Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center

Elite '09

8

109

Adam M.

Chicago, IL

11/30/2009

In the middle of a hectic week of moving and the renovation of our apartment, Tucker Pup's came to our rescue and looked after our dog Cricket for three days.  The guys and girls that run and staff this place are really great, very helpful, and patient with questions.

Cricket - our 5 month old puppy - really had a great time and came home each day exhausted from playing.  This sounds repetitive to the other reviews here, but by the time his third day came, he literally ran into the play area and just left us behind, which was really nice to see.  Hopefully, we will get off the wait list so that Cricket can return soon.

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Elite '09

25

113

Lisa L.

Chicago, IL

10/28/2009

We took our rescue Min Pin to Tucker Pup's after having a terrible experience at Pooch Hotel (our little girl came back with an awful fever, smelling - even with a bath that morning...probably because her blanket was covered in her business, and didn't eat for 3 days, and just generally was not at all herself)...what a difference Tucker Pup's was!

The entire staff was so warm, welcoming, and seemed as though they really cared about Cinnamon.  We did the one daycare free trial day to make sure that she was going to work well into their environment, and she came back so happy and exhausted.  When we went back to drop her off for boarding, she was pulling to get in the door and see her friends, it was such a welcomed relief to leave her in a place that she liked!

When we picked her up, she was just the same as when we dropped her off - everyone at Tucker's was telling me what a good girl she was and it made me so confident that these people were taking good care of her.  Our girl is used to a lot of human contact, and I could tell that she was very comfortable with the staff and that they must have spent time giving her attention.

We also got her bathed before picking her up and I have to say her nails and fur have never looked better!  I was also impressed with their selection of foods/treats etc - all very high quality, which gave me a good feeling about the owners.

I will never take Cinnamon to anywhere else for daycare or boarding - thank you so much to Tucker Pup's for being so good to our girl! Highly recommended!

I

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1

10

Sarah W.

Chicago, IL

11/10/2009

This was the second place we've tried in our quest to find the perfect groomer for our big hairy dog.  Wendy was able to get us in the same day, was obviously a dog lover- treating my buddy really well, and didn't take the three hours they quoted!  I don't give them five stars because I just tried to get an appointment and they don't have one available for a week!  I am more of a "can I come in today?" type of girl.

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0

14

Brian G.

Chicago, IL

11/6/2009

I was here just the other day and I must say I was more than impressed. Not that I went in with low expectations, but compared to some of the other dog centers I have been in (and worked for) this is top notch. The staff is friendly, the facility is clean and huge, they have a great selection of natural dog foods/treats, and all of the dogs in the facility were well taken care of. I would send my two dogs here in a heartbeat if I ever couldn't be with them for an extended period of time.

(1) Size: Plenty of room for your dog to run around in, a large back outside area, and free parking right out front for drop offs and pick ups

(2) Smell: Glad to report NO smell. Too many times these places have that "animal place" smell...but it was fairly neutral in there

(3) Structure: Their structure is no different than what you would expect. Big dogs with big dogs, little dogs with little dogs and different temperments together.

(4) Staff: Super friendly and personable.

(5) The Dogs: All the dogs appeared to be happy and very playful. None of them were scared of the caregivers and the cageless environment helped support their happy attitudes.

(6) For those living in the Loop, South Loop and West Loop this is no issue at all. Even for those living a little further away the location while not on a main street is fairly easy to find.

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0

10

Mary K.

Chicago, IL

7/18/2009

I have to say Ive been disappointed by this place on more than one occasion. My first visit involved me and my wonderfully socialized pitbull meeting some of the TP staff at river west fest last year. They let her play in the dog park where they had set up as a mock agility track and commented on how good she was. I had been taking her to another daycare in the west loop until I learned several bad things(beware of lake st daycare!) so I was looking forward to trying out their place.

TWO days later I brought my girl in to get paperwork done and to see their facility. The SAME people who were at the fest (Joel and a woman) literally stopped me at the desk and said we couldn't come in. I was shocked and asked why. "We do not allow pitbulls in our facility" was the answer. I was asked to leave since it was daycare drop off and other clients would be coming in. I was so disappointed. One of their managers runs a pitbull rescue!! How can they discriminate so broadly??

