This is Joel Spainhour, the owner of Tucker Pup's. I am responding to the review written on 2/17/2007 by Elizabeth. We are dismayed when someone has what they believe to be a negative experience and instead of communicating to us, goes out and write such a negative review. I was the "men behind the counter" so I feel compelled to respond. Unfortunately, Yelp doesn't allow official responses from the business, so this is the way I have to do it. Please note that I have reached out to this customer, with no response. So here is our response, point by point: 1) there has been a street sign for Carpenter for the past two years. I'm not sure why it suddenly came down, and I wasn't aware that it did come down until I read this review. I don't believe it's fair to blame us for that. If someone calls and says "I can't find you" we tell them exactly how to get here. We received no such call. We have contacted the city to find out why the sign came down and to get it back up. We also have detailed instructions on our website, and also tell everyone it's two blocks north of Harpo Studios. 2) the customer waited for 10 minutes because there were customers in front of her in line. Do you believe we would just have a person stand there otherwise? 3) A 1-star review about waiting for five minutes? The groomer was working on another dog and came out at the first opportunity. I personally said to the customer "she'll be right out" and she was. 4) The Chicago ordinance (in other words, the law) requires capturing due dates for vaccinations (the expiration dates, not just the dates they were done). This is because some shots expire in 6 months, some in 1 year, and some in 3 years, and different vets treat them differently. If you don't get the due dates, how else would a business know if the dogs are always up to date? I can also tell you that I am always completely pleasant when dealing with customers on this topic. "No problem - I can see that they were recently given. If you can just have your vet fax them over next time you come, we'd really appreciate it" is the way I always ask, including in this instance. If another business doesn't ask for these, that is a risk they are taking. 5) many grooming shops have your dog for the entire day, and many also have them for 3-4 hours. 95% of ours are done in under 2 hours. In this case, it was 2.5 hours, which occurred because some other dogs took longer than expected due to matting. 6) the groomer finished the dog a few minutes before the customer walked in. She was getting ready to call. 7) if you don't want your dog in a cage, you would simply need to mention that when you check in. We try to accommodate people to the extent possible. However, grooming cages are part of the experience no matter where you go, so you have to expect that. We do offer daycare and the dogs can go in there if necessary. 8) We have a new employee who wasn't as familiar with our software or checkout process, so she went to get the assistant manager, who came out immediately. 9) the assistant manager got the price from the groomer, told the customer, and sat down at the counter to check her out. She didn't yell or walk away from her. Another customer who was present confirmed this to me. 10) "She been acting weird all night, and I hope to god those awful people didn't drop her." Wow. Seriously? Is it possible that she was just nervous from being in a new place? Do you honestly believe we would drop a dog? Do dogs vomit from being dropped? We have what has to be one of the fastest growing grooming businesses in Chicago, and were recognized as one of the top grooming shops this year by the readers of Chicagoland Tails. We stand for quality in everything we do, and our staff are not rude to people. We get rave reviews about our staff all the time. When there is a problem, we take it seriously and do what we can to make it right, including giving the service for free if necessary. When a customer handles it this way, including inferring that we must have dropped their dog, we are understandably disappointed. If you come here and have a problem, please call me immediately and we'll address it quickly and professionally. On the other hand, if you're the type who gets completely upset about waiting five extra minutes, or the fact that you got lost, or that we asked you to have your vet fax us a document, or that there is a possibility that a new employee needs some help with the computer, then I'm afraid that there is no amount of service we could provide that would make you happy, and our relationship will probably not work out with each other. We are very down-to-earth and easy to work with, and our customers are very happy and loyal as a result. Read the other reviews on Yelp, on Citysearch, or on our website if you want proof of how much people like working with us. read more

