I can't say enough wonderful things about the service provided by Prairie Path Pet Care. They helped us raise our Golden Retriever, appropriately named Trouble. We got her when she was only 2 months old and had no clue what we were doing. Tom was sooo fantastic in always dealing with our continually changing schedule that varied with every work week. Never complaining or telling us to pull it together, because everything was so last minute all the time, and he had to deal with it. He was honestly a blessing. I'm not sure what we would have done if he ever couldn't make it work. He just always did, and we were so very grateful. Laura was our assigned puppy walker, and she took care of Trouble 2-3 times a day anywhere from 1-4 days a week for 7 months. Trouble loved Laura very much and got very excited when her friend showed up to play with her... Even though technically Trouble really just wanted to be a lazy slug and eat sticks the whole time she was outside on her walks. Laura was knowledgeable and reliable, and saved that puppy's life continually as she tried to eat everything toxic in sight. Caring for a puppy for the first time was intimidating and overwhelming, but it was reassuring to have people that we trusted give us support that we could depend on. They really do become like part of the family, because they are in your home, caring for this little being that you reluctantly still love, even on her most troublesome days. I let Tom know that we would be more than happy to serve as a reference, so please feel free to ask him for our phone numbers if there are any questions. Thanks! read more

I love Prairie Path Pet Care and Wendy, in particular. My dog grew up from a puppy until about 4 in the City, he was used to having a daily walk. I was not going to take that from him even though we now had a yard for him to romp around in. Henry was spoiled with some amazing walkers and options living in Chicago, I was skeptical the suburbs would have the same options and service. I found PPPC through a diligent internet search. I met with a few other pet care companies and was way more satisfied with the initial meeting from PPPC. Tom, the owner, and Wendy, Henry's walker, came to meet Henry. While Tom and I did the business discussion, Wendy immediately starting playing with Henry and hanging out on the floor with him. Henry is a 45 pound Australian Labradoodle, who loves attention, so this was right in his wheelhouse. After seeing how great Wendy was with Henry during the meeting, I signed up. (funny note--I was getting my ADT system installed at the same time and the guy who was doing my installation made a comment about how his sister used PPPC too and loved them) Now fast forward a couple years, Henry loves his Auntie Wendy. She sends the best notes after the walks and even captures cuter pictures than me! She takes the time to dry him off (as best as possible) after getting caught in the rain, plays with him inside if it's inclement weather for a long walk and gives him a treat or two when he's been a good boy. It seems as if she really loves my dog, and I couldn't ask for a better situation. I definitely recommend PPPC to anyone in the available areas! read more

We were first time dog owners so we were skeptical about having someone coming in and dealing with our new 2 month old puppy and of course having keys to our place...BUT after meeting Tom we knew we had made the right decision. You could see he genuinely loved animals by how he was with our Jada...Whenever we had a question (and i had many) he was ALWAYS quick to respond and put us at ease... I was working from home a few days here and there and I got a chance to meet Jessie...she is the one who walks Jada daily and I could see not only how much Jessie liked Jada...but how much Jada LOVED Jessie...she isn't like that with everyone...I was very impressed... One day I had gotten a call from Tom letting me know there was something wrong with our front door...not only did Tom do that BUT then he stayed there until maintenance got there so our house wasn't left open.....they go above and beyond to make sure while we are gone that everything not only goes well with our "baby" but also with our place as well.... To top it off I came home one day to some beautiful flowers from them wishing me a speedy recover from surgery....it was so thoughtful.... If you are looking for a place to come in and take care of your pets I HIGHLY...HIGHLY suggest going with Prairie Path...you won't be disappointed.... read more

Our 8 year old chocolate Lab, Hershey and 11 year old white mini- schnauzer , Bailey LOVE Julie , our current dog walker and sitter when we travel ! I met Tom in the beginning of the year when my husband and I moved from Glen Ellyn to downtown Naperville as were looking for a reliable and trustworthy pet care service. There were several other pet care businesses in the area, but it was Prairie Path that was and continues to be the ace in the hole. We have been with Tom and the Prairie Path family since April 2014. My husband and I love the technology scan recording via email when Julie arrives and departs from our home. The walks average 25 minutes and receiving an email mid day at work about how our dogs are doing is a huge comfort. I do continue to journal long hand with Julie as well which makes us feel like a family. I know the boys miss her on the weekends. If I had a question or needed to change or cancel a walk, Tom returned my text or call promptly with no worries. The owners and staff of Prairie Path Pet Care are truly caring and compassionate people who love our furry four paws when we can not be at home . Payment can be by credit card or check though I prefer the credit card for the ease and "points" on card. Give them a shout !!! 5 thumbs up !!! Karen K. read more