Well anyway I found a great new place in Lincoln Park that was new and really nice and the people actually seem to know dogs....and not just the labs (no offense to my lab friends!)

NOW I hear they have "changed their policy" and allow pitbulls. Most important question....why did they change their policy? I assume its for financial gain. Pitties are everywhere in the city! Id also be pretty concerned as both a pitbull mom and as a nonpitbull client....are they prepared to handle an influx of new dogs? And will the pitbulls be treated the same as the nonpitties?

Id never send my dog or any of my dog saving/loving friends here. They are clearly not educated about dogs in general and are perhaps in this for the money.

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Elite '09

4

93

Christine P.

Chicago, IL

7/9/2009

I'd heard some sketchy things about this place and now that I just read other reviews and more importantly, looked on their website and see that they just flat out don't allow pit bulls...

Maybe I'm completely in the dark here, but I have never heard of such a thing. All this policy tells me is that the owners are completely ignorant about dogs. Perhaps that is why there are people on here complaining about urine burn and other issues when their dog was boarded there.

Oh, but I do have to say - thank you so much for allowing us to bring our pit bulls there, pay you, just for you to leave them isolated the entire time. Wow, what a warm and fuzzy feeling that gives me as a parent. Let me just rush right over there. Maybe if I'm lucky my dog will come back scared, depressed and with urine burn. Yay!

And what is with the owner contacting everyone who posts a negative comment and posting a comment like a bad sport?  It's not helping you sir, and just makes you look like you are trying to have the last word.  Please don't contact me.  Ever.

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Comment from Joel S. of Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center 7/14/2009    Hide »

Thanks for your feedback, Christine. As the business owner,…    More »

Thanks for your feedback, Christine. As the business owner, I respond to any negative comments to bring some clarity and because there are two sides to every story. I believe that is only fair and is a part of most major review sites.

I know of no case of "urine burn" from any dog who has ever stayed with us. It's also not fair to say we are "sketchy" - we are a very reputable business with a high-quality staff and a huge number of very loyal customers.  We have recently updated our policy to allow pit bulls in all-day play boarding, if they have no signs or history of aggression.

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3

35

Norma C.

Chicago, IL

7/16/2009

Grooming: Would go back, but at $70 for a Cocker Spaniel, it's the most expensive I've paid so far.  I had a 50% off coupon so the $35 wasn't so bad.  

Grooming- 4 stars, but groomer wasn't very friendly and seemed to be in a bad mood. Usually when I walk anywhere with my Spaniel, people lovingly pet and and caress him.  He's like my child so I like to see a groomer smiling and petting affectionately when I take him in.  She did do a nice job on him however.  I don't know that I would go back at $70/groom since I've been to other places that charge $60.  

Have never tried boarding so can't rate that.  

Pricing on premium food seemed comparable and even slightly cheaper than other places.

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2

4

Piriya M.

Chicago, IL

8/1/2009

We've been going to Tucker Pup's for occasional daycare and boarding for two years, and we absolutely love them!  The staff is always friendly, courteous, and it shows that they love working there.  They always recognize our dog even when he hasn't been in for several months, which shows 1) they really get to know the dogs and 2) there isn't a high turnover rate with staff.

The entire facility is clean, the play areas have a cushy floor inside, durable "K9" grass outside (these surfaces are important--they protect paws, they're antibacterial, and the dogs stink less coming home from daycare), and the kennels for boarding are spacious.  They also have staff that stays overnight with the dogs. Most importantly, our dog is always happy to go to daycare/boarding at Tucker Pup's!

When we adopted our mutt, we looked into several dog daycare/boarding facilities in the West Loop area.  Some of them refused to give us a tour of their facilities, which is always a RED FLAG!!  Other facilities simply didn't have enough staff to handle/watch the dogs, and the play areas were not clean.

We walked into Tucker Pup's near closing time, unannounced--it was very busy, people were picking up their dogs, and they were preparing for an obedience class.  The woman who greeted us was more than happy to give us a quick tour even though she was very busy. This was the kind of customer service we were looking for, and the great facilities sealed the deal.

The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is that I've found it a little difficult to get a hold of someone when I call.  Usually you have to leave a message, and then they call you back.  A bit of an inconvenience when you'd like to speak to someone sooner rather than later.  Otherwise, Tucker Pup's is a fantastic dog daycare and boarding facility! Our dog always comes home happy and exhausted.

