Christy recently booked dog boarding with David in Chicago
We love booking with David and his family! He does an amazing job of communicating each day with us and sending lots of pictures and updates. We’ve booked with him a few times in the last and will definitely continue to book with him.
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Chicago dog sitters were rated 4.9 out of 5 stars from 2,000+ reviews
Nick's review on Jul 11, 2019
Darcy was great! Super communicative, super easy as far as pick up/drop off, and Denver had an amazing time and came home pooped! Would highly recommend and will definitely be using Darcy again!
Shanae's review on Jul 09, 2019
Esther was fantastic! Incredibly sweet, responded promptly and sent us great pictures of our kitties while we were gone. I trusted her in our home and will book again on our next trip!
Ashley's review on Jul 08, 2019
Rutger was great with our pup. It was our first time leaving her after adopting. Rutger made us and Butters feel comfortable. We will absolutely use Rutger again!
Allen's review on Jul 04, 2019
Carla and Kyle were great. Watched our dogs for the weekend while we were out of town. Would definitely book them again.
Tiff's review on May 27, 2019
Tricia was excellent! She sent me photos every day and let me know how my pup was doing. Being new to Chicago, I was a little unsure of leaving my dog with someone I didn’t know but Tricia totally put my mind at ease. I highly recommend her!
Harvey's review on May 11, 2019
Romeo took care of our pups for a weekend. He sent photos and updates throughout their whole stay. He was easy to communicate with and quick to answer. Our dogs had a great time and came back very happy! We continue to use him as a dog walker. Would highly recommend!
Abraham's review on May 09, 2019
Great sitter. Accommodated me on very short notice and took good care of my pup when I needed. Will be my first choice if I ever need a sitter again
Lauren's review on May 05, 2019
Annie was wonderful. She was super communicative and sent lots of photos and videos. We will definitely work with her again!
Top Dog Parks in Chicago
Lincoln Park—the largest park in the city—resides just east of the affluent North Side Chicago neighborhood of the same name. The park covers 1,200 acres of gorgeous places to explore with your pet. You can stroll through tranquil spots like the 130-year-old North Pond Nature Sanctuary, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, or Oak Street Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. While you are walking the trails, keep an eye out for the famous statues honoring General Grant and Abraham Lincoln. In addition to the trails, golf courses, and sports fields, Lincoln Park also houses the Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory. For more cultural activities, you can get a pet sitter in Chicago, and then check out Theatre on the Lake, Chicago History Museum, or the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Often referred to as “Chicago’s front yard,” Grant Park is a 319-acre park near downtown’s busiest attractions. It boasts the incredible Buckingham Fountain geyser, where you and your pooch can stop by at night to enjoy the choreographed light and music show. There are many sport fields including a skate park, climbing wall at Maggie Daley Park, and miles of paths for walking your dog. It’s home to some of Chicago’s biggest events, like Taste of Chicago, an annual two-week food festival, and Lollapalooza, a live music festival. Every summer, the Grant Park Symphony offers free concerts in the park, and the Museum Campus section features the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium—home to 32,000 animals—and Adler Planetarium. Grant Park is also home to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Opened in 2004, Millennium Park is a 24.5-acre section of northwestern Grand Park. This prominent civic center near the Lake Michigan shoreline is the location of the famous Cloud Gate, the bean-shaped public sculpture designed by Sir Anish Kapoor, centerpiece of AT&T Plaza. The Crown Fountain is an interactive work of public art and video sculpture, which is a great place to visit on a hot day, both for kids or your fur babies to splash and cool off in. The Nichols Bridgeway, a pedestrian bridge, connects the Great Lawn of Millenium Park to the third floor of the Modern Wing in the Art Institute of Chicago.
Jackson Park was named for Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. In the middle of the park is the Wooded Island, which includes the Garden of the Phoenix, a Japanese garden. This large park, covering 550 acres, borders Lake Michigan and other South Side neighborhoods. It was first developed for the Chicago’s World Fair in 1893, and the Museum of Science and Industry now resides in the palace leftover from the fair. You can take your pooch along the woodland and lakefront trails, see the boats in the harbors, and hunt for golf balls at the golf course. It’s also potential future site of the Barack Obama Presidential Center and library.
Chicago's Bark Score
How Chicago got their Bark Score
We love crunching numbers almost as much as we love caring for dogs, which is why we came up with the Bark Score. It's all about how dog-friendly a city is, and is determined using census statistics, local business information, and our own data. Chicago received a 83 out of 100 in vet availability, which includes the number of emergency veterinarians, regular vets, specialists, and the average premium for pet insurance in the area. For pet services—like groomers available, number of dog trainers, and count of Rover sitters—this city earned a 97. For the parks and fun category, Chicago received a 89 for its number of dog parks, sunny days, and dog-friendly restaurants and hotels. And last but not least, for quality of dog life which includes overall dog population, average yard size, and number of dog-friendly property rentals, this city earned a 81.