We used to rely on a family member to watch our fur babies, but after they moved out of state we had to figure out another solution. While it was great to have that option while it lasted, we always felt like we were imposing and wanted to find something that was more reliable and would reduce our stress about going out of town. Initially, we looked at boarding facilities, but we have a very high-energy Jack Russell that was never properly socialized and a 65-lb mutt that is nervous around unfamiliar men. While they are both loving sweethearts once they get familiar with someone, they can be overwhelming to strangers. I reached out to Tom and talked about my concerns, and he reassured me that they have a full spectrum of pups they support. I was impressed with how comprehensive the paperwork was, as well as all of the information they provided. We conducted our first meet and greet and determined that we should have a female meet our pups to see the response. Tienne met our dogs and they very quickly took to her. During our time away, we were thrilled to not only receive written updates but also tons of pictures of our pups having an amazing time! We were so impressed with the experience, and for the first time have peace of mind while we travel. read more

We have been using Tom's Prairie Path Pet Care dog sitting service for 2 years. During that time, we have always left 2 dogs in their care. Here is what I like best about Prairie Path Pet Care of Wheaton: 1) I can schedule online. No more calling dog walkers and miscommunications. 2) The dog walkers check in and check out by scanning the refrigerator magnet in my kitchen. I get notified immediately when the sitters start their visit and when they end. 3) The sitters are dog lovers (at least they love my dogs). They unfailingly take pictures of my dogs and the dogs always look enthusiastic and happy. 4) They are 100% reliable. We've never had a missed visit, and they dogs have always been healthy and happy when we return home. 5) While not low-priced, I believe their services are very fairly priced. 6) Our payment card is debited at the end of each away-from-home trip. No more leaving checks or cash behind for the walker (or forgetting to do so, or worrying about tipping.) 7)l Tom is easy to reach and unfailingly courteous, accommodating and professional. Tom knows his business and runs it in a very professional manner. He hires the right people for the work, and sees things from the customer's point of view. GREAT BUSINESS. Bob from Winfield read more

My dogs are my family, though I admit, they aren't the easiest kids for a single mom. When I interviewed Tom at Prairie Path I was blown away at how easily my girls got along with him. Now, bear in mind I have bigger dogs. I have a collie/hound mix and an Aussie Cattle dog who both pull like mushers. They can be a little overprotective, a little aggressive and I'll spare you the story of how one of them headbutted Tom in her excitement and split his lip. However, the dogs LOVE Tom. Not only does he come in every day to excited pups and wagging tails but he leaves the most awesome detailed emails of their time together and spends a few extra minutes giving treats and pets. He's been invaluable with suggestions on how to make caring for two dogs by myself easy and painless with training tips and suggestions and is there at the drop of a hat to get them out if I get stuck. I cannot stress enough, I could not in any way be any happier that my dogs have a friend in prairie path and in Tom. This is a ridiculously convenient service with the nicest, most dog friendly people I've ever dealt with. My only fear is that my girls will go into mourning if we take a vacation and they don't see Tom for a while. read more

My fiancé and I both work full time but absolutely fell in love with a rescue dog. She is very protective and we were concerned with being able to find a service that would help us help her. Freya absolutely loves her walker Melanie. We get an amazing recap of the day, pictures, and seeing where they went that day on their walk is amazing. Freya has completely changed from a timid, nervous dog to a loving, happy part of our family and we have to thank Prairie Path Pet Service because we could have never rescued without the stability and piece of mind we get from everyone here. Whenever we have to call to cancel a day, as heartbreaking as it is for all of us, they know exactly who we are, they have nothing but nice things to say about Freya, and everything is easy! We have never had a hassle or inconsistency. I recommend them to everyone I talk to and people are so impressed with the service we get for the very reasonable price. You can't even put a price on the piece of mind you get and having the same person come everyday and seeing your pet love their walker and having a relationship with them. My only regret is that we don't get to interact more with Melanie because we aren't home. read more

I live in Wheaton Center and found Prairie Path Pet Care through the Internet and Yelp. This service is absolutely amazing. Not only were they responsive and open to any situation we had for them, they were able to adjust our services on short notice while keeping us updated as the changes were implemented. The software they use is amazing and allows you the comfort of seeing your pet being walked, for how long, and where. Not only that, but their dog walkers (Jessie is awesome) write great reviews and notes to let you know how the walk went. I love that they wrote both negative and positive things they noticed with our pup. After all, everyone knows puppies can be fun and plenty of work! They take great care of the pup and make sure she has everything she needs prior to them leaving. Its not often that a dog walker averages over 30min with your dog when your services are quoted at 20min! Great peace of mind. If you are looking for dog walking or dog care services, your search should stop here. I have never felt so at ease leaving a pet with someone else. They keep you well informed and give you the peace of mind that your dog is in good hands. Bravo guys and keep it up! read more

After a job change, our min pin/terrier mix, Mickey, not only was pushed to his bladder limits, but the anxiety created a compulsive licking of his paws. This created sores and discomfort, which became difficult to handle for all of us. We called Tom at Prairie Path, along with our walker Laura, and set up a plan to have Mickey walked every weekday afternoon. We could not be more thrilled! Our stress and nervousness is gone, and Mickey's anxiety has been relieved to the point that his licking has stopped, and his sores are healed. Laura is on time every day, and Mickey loves that she refills his water and gives him some calming pets before heading out to walk. After his walks, Laura takes the time to play fetch with his favorite toys. Prairie Path walkers send email summaries after every walk, and they are the highlight of our work days. There are even pictures to show us how much fun Mickey is having! If you are looking for a professional and trustworthy group to help keep your pet happy, Prairie Path is the group to do it! While we try and be budget conscious where we can, this is worth every penny, and we can't imagine going back to life before them. read more