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Comment from Joel S. of Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center 8/1/2009    Hide »

Thanks for the very nice comments, Piriya. I wanted to…    More »

Thanks for the very nice comments, Piriya. I wanted to address your concern about leaving messages. We take answering the phones very seriously and try very hard to pick up every call.  We do have a full-time receptionist - however, some factors may keep her from answering live calls from time to time. For example, on some days our phone rings non-stop.  She may also be giving a tour, which happens several times per day. There are also times when many people are checking in for boarding at once. If you do leave a message, we really try to get back to you very quickly.  Thanks again!

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Elite '09

16

74

Allison B.

Chicago, IL

6/16/2009

My sweet frenchie Stella had never been away from us, but we left her over memorial day weekend at Tucker's Pups. They were friendly, and helpful when we dropped her off but when we picked her up a few days later, she was a mess. Not only were there a couple health issues that they insisted had 'nothing to do with Tucker's Pups' but they wouldn't just say that they were in the wrong. This is really too bad, they seemed nice and clean. Too Bad...

Update: Although I am still on the fence, I do think it is commendable that Joel, the owner called me and talked to me about the situation. He is focused on customer service and for that I do commend him. He also offered nights free for my frenchie to come back.  I think, from both my experience and others I have read on YELP, that the people that work in the facility may not be the best fit. I am not placing blame for the issues that we had, including sickness, weird warty-growth occurrence, and misplacement of items. However, we just had a bad experience and that's that. Sometimes this happens, and I think it is helpful for others to be aware.

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Comment from Joel S. of Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center 6/26/2009    Hide »

To clarify, Stella was fine while here and was very playful,…    More »

To clarify, Stella was fine while here and was very playful, but had diarrhea after she got home. This is a sign of stress that can be caused from being away from home, which her vet confirmed. She also had a minor wart on her leg, which the vet couldn't identify but that was also found on two dogs from her dog park. No other customers reported a wart or illness. Unfortunately, another customer took home her bed, which looked identical, but we got it back. Our point was that sometimes these things happen with dogs, but it's not like we are in the wrong as the initial review states.

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Elite '09

36

127

Julia W.

Chicago, IL

4/27/2009

I am definitely surprised at the high rating yelpers have been giving this place, as that was definitely not my experience.
Understaffed, poorly ran...at least it was when I went there in 2007. Perhaps it's changed.
Though, just thought I'd point out the curious number of first time posts for this business....just saying.

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Comment from Joel S. of Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center 4/28/2009    Hide »

We have a large staff that exceeds the legal requirement,…    More »

We have a large staff that exceeds the legal requirement, plus people always rave about how organized we are.  Not sure what happened two years ago with this customer, but if there is ever an issue, we address it and make it right.  I also believe it's not fair to review a business from one experience you had two years ago.  Reviews should be based on current experiences.

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1

26

nancy f.

Chicago, IL

7/6/2009

We chose Tucker Pups for boarding because of decent yelp reviews, and because they let you try out a day in daycare so your dog is acclimated before you dump them off and head out of town.  

Because of a remodeling project and our dog having some separation issues, I ended up picking him up from daycare and hour after I dropped him off. Everyone was very apologetic, as if it was their fault my dog was being bratty. We tried him again two days later when the remodeling was done, and he loved it.  When we took him back to board a couple days later, his tail was wagging like crazy and he ran to the door.

The best part about boarding him (besides feeling safe about where your dog is and knowing they are socializing) is that he's crashed out sleeping for a day when we get home.  I know that he's been busy playing and is worn out.  Exactly how you want your dog when you want to relax after coming back home.

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3

8

John D.

Chicago, IL

8/19/2009

Tucker Pup's is the cat's meow  . . . er . . . dog's bark!  I won't lie, it breaks my heart to board my precious little Peanut.  She is just a little thing and is afraid of other dogs.  Yet, I know that when I leave her at Tucker Pup's, she is in good hands.  They take great pains to make her comfy and see to it that she gets exercise and play time.  The facility is awesome and the staff cannot be beat.  The grooming service is also topnotch.  My little girl always comes home happy and looking great!  Thanks TP!!!!

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1

7

Irina M.