Pretty much every person that would use a service like doggy daycare treats their pet as a member of the family, their baby, and wants the best for their pet. And I am certainly no exception. A fact probably no one knows better than the friendly, accommodating staff at Tucker Pups, people whom always reassure me and make me feel at ease when I'm boarding my two Frenchies and they can see that my eyes are watering as I hand over their labeled accoutrements and quick sign-in sheet. That said, I am not completely oblivious to the fact that my sweet Archie and Caroline are, in fact, dogs. And when I take them to TPups (as we lovingly refer to it in our household) they are playing with, exposed to, all up in other dogs. And after reading a few of the other reviews, I just have to mention that it should come as no surprise to any pet owner that a dog would go home from that type of an environment smelling, well... a bit doggy. And I've decided to disregard any review wherein a complaint exists regarding how their dog smelled upon pick-up. And I think you ("you" being a person reading these reviews in search of lucid and reasonable information regarding this establishment) should, too. One of the many reasons to disregard is because Tucker Pups offers an exit bath, and they do everything possible to make sure your pet has his/her grooming appointment as close to pick-up time as humanly possible so that they don't have to go back into daycare and get all "smelly" again. I use Tucker Pups mainly for boarding, and I found this wonderful place after a comprehensive and very expensive search of similar businesses and service providers all over the Chicago area. I live in Lakeview. Tucker Pups is in no way, shape or form the closest or most convenient daycare/boarding facility to me, and short of hiring a fulltime nanny for my dogs (which I was literally *this close* to doing prior to trying Tucker Pups), I wouldn't take my babies anywhere else. The reason is, my dogs have never come home sick. Nothing means more to me than that. Every, single other place I took them, it never failed that we'd end up at the vet. $500 dollars later, we'd be back to square one with no where to trust with our pups. I've seen comments like "The front desk was disorganized," "My dog smelled like a dog," "No one said hi to me," etc. And, while I have never once had any issues or problems with Tucker Pups even remotely close to any of those, I wouldn't even care if I'd had. That stuff is meaningless, and can sometimes boil down to someone having a bad day. Healthy dogs on the other hand? That's a big deal. It's a big deal to finally have a place that I trust to provide care for my dogs in my absence. My dogs scamper off into the great doggy-beyond without so much of a wag good-bye to me every time we arrive. I don't know if that means they like it there, but I choose to believe it does. I'm grateful for the way the Tucker Pups staff always make me feel like they love having Archie and Caroline stay with them. I love how easy they make it to drop-off and pick-up with the online boarding requests, grooming requests, quick sheets and emailed receipts. It really is the best provider of it's kind that I've ever experienced. And I would highly, strongly, strenuously even, suggest them to anyone looking for a trustworthy place to care for their pet. read more

Thoroughly disappointed with service and level of attention provided to my dog!!!! We had been taking our labradoodle puppy to Tucker for a couple months on a regular basis with no incident. However, on Mother's Day 2010 our puppy was bitten while at Tucker Pups and required stitches. They did call and inform us that our dog had a "puncture wound" but didn't know how it happened. When I arrived to pick her up I could tell that she immediately needed stitches. She had a hole about the size of a nickel on the inside of her back leg that required 5 stitches as well as a drain to make sure that there wasn't an infection. However, the staff at Tucker Pups didn't believe that stitches were necessary and were surprised to find out after the fact that she needed stitches. Sounds like they really now alot about dogs...huh? When I asked them the next day what happened, the manager as well as the owner could not confirm what happened to our dog or how it had been bitten. Really!?!?!? What am I paying for when I drop my dog off then? Damage done: - 6 stitches on hind back leg (inside & out) - Forced to wear e-collar for 10 days - Almost $500 in total vet bills If any of you have had to deal with a puppy in a e-collar for an extended period of time you know that it can be quite burdensome. We couldn't fit her in her cage with the collar on so we had to take her everywhere or make arrangements which put additional burdens on us as well as our friends. I would not send your dog here or recommend this place to anyone. If they didn't know what happened to my dog, maybe they have to many dogs there and can't provide the level of care that people expect for the money they are paying. I wish I could post the pictures from the bite as my explanation doesn't do justice to the severity of the bite. BEWARE of Tucker Pup's....I can't say that with enough emphasis. 6/22 - In response to the comment made by Joel S. on 6/21 your claim that you were watching my dog is obviously false. If you were in fact "watching" my dog as you stated in your response to my post you would have known how she was bitten in the hind leg. Since you weren't watching my dog, you have lost a neighborhood customer and you still have a dog that may bite again that you haven't identified. I hope for the sake of other dogs and owners that use your daycare service there isn't a repeat performance. Translation on the "they signed a liability waiver and we had no obligation to cut them a check" = if you dog is hurt, don't expect much or any compensation for the vet bills incurred to get your dog back to full health even if they don't know how your dog was injured. We did receive a check for half of our vet bill but there was a disclaimer on back of the check reading..." Depositing this check releases Tucker Pup's from any future claims regarding this incident." Just an FYI for all on how things may be handled if there is an "incident" with your dog. read more

