A-frames and cruise over jumps. All For Dogs also offers grooming services and training classes. Or for about $500, you can both board and train your dog all in one fell swoop.

Best Friends Pet Care
1628 N. Elston Ave.
773.384.5959
bestfriendspetcare.com
Operating 44 centers in 19 states across the country, Best Friends offers hotel-like luxuries for pets (doggie suites and kitty condos with lambskin bedding and daily maid service) along with plenty of TLC and individual attention. Grooming services and training classes (Puppy Kindergarten, Basic Manners 1 & 2 and Canine Good Citizen) are also available.

Camp Bow Wow
6046 Roosevelt Rd.
Oak Park
708.848.2267
The largest and most successful doggie daycare and overnight boarding franchise in North America, Camp Bow Wow’s Oak Park location is owned by two women who were burned out from the corporate world and found comfort in taking care of animals. At Camp Bow Wow, certified counselors supervise fun activities all day and even provide tasty campfire treats at bedtime. Nervous parents can view their four-legged campers online anytime via Camper Cams.

Central Bark
3358 N. Pulaski
773.736.3641
Although she’s located in the Avondale neighborhood, owner Bonnie Lemperis takes in dogs from all over the city. Some drop their dogs off ($27 per day), while others take advantage of her handy door-to-door shuttle service. Central Bark also offers sleepovers, training and grooming.

The Houndry
3945 N. Sheridan
773.281-2600
thehoundry.com
Located a few blocks from Wrigley Field, they have Cubs jerseys and T-shirts in your dog’s size. Cage-free attentive boarding in a clean, dog-appropriate environment. A caring, knowledgable staff offers good old-fashioned service. If your pet has allergies and other health issues, ask the staff here for advice about food.

Urban Outsitters
161 N. Halsted
727-729 W. Randolph
3241 N. Dayton
312.651.7387
urbanoutsitters.com
Why send little Fifi to a place that looks more like a prison camp when you can send her to Urban Outsitters instead? Featuring fresh flowers, upholstered furniture, chandeliers and gilded framed dog photos, Urban Outsitters is a standout among boarders, where the chain link fence is commonplace. Urban Outisitters offers 24-hour cage-free overnight boarding and day care; midday dog walking, in-home cat care, grooming and a retail store.

PET BOUTIQUES & GROOMERS

Dog-A-Holics
904 Armitage Ave.
773.857.5787
dogaholics.com
Featuring everything from custom-made dog beds to doggie couture, Cubs and White Sox wearables and one of the largest selections of collars and leashes in the city, Dog-A-Holics caters to owners who are addicted to their pets. Not to be missed is the huge bakery case filled with frosted cookies shaped like fire hydrants and dog bones, chocolate truffles, donuts and cupcakes—all dog treats, of course. Don’t worry about the extra calories: Your dog can burn off the extra calories in the rear courtyard, which serves as an off-leash playground for dogs. If he gets dirty, no problem: Dog-A-Holics’ Salon Woof offers self-wash tubs for $20 (the fifth wash is free).

Parker’s Pets
1342 E. 55th Street
773.643.7387
parkerspets.com
This Hyde Park pet store, owned by lifelong animal lover Katherine Pottenger and her two Pomeranians, Parker and Jack (Canine Executive Officer and Canine Rescue Officer, respectively), offers everything from toys to clothes, collars and leashes, carriers and beds, holiday items and spa products, dog treats and premium pet foods. Food delivery is available starting at $8.

Pocket Pupppies
2479 N. Clark Street
773.857.1519
pocketpuppies.com
This French-inspired dog boutique specializes in chic toy dog couture, with Paris Hilton-style dog purses and glittering, jewel-like dog collars and an amazing collection of toy- and teacup-size puppies that draws toy breed enthusiasts from all over the country. Choices include Yorkies, Maltese, English Toy Spaniels, toy Poodles, Pugs, King Charles Cavaliers, Shih Tzus, Japanese Chins, Chihuahuas, Dachschunds, Yorkie-Poos, Malti-Poos, Pocket Havenese and Puggles.

Soggy Paws
1148 W. Leland
773.334.7663
soggypaws.com
Looking for no-frills cleaning? Look no further. For a mere $18, you can wash and dry your dog yourself at Soggy Paws, with no worries about messy cleanups. They supply the products, too, offering luxurious milk and honey shampoo or lavender aromatherapy. Soggy Paws also offers full-serve washing, primp and preen services and grooming. What’s more, if you join their frequent wash program, you’ll get the ninth wash free.

PET PHOTOGRAPHERS

Pet Photos
421 Crescent Blvd., Lombard
630.599.0444
petphotos.com
There’s a reason many well-known actors refuse to work with pets: Whether in television, movies or photographs, pets tend to steal the show. Renowned pet photographer and Dalmation owner Lisa Kruss will help your pet steal the show, too. Check out her website to see how Kruss is able to capture the innate cuteness of every pet. Kruss offers mini sessions for pet shots only and starter sessions that include one or two people. Holiday cards available.

OBEDIENCE SCHOOLS

Anti-Cruelty Society
510 N. LaSalle
312.644.8388
anticruelty.org
Think your pet has problems? How about a cat that unbuckles and removes the collars of all her feline roommates, a German Shepherd that removes dirty dishes from the sink and drops them on the floor or a cat that sits for hours staring at a picture of Shakespeare? These are all problems that the behavior experts at the Anti-Cruelty Society Behavior Hotline (ext. 315 and 343) have dealt with before—and they’re ready to help you solve your pet problems too. Many Chicagoans don’t realize that the Anti-Cruelty Society, a full-service shelter, also offers free behavior advice and low-cost training classes. From Wee Ones to Puppy Pre-School, Pet Dog Training 101 and Trick Training, four-week sessions average just $50 and feature a 10-dog per class maximum. The Anti-Cruelty Society also offers Canine Charm School for behavior-challenged dogs and hosts regular Happy Hours for well-trained dogs ($10). Parking is free.

Chicago Academy of Dog Training
2338 W. Nelson
773.325.0400
caodt.com
Does your dog have “issues?” Then bring him in for some behavior modification classes at the Chicago Academy of Dog Training, a 7,000-square-foot Roscoe Village facility where all the trainers are certified canine trainers and behavioral specialists. If it’s meat and potatoes obedience training you’re looking for, CAODT offers a number of different classes, from puppy level and up. Besides training, this facility offers day care, boarding, a pet boutique and a grooming spa. Pick up and drop off services are available. If you join the Poochie Pals club, you get discounts on training and services, free Poochie Pals group classes, access to free seminars and doggie playgroups and complimentary coffee, tea and espresso.

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES

Pet Patio Pick-Up
4036 N. Pulaski
773.853.0329
petpatiopickup.com
Don’t have a backyard? Tired of braving the ice, snow and rain to let your dog do his nightly business? The Pet Patio is perfectly-sized grassy potty area complete with a fire hydrant trash receptacle and scented waste bags to help keep your pet’s ‘patio’ clean between weekly pick-ups, when your dirty patio is replaced with a new one. This ingenious pet waste removal service is perfect for puppies who require four or more walks a day and great for condo owners and apartment dwellers whose outdoor space is limited to a balcony or deck.

Jewell Animal Hospital
4501 N. Lincoln Ave.
773.271.1901
jewellanimalhospital.com
A trip to the vet needn’t be a dreaded and scary event—for you or your pet. From its non-traditional waiting area to its brilliantly colored exam rooms, Jewell Animal Hospital actually makes it fun. Offering state-of-the-art equipment along with old-fashioned compassion, Jewell has plenty of fans out there barking its praises.