Chicago, IL

9/8/2009

This was our first experience at Tucker's.  We had tentative plans to leave for Labor Day weekend, and had another kennel lined up for our two pups.  After doing hours of yelping, we thought we had found the best place.  The night before we were supposed to take the dogs to the place, we received an "a la carte" list of things we'd have to pay for while we were away, such as dog play time.  This made us furious because the expectation was that our dogs would be able to play at a dog kennel that was not cheap.  Anyway, long story short, we found Tucker's Pups and called the day of our departure to see if they had room - and the did!  We had to bring our own crate as they were out of suites, but this was doable.  The all day play package cost as much at Tucker's as the basic sit in cage all day packages at other kennels.  When we dropped off our pups, we were happy to see that the kennel was clean and that all the pups were playing around in both the indoor and the outdoor areas.  The people working there were also very nice, they assured us that we could call anytime if we were worried, etc.  
We just got our pups back and they are tired, as promised.  It seems like they had a great time!  This is as good as a city kennel can get (we usually kennel the pups in Indiana, and we didn't think any place in Chicago could compare).  Tucker's is great - it is so nice to know that we now have a reliable kennel that they pups love, one where they can play all day without additional fees, etc.

Thanks Tucker Pup's!

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0

21

Sierra T.

Chicago, IL

3/5/2009

This review is based only on the training at Tucker Pups.

Debbie is fantastic! My boyfriend and I thought our little dachshund was beyond training but the good manners 1 class gave us the tools needed to communicate more effectively with him. I love Debbie's no nonsense approach to training and her patient demeanor. Plus, our dog (who is usually nervous around strangers) loved her.

We will most definately be back for more training!

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8

76

Brenda H.

IL

7/14/2008

I took my darling little puppy here for his first boarding experience and it was such a good experience. Tucker Pups offers a free day trial to make sure that your dog will be able to get along with the other dogs etc, which made me much more comfortable with leaving him.

After a full tour of the facility and meeting the very friendly and helpful staff, I was much less worried about leaving my dog.

The place is clean, the other dogs are well behaved, there are many handlers playing with and keeping an eye on the dogs and the groomer was really helpful about how I should trim my dog's nails. Overall, we were happy he was able to socialize and not be stressed.  The place was so nice and friendly that I kind of wish I could work there!

I've been taking my dog here for basic training classes and have nothing but good things to say. Debbie is friendly but firm and her dog Nigel is awesome.  She has amazing control of the class, considering how it could go with lots of dogs.  We've learned a lot and enjoy going to class every week.

The class is small, maybe 8 people max. They give you a binder and weekly assignments to add to it each class. I can't recommend Tucker Pups enough!

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Elite '09

32

97

Vanessa B.

Chicago, IL

3/24/2009

I have been on the hunt for the perfect doggie day care location for my black lab Mack. I am a huge fan of another location, however, I think I need to maybe make a change and this place may just be the ticket...well, if I can get in that is...

I took a tour of Tucker Pup's this past Saturday and I was mostly pleased with what saw. Many pet owners would be happy to hear that the indoor area, from what I saw, seemed to be rather large. It was separated into 2 sides, one for small dogs and one for large dogs. The only part that bothered me about that was I was not allowed to view the large dog area which is where my guy would be. The entry way was very well kept and there are doors to every room and front door that are always kept closed, didn't realize how important that could be if there was a possible escapee situation. I did see them open the door to the grooming area while they were grooming some dogs, it seemed cleaned and the pups looked like they were being very well taken care of. The door to the big dog area is through the grooming area but there were papers all over the window so you STILL couldn't see what was going on. I get it and all, you don't want to disturb the dogs and cause an all out bark fest, but I think if you are giving a real tour you would make it possible to see the room your dog would be in. Anywho-the small dog area seemed really nice and there were 2 handlers in the room with them. The gold star for me is the rubber (or rubber looking) padded floor which is my main reason for the search for the perfect doggie daycare.

We got a tour also of the boarding area which was upstairs and they are all kept in metal crates. No dogs seemed unhappy however I just don't like the whole metal crates, lets be serious, my dog sleeps on the couch or bed so he would look at me like I am nuts if I am putting him in a metal scary crate. From the boarding room we walked through a giant loft like space to a window where we were allowed to look out to the outdoor area. They do have the grass that is supposed to be dog friendly, which is another plus for me. The outdoor space does seem small (how could I REALLY tell from up above) and the pool they have is just a kiddie pool.