My puppy, Gus, is a 7 month old shih-poo who stays at Tucker Pup's when I have to go out of town. His stay there from June 5 thru June 8 went very well. Gus does not seem to like other dogs, a fact my husband and I are both aware of, but despite this, all the employees were very accommodating with him. The ones I spoke with when I picked him up were very honest, realized he wasn't comfortable all the time with the other dogs and they did what they could to keep him from stressful situations. I appreciate the fact that they tell me what he was like and how he acted, even though it might not be what they think I want to hear. In fact, one girl was just very concerned for Gus because she knows all the dogs there have so much fun and she felt so sad that it didn't seem fun for Gus. How refreshing to have a perfect stranger be concerned that your dog wasn't having enough fun!!! It certainly isn't anyone's fault at Tucker Pup's that Gus is afraid of other dogs and my only concern when I leave town is that he is somewhere safe, with people who will accept him for who he is and not be any less attentive to him just because of his fears. Tucker Pup employees try very hard to incorporate him in the fun and I like the fact that they don't force him to act in a certain way. One employee even offered suggestions to me of things I could work on with him to get him to be tolerant of other dogs, some of which I've tried ....today, he actually sniffed another dog when we were in the pet store....something he never would have done a month ago!! I'm working hard with Gus at home and I've been assured that Tucker Pup's will always welcome him to stay there. I, too am sometimes sad that he doesn't run around and enjoy playing with other dogs, but as we all know each dog is different and should be accepted for what they are. I truly appreciate that Gus is well cared for, safe, and enjoyed by the staff when he stays at Tucker Pup's. I never worry about him when I go away and would highly recommend this facility to anyone who wants excellent care for their dog when they're away. A big thanks to everyone at Tucker Pup's for all that they do!!! Sincerely, Linda G. read more

I had a very frustrating seach for a good day care facility for my puppy. I made quite a few calls, but was told by multiple facilities that they won't accomodate Great Danes because of their size. I was also told that my puppy could not play in the group until he was neutered-even at 3 months! But, after expressing my frustration to a neighbor, I was referred to Tucker Pups. I started taking my very awkard and shy Great Dane puppy to Tucker Pups a couple of months ago when he was about 3 months old. Hank was shy and scared. He gets anxious when I leave him places or when I am not around. The first day, I literally had to drag him to the play area. But, now Hank is 7 months and improving every week. When we get there, Hank actually will go into the dog area on his own now. The staff at Tucker Pups does a wonderful job working with him and ensuring that he is comfortable and having fun. They take the time pet Hank and work on his anxiety issues. When he was having a hard time playing with the big dogs, he was moved into the small dog group. When we go to the dog park or on walks I get so many complements on how well Hank plays with all dogs-big or small. It can be intimidating for the owner of a small dog to see all 110 lbs of Great Dane ready to pounce on their little lap dog, but Hank is always gentle and even plays well with his 3 month old kitten. I credit Tucker Pups for teaching Hank proper play group socialization. When Hank has an extra good day and meets a new friend, the staff takes the time to email me and give me updates. Anytime I have ever called to check up on him, the staff answers the phone right away and can always tell me how Hank is doing. They have been able to accomodate me at the last minute when I had to add an extra day because of my work schedule. Hank also never smells wierd or dirty when I pick him up. The facility is clean and the staff is great! I recommend Tucker Pups to friends all time time. read more