Top Dog Neighborhoods in Chicago
Near North Side / Lincoln Park
There are three areas that make up central Chicago—the loop, the Near South Side, and the Near North Side. This last is a lively Chicago neighborhood home to some of Chicago’s top attractions, including Wrigley Stadium, the Navy Pier, and Magnificent Mile. You can take your dog all around these dog-friendly landmarks. The 3,300-foot-long Navy Pier, for instance, welcomes dogs in all its outdoor areas. If you window shop along the upscale shops on the Magnificent Mile, you can get your pooch some water outside the Shops at North Bridge, which has water stations and poop bags. The Lincoln Park neighborhood is part of Near North Side, but it is distinguished by its family feel with many cultural activities like the Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago History Museum, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. For live music, check out Kingston Mines and Blues Bar, and make sure to pick up some pizza at Original Gino’s East of Chicago!
Near West Side
The Near West Side is a great neighborhood for family activities, like visiting Chicago’s largest zoo, Brookfield Zoo. The zoo offers many hands-on experiences at the Hamill Family Wild Encounters, Dolphins in Action, or visiting the Humboldt penguins. Near West Side is famous for Oak Park, a vibrant village first settled in the 1830s, where you can find Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes, Ernest Hemingway’s childhood home and museum, and the United Center, home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. When you get hungry, head over to Little Italy to try out restaurants including Rosebud, Francesca’s, Pompei, and Al’s No. 1 Italian Beef. Chicago dog walkers can also take their dogs out for a stroll around the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago or explore Greektown, made famous by the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
The Loop
Chicago’s downtown, known simply as “The Loop,” is the second largest commercial business district after Midtown Manhattan, and is the headquarters of many businesses and famous attractions. Dominated by skyscrapers and high rises like the Willis Tower— formerly the Sears Tower—it’s home to plenty of outdoor sculptures by amazing artists including Picasso, Miro, Chagall, and Calder. If you have an afternoon or evening free, leave your pup with a trusted Chicago dog boarder and visit the Art Institute of Chicago, the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago Theatre, or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Loop’s waterfront Chicago Riverwalk gets a green-dye treatment every year for St. Patrick’s Day.
Wicker Park / Bucktown
The Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood is Chicago’s creative epicenter just outside downtown. Bucktown was originally known as “Little Poland,” but in the 1970s, it became a haven for artists and musicians. It’s now famous for live music and nightlife, restaurants, and art galleries in the Flat Iron Arts Building. For drinks, check out Brewery Piece and the bar The Violet Hour. The Bloomington Trail, also known as “the 606,” is three miles of parks on an abandoned elevated rail line along the southern boundary of this neighborhood, with Chicago River to the east and Milwaukee Avenue to the west. Food choices in this neighborhood include Burger at Floyd’s, French food at Le Bouchon, or American at The Bristol.
Why do dog owners love Chicago?
In 1837, with a population of 4,000, Chicago officially became a city. Thanks to the canals and railways running through the city, it soon became the transport hub of the United States. The city’s population continued to grow rapidly, but in 1871, the great Chicago fire spread throughout downtown Chicago, leaving more than 100,000 residents homeless. Thanks to the strength and persistence of its citizens, it was rebuilt and by 1900, the population had expanded to 1.7 million. In the 1930s, some of Chicago’s hallmark landmarks were opened, including the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Chicago of today is still flourishing, with a population of 2.7 million. Visitors can meander through the city for a taste of skyscrapers including John Hancock Center, WIllis Tower, and the Tribune Tower. Or hire a Chicago dog sitter and visit the Art Institute of Chicago to see some famous Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artwork. Although you will want to wait to take your pets out to restaurants when the windy city weather is warmer, you can find many pet-friendly restaurants across all areas of Chicago. With a new location in Wrigleyville, home of the Wrigley Stadium, you can drink margaritas and chow on tacos at Big Star. If you feel like Italian, go to the West Loop neighborhood and try the delicious pastas at Formento’s. Also in West Loop is Nellcote, which offers a weekend Bone Appetit happy hour that includes special treats for your dogs. And cat lovers can go to the patio at Lady Gregory’s Irish Bar & Restaurant, one of the few places that welcomes both cats and dogs. The Navy Pier, a staple in Chicago since the early 20th century, welcomes dogs to all of their outdoor attractions, with dog-friendly restaurants throughout. Chicago has many dog parks, the best of which have custom built obstacle courses. One of the best dog parks in Chicago is Jackson Bark, located in Jackson Park along the lakeshore, which features an agility obstacle course made of construction materials and traffic signs. They also provide first aid kids, water hoses, bowls, pooper scoopers, dog toys, and time out areas. Wiggly Field, a free dog park at west end of Reed-Keppler Park, is fenced in, perfect for off leash frolicking, and also has dog agility equipment available. If your dogs love water, head out to the Montrose Dog Beach, where they can play in the lake, just north of Wrigleyville.