So, the tour was good, but I am on the wait list for day care...I guess you will see an update here once I get in, jeez this doggie day care is competitive!

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Comment from Joel S. of Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center 4/28/2009    Hide »

We conceal the window because dogs can become overly excited…    More »

We conceal the window because dogs can become overly excited when they see a new person, and this can lead to aggression and possible injury.  However, you can see directly into the small dog zone, which is identical to the large dog zone.  If you really want to see the large dog zone, you can peek through, or come on a sunny day because the dogs will likely be outside and it won't matter.

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Elite '09

34

172

Kelsey C.

Chicago, IL

5/19/2009

We've never brought our dog here for daycare or boarding so I can't comment on that, but we LOVE Debbie.  We came here for Good Manners class last year and she was fantastic.  We loved her so much that we're going back for agility class next month.  I'm really sad to hear that some Yelpers had bad experiences with the daycare aspect, but I would definitely recommend Tucker Pups for training.  Debbie all the way!

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Elite '09

31

146

Pooja S.

Seattle, WA

8/19/2008

This place is fantastic! I have boarded Sake here many times and she loves it. Whenever I drop her off she is so happy. She is small, and they have a seperate section for smaller dogs where they play. Post day care she is always so sleepy! They seem to love her almost as much as I do. When I board her, they encourage you to call in as many times as you would like to check in on her. Also the handlers will come on the line and give you a blow by blow description of what your baby has been upto. (if you are anything like me, this really helps!)
I am going to try the grroming, the last time I boarded her, they gave her a bath and she smelled so good.

Thank you Tucker pups! You guys rock!

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Elite '09

34

246

julie e.

Chicago, IL

10/4/2007

No bully breeds allowed.  Regardless of how social or well-behaved they are, Tucker Pup's will not board any kind of bully.  (For day care or boarding- their website and someone on the phone confirmed this.)

I've met chihuahuas that are more aggressive than our pit bull.  This kind of flat out rejection (breed discrimination, really) is just wrong.  Other dog owners that don't like pitbulls playing with their dog are prejudiced and miseducated, not "concerned" or "right," and an organization that claims to care about dogs would know this.  And anyone who runs a pitbull rescue- as they claim to- wouldn't go around reinforcing the stereotypes about our breed that send so many of them to death row instead of warm, loving homes.

But if they don't want our money, they don't get it.  They'd rather have murderous Jack Russels that pitbull Good Citizens.

And I'm sorry, but the fact that you're willing to take a photo or groom my dog (pitbulls don't need grooming, sheesh) doesn't make up for it.  You're willing to take my money but not take care of my dog- unacceptable.

And now Tucker's is stuffing the ballot box- check the history of the people posting positive reviews, next to their photo.  Anyone who posted a 5* review around 12/5 who has just a handful of other reviews is likely a friend/employee/owner cajoled here by management to up the average review.  Really too bad.

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28

116

Diana R.

Chicago, IL

4/18/2008

I can't speak for the grooming or the daycare here but I can certainly speak on the training class that our lil' Ruby just finished taking.  We enrolled our lil' pup for the Polite puppy course and I must say it was great.  Debbie is such an amazing trainer and her dog Nigel is such an awesome dog!  She has such a great way with all types of pup's.  The class was just the right size and I learned A LOT!

Although our lil' Ruby is a daddy's girl I was able to take in everything Debbie taught us and take it home and practice with Ruby.  We have a rottweiler and I don't want her to be an unsocialized  insane dog, so I'm glad that we enrolled her in this class.  We learned from your basic "sit" to our hard to resist "leave it" move.  Also the socialization between the other dogs was great also.  Don't expect for your dog to sit through this class and miraculously be trained in every way.  To me this class is mostly for the owners to take in all the training tips and do's and dont's in order for you to have a well trained dog.  

We will definitely sign-up Ruby for the next class!

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Elite '09

642

536

Brett D.

Chicago, IL

1/2/2008 1 photo

Joel Spainhour, Tucker and the entire Tucker Pup's staff are all really fabulous....

I'm going to stay mum on the Bully breed argument here seeing as it seems to have erupted in the way of reviews... I think that's something that should remain in talk threads when we are evaluating the merits of how a business is run and how their clientele is handled, but I digress...  