I've used Tucker Pup's for my dog's grooming, training, daycare and boarding needs over the last 5 months. Since our first trip there, my dog cannot wait to get inside their front door, regardless of the reason for the trip! Grooming: Wendy has been grooming dogs for many years and it shows. If you're unsure of what exactly you want in a cut, she'll give you guidance based on your dog's breed. I've been pleased with the results. Training: I enjoyed Good Manners 1 so much that I immediately signed up for Good Manners 2. Debbie's style of training is positive reinforcement, which worked wonders for me and my dog. She truly has a gift and a true love for all dogs. Daycare: I am fortunate enough to work out of my home office, so I have only used daycare services on the weekend. This service is perfect for a rainy day when you can't get your pup outside as much as you'd like, or even when you have a bunch of stuff on your weekend agenda and would like to tire out your dog while you are doing the same to yourself. And you can't beat the weekend $5 hourly rate...maxes out at $25 after 5 hours up to a full day. Boarding: Just as most dog owners are, I was a bit anxious to leave my pup overnight in a new place. However, his first experience was a smashing success. The dogs go to daycare all day, then sleep upstairs in the boarding facility. I was a bit concerned about a 12 hour day of play as he's only 1 and has a lot of energy, but still needs his rest. They told me that I can request naps for him, which I did, and I think it helped that I didn't have an extremely lethargic and overtired dog at the end. The staff is happy to give you updates if you call to check in and will fill you in on everything else when it's time for the pup to go home. Overall, Tucker Pup's is my one-stop-shop for all of my dog's needs....I highly recommend them!!! read more

I haven't yet had my dogs groomed, boarded or in day care so my 5 stars are about 90% for the trainer/training classes and about 10% for the staff and facility. So far all of my interactions with the staff and owner have been extremely positive, everyone seems very friendly and I haven't had any issues or icky vibes from anyone. The training room is great - spacious, clean - and private while class is 'In Session'. It is an excellent space for training with plenty of room to move around and work on exercises with your pup. On to the 90% bit: Debbie [Bickford] and Nigel [the Boxer] are excellent instructors! While Debbie explains to us humans the hows and whys of dog behavior and how dogs learn best, Nigel shows us just how a proper 'heel' should look or that 'wait means wait 'til Mom says OK!'. We've already had several classes with Debbie and the education we've received so far has been invaluable. We have strengthened the bond between us and our dogs by learning how to communicate with them effectively. As a result our dogs have nice manners and are well-behaved most of the time. When they forget their manners or get up to some mischief, we now know how to correct the behavior quickly using positive methods. The very best thing about classes with Debbie and Nigel? They are FUN! I highly recommend taking classes at Tucker Pup's. For what it is worth, we have been taking our puppy to training classes for the last 7 weeks now (Penny was Polite Puppy class valedictorian...bragging), so I do run into people picking up their dogs from day care/grooming all the time - I have never heard anyone complain and generally have found that people are friendly, willing to chat and seem to like the place... read more

I recently moved to Chicago from NYC w/ my 5 year old Havanese, Caesar. In NYC, I had a groomer that came to my house and dog parks that I took Caesar to for exercise & play time. However when I moved to Chicago this winter, the weather prevented dog park visits and Caesar was in need of a hair cut! I spent a lot of time researching online & visiting various daycare/grooming places in the West Loop before deciding on Tucker Pup's. One of the reasons why I chose this facility over others was based on how friendly the owner & staff seemed on the phone (they actually pick up!) as well as in person. I stopped in around the holidays for a tour (around 5pm on a weekday) and Joel, the owner, took me around the facility and really made me & Caesar feel comfortable there. This was a big difference from when I visited a few other facilities (that same day) and they would not even take me on a tour because it was holiday season! This past week I took Caesar to Tucker's for grooming and daycare. Caesar was very nervous initially being dropped off (he has never been to daycare before and is by nature a fairly nervous/high maintenance dog). However, when I called Tucker Pup's a few hours later to check in on him...they were so nice and even put the daycare manager on the phone w/ me to personally tell me how Caesar was doing! When I picked Caesar up that evening, not only did he look great from being groomed but he was so happy & completely calm (I don't think he even noticed that I was there to pick him up-he was totally content!). I am definitely going to continue taking Caesar there...cannot think of any better outcome! It was exactly what I was looking for! Laura read more