What I do know is my pup and I were both treated fantastically. After a bad boarding experience years ago I had vowed to never board Morgan again. So with that we began our relationship with unreliable dog sitters and the sky high bills that came with them. With last minute New Years Eve plans and no dog sitter in sight, I had no choice but to go with the highly recommended Tucker Pup's.

I spoke directly with Joel (the owner) on the phone and he spent over 1/2 an hour answering all of my questions and assuring me things would be ok. They also offered us a free day of doggie daycare prior to her overnight stay so that Morgan could acclimate herself with the surroundings before being put in a new strange place. Her trial run went off without a hitch - Morgan came home happy and excited, I came home relieved.

The overnight stay was a breeze... she was allowed to have her bed, chew toys and things from home that would ensure her comfortability. She came home tired and content and shockingly un-stinky.... I'm actually looking forward to bringing her back for playtime with her new friends soon.

Many thanks to Joel and the TP crew for helping me overcome my kennel phobia!!!

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2

2

Francine Z.

Chicago, IL

2/20/2008

Overall, my experience with Tucker Pup's was excellent.

Being a new puppy owner I was very careful (a.k.a. terrified, about leaving my dog with strangers) and researched many different boarders before deciding to go with Tucker Pups.  During my initial phone call, the owner Joel, happily answered all my questions and invited us in for a free day of play to get my dog, Buddy, comfortable with the place.  I dropped him off on a Saturday morning and Joel gave us a tour of the play room and the area where the dogs sleep at night .  Everything is very clean and orderly and you can tell the staff there know just what they're doing!! when I came back to get him that evening, he was pooped.  I could tell he had a blast and had never played so long in his life :) I think he slept for 24 hours straight!

I recently took Buddy in for his first official stay for 5 days. Upon drop-off the staff was very pleasant and accommodating and I felt absolutely comfortable leaving him.

Tucker Pups is a great place to take your dog if you need a place for him to play during the day or if you travel. You can trust that your little loved one will be safe and very well cared for.  We'll be going back very soon and I would definitely reccommend this place to any of my frends!

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7

46

amy c.

Chicago, IL

2/23/2007

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.

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Elite '09

26

229

Sara F.

Chicago, IL

12/3/2007

The owners here are very, very nice. They do wonderful pet photography and they care very much about animal rescues.

I have spoken with the owner and he said they DO work with bully breeds. They board and groom and preform other services. The manager is also heavily involved  in Pit Bull Rescue!!!

If any questions better to call to ask.

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2

10

Julie G.

Chicago, IL

6/24/2009

As always, Tucker Pup's took excellent care of Buster when he visited. Buster always loves coming to Tucker Pup's. The staff takes excellent care of our little guy and we never worry when we drop him off as we know he is in good hands. Having tried other places, we can say without hesitation that Tucker Pup's is in a class by itself. We only wish we lived closer so Buster could come more often but the fact that we go out of our way to bring Buster back is a testament to how great Tucker Pup's is.

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9

90

Jenny D.

Chicago, IL

9/6/2007

I HATE boarding my dog, mainly because he hates it too :(  however, a variety of circumstances forced me to find boarding for my baby for two nights and after doing some research, I called Tucker's to check it out.  Located in the west loop area near several other dog kennels/boarding facilities, the owner (and Tucker!  loveable yellow lab) gave me a tour and I was thrilled by the clean facilities and knowledgeable staff.  There's parking out front for easy drop-off and pick up and the place itself is huge; the first floor is devoted to doggie playtime/daycare and the second floor had night time boarding plus an area for classes and training.  What really sweetened the deal for me was the attached townhouse/apartment where someone (staff?) lived so that there was a person on the premise 24 hours a day in case of any dog emergencies.  

First time boarders get a free daycare session to acclimate your dog; the playgroups are predominately small (under 25lb) dogs though when I came to pick up Pinto, I saw at least 10 larger dogs (over 50lbs) chilling in the outside play area.  They separate by size; unfortunately, my baby's too big for the little dogs and too much of a wuss for the big dogs so he came back with a cut on his arm.  Tucker's was very apologetic and Pinto got over it in a few days.  As a human, I thought it was a great place and if you're in a pinch to board your dog, I'd definitely recommend this place.  Great grooming/bathing services too, Pinto smelled great for weeks!

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2

10

Tom W.

Chicago, IL

8/28/2008

My wife and I have taken our boy Moose here for training and he is a new man.  Debbie is a great trainer and she uses positive reinforcement, which means your dog listens to you, but is not afraid of you.  I have also taken Moose here for grooming and I was afraid he would be traumatized by the experience, but he came out very happy and looked and smelled great.  I would recommend Tucker Pup's to anyone!

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Elite '09

2943

1568

Andrea R.

Chicago, IL

2/24/2008

One of my fiance's friends has been raving about their new doggie daycare. When I looked it up on Yelp I realized that Summer (my pup) has been missing out on a grand old time! And just a few days ago Summer got to experience her own 2 days of fun at Tucker Pup's.

I believe Summer has found her new home away from home...
1) I love that when I call Tucker Pup's they actually answer the phone.  May be odd that this impresses me, but we used to take Summer to another doggie daycare and it drove me crazy that they were impossible to get in touch with!
2) Joel, the very personable owner, runs one heck of a doggie daycare.  And it helps that you can tell he's a huge dog lover!
3) During pick-up I asked to talk to the staff that spent time with Summer and they provided me with a detailed description of how Summer did there that I could share with my super protective dog owner fiance.
4) Summer came home smell free (well as smell free as a smelly dog can be). She typically needs to be put in the bath immediately after her days at her other doggie daycare, but Tucker Pup's did a great job of keeping her cleaner!
5) Tucker, Joel's lab, is absolutely adorable and the best behaved dog I've ever seen. If Joel can make Summer that calm I'll be dropping her  off everyday!

So yeah, I'm a fan! And when I was complaining about Summer's shedding problem (nothing like having dog hair all over my clothes) Joel informed me that his groomer does some sort of deshedding thing and that his lab didn't shed for weeks after.  We'll be trying that soon and if their groomer can stop Summer from shedding 5 stars is not nearly enough stars for Tucker Pup's!

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9

26

Dan R.

Chicago, IL

4/29/2008

Staff here is great..what can I say? When it comes down to it, I think dog boarding is all about the staff, especially with our dog because she is wary of other people. Tucker Pups staff has done a great job with Summer and I heartily recommend..

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0

6

Kathy B.

Chicago, IL

12/8/2008

I have been taking my dogs to Tucker Pups since the day they opened.   Shaggy goes to day care and has been boarded at the facility there countless times over the last several years.  I have always been 100% happy with Tucker Pup's proactive service and responsiveness.  In addition we have taken training classes and used Debbie Bickford for private training and also could not be more pleased.  I am sure that as in all businesses that are extremely customer service intensive, you can't please all of the people all of the time but I would recommend Tucker Pup's to anyone looking for a home away from home for their dog!

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Elite '09

30

84

Andrea C.

Boston, MA

11/26/2007

Tucker Pups has been recommended to me by many people. In fact they advertise themselves as Chicago's "PREMIER" dogcare, boarding, and training on their website. I am extremely disappointed in Tucker Pups because despite claiming to be a facility and organization that is "RAISING" the standards to bring its customers an unprecedented combination of services, professionalism, and care in the industry... Tucker Pups supports DISCRIMINATION against pitbulls and their policy is nothing but unprofessional. YES, I am a pit bull owner and reading the paragraph below from their web page just shows how unprofessional and biased they really are. Please read:

No pit bulls or pit mixes. We know that your pit bull is incredibly nice and would never hurt anyone. We also know it is not fair that they get such a bum rap in this world. However, as is standard practice in the dog daycare industry across the country, we do not allow pit bulls or pit mixes at this time. Certain dogs such as these tend to not be as comfortable in a play group environment, and they also tend to have a very short fuse while being very physically strong. We cannot accept the risk that a dog, customer, or our staff could get seriously injured. In addition, many other customers are not comfortable putting their dog in a group with a pit bull, and we can't alienate our customer base on behalf of one dog. Sorry.