Jamie Walker recently trained our 1 year old puggle puppy. We couldn't be more impressed with her professionalism, dedication, and the incredible results she achieved. Over the course of three weeks, with Jamie coming four days per week, our puppy made remarkable progress. Jamie didn't just train our dog she taught us, too, equipping us with clear, simple instructions that have made maintaining the training easy and effective. Her direct approach and natural connection with our dog were truly special. I want to do maintenance classes just to have her around!! What stood out most was Jamie's ability to personalize her training to our specific needs. She took the time to listen to our concerns, understand the layout of our home, and brainstorm creative, tailored solutions. This extra effort made all the difference, ensuring the training was practical and successful in our unique environment. Thanks to Jamie's expertise, our puppy now consistently uses the correct area for potty training and has mastered important commands like sit, down, watch, stay, and place. Beyond these skills, Jamie has given us the confidence to continue reinforcing the training long-term. Jamie is a true asset to your team, and we feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her. Her knowledge, professionalism, and passion for her work are exceptional, and the bond she built with our dog is a testament to her dedication and skill. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like any additional details about our experience. Jamie's work has exceeded our expectations, and we will absolutely be referring her to other people we know! read more

We have been boarding our dog Jake at Tuckers Pup's for the past 3 years. We board Jake 3 to 5 times a year for a week at a time. I have read all of the reviews and I understand that people are entitled to their opinions base on experience but some of these negative reviews are ridicules. I travel 1-1/2 hours from the south suburbs to board Jake at Tuckers. No one knows what a bad place is unless they have boarded their dogs at some of the so called places down here in the south suburbs. Places where I would pick up my other dogs after 1 week and they would have ulcers on their skin - bug bites - and clear signs of mistreatment. And to think I was paying more to these places - and they were mistreating our dogs.... On Jake's visit this past week everything was awesome as usual - from dropping off to picking up! In fact - my flight was delayed out of Dallas Saturday and I did not arrive at O'Hare until 4:00 PM. By the time I got my car and started heading to pick up Jake the traffic was a disaster. I called to let the Tuckers staff know I was running late. They couldn't have been nicer. Once there - they did a great job checking me out and getting Jake and I on our way! I can't say enough about Tuckers Pup's and their team. And Jake as always seemed to enjoy himself - as he slept away the rest of the weekend! Thanks again - Jake will be back next week and I know we can always expect the same from the Tuckers Pup's Team! Joel you and your team keep up the great work and you know that Jake and our family appreciate the care your staff always gives when we board Jake. Respectfully, Jarosz family & Jake! read more

This is Joel Spainhour, the owner of Tucker Pup's. This is in response to the review on 4/1/2008 by Nora B. Sometimes a business may make a mistake, but it's all in the way that they handle that mistake that matters most. In this case, which occurred 5 months ago, we inadvertently didn't call the customer to let her know her dog was ready. This was due to a miscommunication between the groomer and me. The customer lives across the street and the groomer thought she was coming back at the time she indicated the dog would be ready. By no means did we forget her dog was there. In addition, crates and cages are a standard component of grooming shops all across the country. If a customer doesn't want their dog to be in the crate, they would simply need to mention that when checking in. This customer did not. Nonetheless, we are very committed to customer satisfaction we always do what we can to make it right. I could tell she was upset, was very nice and respectful, and offered to take 50% off her bill as part of our apology for not calling her. She said that wouldn't be necessary, but I did it anyway because that's just how we are. It's one thing to say a business "sucks" and "mistreats your dog" if they do something like injure your dog, are downright rude, don't take responsibility for a mistake, don't offer a refund, don't call you back, etc. However, to say such negative and hurtful things when the issue was that we didn't call you back seems pretty unfair. This is especially true given that we did indeed take responsibility and gave a 50% discount to help make it right. read more