"We can't alienate our customer base on behalf of one dog." Is it really just one dog? I don't think so, it is against a whole breed. I do agree with Tucker Pups that many daycare and boarding facilities do not allow pits, but their standards are usually against ALL dogs considered to be part of the BULLY BREEDS. So Tucker Pups DOES take other bully breeds just NOT pits. As long as your dog is not a PIT, Tucker Pups is willing to accept the risk that a dog, customer, or their staff could get seriously injured by your dog. To target out only one specific breed is discrimatory and unfair. To assume that every pit is a rescue and possibly damaged is also unfair. The fact is that any GOOD, let alone "PREMIER" facility would temperment test all dogs in their programs and use that as a basis for acceptance. A good facility will JUDGE THE DEED and NOT THE BREED. I challenge and encourage Tucker Pups to RESIST the IGNORANCE that already exists out there about pits thanks to people like Michael Vick and to reconsider their policies against this breed (or at least... reconsider the wording used on their website). Rewording would go along ways in not pissing people off I think.  But either way, A true "PROFESSIONAL" and "PREMIER" facility that is truly dedicated to all dogs would be PASSIONATE about EDUCATING and INSPIRING the public about all breeds. It is important to remind the public that pits used to be one of America's most beloved dogs and a member of many American households. Today many pits are therapy and service dogs.

    In response to this, "Before you give us a one-star rating about this, just remember that for every pit bull owner who is upset about this decision, there are lots of non-pit bull owners who are happy about it." This may be absolutely true, but honestly how many facilities and postings have you seen about a person/reviewer giving a facility  stars  JUST because they don't accept a certain breed. I seriously think you could of left that out. Though, thank you for clarifying that the no pit policy is only for daycare.

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1

2

Sarah M.

Chicago, IL

2/13/2008

When I first started searching for doggie day care and boarding for my 2 year old dog a few years back, I visited Tucker Pup's.  They had just opened, and Joel gave me a tour of the facilities, and even took me to see the boarding area that was still under renovation.  I was impressed from the start - the indoor play area was large, and had rubber flooring which is safe and sanitary.  The outdoor play area was also big, but I liked that there was a spacious option no matter the weather.  The boarding area looked like it would be great as well, but wasn't going to be available for a few months...

Unfortunately, we opted to go with another facility at the time because we needed to board our dog for a few weekends that summer, and we wanted our dog to settle in.  Did I have buyer's remorse?  You bet.  

I've kept my eye on Tucker Pup's for the past few years - I ask around at the dog park.  I talk to friends.  I've heard nothing but great things.  After becoming disenchanted with that first facility, I gave Joel a call.

Scout is now a happy Tucker Pup's dog - she loves it here!  I know that she'll be happy anywhere that there are dogs and dog-loving humans, but I am a much happier doggie parent.  What I especially love about Tucker Pup's is that there are lots of staff members available - when I arrive in the morning, there are multiple staff members getting the dogs checked in, acclimated, and preparing for the day.  I like when I can have interactions with the people who are spending time with my dog.  Too many facilities hide their staff members from the public.  When I pick up Scout, I can have a chat with Joel, and inquire about my dog's day with the folks who spent the day with her.  Love that.

I also like that my dog has spent the last few weeks playing INDOORS, rather than outside in this frigid weather.  I am happy for the staff as well - warm and toasty staff=happy staff=happy dogs.

Finally, the owner is approachable, responsive, and understands what's important in dog care AND customer service.  I don't need pampering, just a nice clean place for my dog to play, well-trained, friendly staff members, and rock solid customer service.  Tucker Pup's has all of that, and I would definitely recommend it!

UPDATE 3/1/2008: Had my dog groomed at Tucker Pup's for the first time this week.  Debbie, the groomer, is great - she followed my instructions exactly.  Hopefully, she doesn't think I'm a crazy puppy mom, because we'll definitely be using Tucker Pup's for all of Scout's grooming needs!

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0

3

Angela B.

Evanston, IL

4/1/2008

My pups, Egypt and Tor, are regular Saturday and Sunday daycare visitors and BIG fans of Tucker Pup's. I am thrilled that their first boarding experience was with Tucker Pup's because the staff and familiar surroundings were essential to helping my pups get passed a very stressful ordeal. I can't say enough for the obvious love and great treatment the pups receive when they are at Tucker Pup's. They are always excited when we drive up to the center; like giddy children going to a toy store. We have also had them groomed at Tucker Pup's and they do a fabulous job! I would not hesitate to board at Tucker Pup's again and sincerely thank Joel and the entire Tucker Pup's crew for the great service they provide.

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