Had to start our dog on some day care. DId a lot of research. I really like the straightforward website. Went for a tour- this place is really great. It is so clean. The space is really cool too. The owner is really nice and the staff is friendly. Our dog came home from his first day of day care a tired and very happy pooch! We had gone to Dogs Day Inn for boarding before and we liked that placed too. But location and the facilites of Tuckers Pups are really top notch. We look forward to participating in some of the classes and using the grooming services on our guy. Just a note- my dog is 11 years old (he was adopted 2 years ago). He is like a son to me. I would never take him anywhere that is not the best place in the city. Money is no option when it comes to him. I am probably the equiviliant of a Hollywood stage mom with my little man. That being said- Tucker Pups has provided the most loving caring environment for my guy and any dog that has been there. It is the best place in Chicago. And no I do not work there. I am sorry that they do not allow Pit breeds. My hearts breaks for Pits- and any other animal with a bad rap. To those who a bitching about it- be productive -and mature. Get involved with rescue groups and work towards rehabilitating the image of the breed. Don't write negative reviews on a business you have no tangible experience with in between reviewing your favorite bar and coffee shop. These review forums are a place to exchange helpful imformation. Helpful can be good or concerns- but helpful should never be unfounded and malicious. read more

Let me begin by saying, I LOVE THIS PLACE! I have a small dog walking business of my own, I walk all over the city. Every person that I encounter during my busy day, that is looking for a daycare faciltiy in the West Loop (The best dog daycare facility in the west loop) I encourage them to go to Tucker Pups. I deliver dogs there on a daily basis, and witness the employess and the dogs interact. I don't know who's happier to see who, the dogs or the employees. The employees, are all extremely helpful, extremely down to earth, and just love animals. Let me not begin to start writing about how great Joel (the owner) runs his facility. His focus is the care and safety of his customers beloved pups and that is why they are the best! I've witnessed dogs who when their parents come to pick them up, want to turn back around and continue playing. Tucker Pups dedicates themselves on the safety and happiness of every dog that enters their facility. They require that a tempermant test be given to every single dog that is there for either daycare or boarding. They have a four paw head cap on their daily attendance, and currently have a waiting list. I can see why, it is worth the wait. If you want your four legged best friend to go to a daycare that is safe and that they will love, call Tucker Pups and add your pups name to their waiting list, IT'S WORTH THE WAIT! read more

I can only speak of their training classes and puppy picture studio. Both are great. I have two Irish Terriers and both of my overly energetic girls attended classes with Debbie. My younger one, Cosmopolitan, did Puppy Manners 1 and we both loved what she learned. Debbie was great with her since she tends to be a bit shy around strangers and gets very easily bored. My older pup, Ruby, did Agility 1 and 2 and did much better then expected, again it's all thanks to Debbie's approach to teaching. I cannot say enough good things about Debbie and Tucker Pup's, everyone is so nice and knowledgeable. I did take a tour of the facility just in case I need to leave them there when I am out of town and I am very confidant that my dogs will be well cared for. Jennifer, the photographer, did a fantastic job with them too. I can never take good pictures of both of them at the same time since they are so active and love to get into everything. It was no problem for Jennifer and her assistant; they got their attention and some fantastic pictures. I cannot wait to get my prints and give them to my family as gifts. I would truly recommend training courses to anyone with a puppy who needs to learn his/her manners or an older dog who has access energy and wants to try agility. My dogs cannot wait when we pull up to Tucker Pup's; they know fun is just around the corner. read more