Prairie Path Pet Care is the best!!!! I wouldn't trust my dogs to anyone else having had them take care of my two "boys" for over 6 months! Tom is accommodating, quick to respond, flexible, kind, loves animals and is able to offer many services that other pet care companies do not have. I love the emails that the walker sends to me every time she walks my dogs - they put a smile to my face when I'm at work. I also get an email when the walker first comes to the house so I know what time she gets there and what time she leaves. She also tells me how the "boys" are doing that day. She goes out of her way to get to know them and remembers things such as opening the basement door if its storming outside since she knows that one of my boys is afraid of the thunder! She dispenses medicines, refills water bowls and even takes the time to play and pet them. I asked Tom to have the walker turn on my air conditioning in the house one morning as I was driving to work since I forgot. And of course the walker did so my "boys" were comfortable that day! I can say without a doubt that Tom and his crew are the kindest and most dependable pet sitters I have ever had. read more

I recently adopted an American Pit bull who has a lot of energy to say the least. When I first called and spoke to Tom I was concerned that they wouldn't be able to care for my dog Zeus because of his breed. Tom immediately assured me that they DO NOT discriminate against any breed and offered to meet with me later that day. When Tom and Janell arrived at my apartment my dog Zeus immediately went to them wagging his tail. Janell is highly dependable and does an amazing job caring for Zeus. After every walk she sends me an update sharing with me how their walk went that day. Zeus didn't have much training with walking on a leash but Janell worked with him so he wouldn't pull on the leash and in such a short time he had made huge improvements. She always takes time to give him belly rubs or to play with him with his toys. A few weeks back Zeus got into some raisin bread and had to go to the vet for a few days. I was really worried I might lose him. Janell emailed me every day to check on him. That meant so much to me. I can't say enough nice things about Prairie Path. They really do care about their furry clients. read more

I've been using Prairie Pet Care for about 3 years now. I've had a couple of different walkers and have been extremely satisfied with all of them. They are people with big hearts and clearly love dogs! It is a wonderful feeling to have the trust in the person watching my "baby girl"! They send an email with pics and let you when they arrive and when they leave through their electronic system so you know exactly when they arrive and leave. Cindy writes the cutest notes and really spoils my girl. Marcia, the manager is very responsive and professional. I've used the service for overnight stays and am so amazed how meticulous my house is and how happy and content my dog is when I arrive home. I know she was spoiled because I actually don't think she missed me! Such a pleasure to not worry one bit while I'm away. I am always given the opportunity to meet a new walker but I don't find it necessary given the wonderful trust I have with the service. I would most definitely recommend Prairie Path! I've had dogs for many decades and this is by far one of the best services I've experienced. Lee Kostuk read more

For the first time ever, I needed a dog walker. Eek! I was very nervous to let someone else take care of my little man, Rico, while I was at work. Especially because he can be a little (okay, a lot) aggressive with other dogs! Luckily I contacted Tom and all my worries vanished! He came by and spent a great deal of time with myself and Rico, creating a detailed profile so that any walker could walk in and be prepared. No handoff needed! He also explained the GPS tracker, services provided, and answered every question I felt I needed to ask. Holly is Rico's primary dog walker. Rico LOVES her! When I leave for work, I feel 100% reassured that she will come and take care of him. And when others have to step in for her, I am confident that they will give him the love and attention that he needs while I am away. And getting an email with step by step details of the visit? Score! I cannot say enough good things about Prairie Path and their employees. But I can say I would recommend them to anyone that wants to know that their fur babies will be safe and loved while they are away. read more

When searching for a dog walker I had no idea where to start! I did an online search and after reading a lot of great reviews for Prairie Path, I gave them a call. Tom was able to come over that evening and set up a new account for Delilah to have a walker out the very next day. I was thoroughly impressed with their ability to accommodate my procrastination and last minute request! Cheryl has been walking my dog now for three weeks and I can tell you that not only is she prompt, she also sends the best updates on what she did with my pup for the day. It makes me feel very comfortable to know that I am having someone walk my dog who will put in the effort when I cannot. They follow all my requests and even have been helping out with obedience training while on the leash since she is only 10 months old. I couldn't be happier or feel more comfortable that my dog is being taken good care of while I am gone and being loved all along the way! read more

Prairie Path Pet Care was recommended to us by our veterinary office - our dog has diabetes and requires insulin shots 2x a day. I wasn't comfortable with just anyone giving my pup her shot. Tom came over a couple of times before the first time they would be giving her a shot, to go through all the instructions and to see how we did it. He then came back another night when we were here so he could do it and ask any questions. We use Prairie Path Pet Care for feeding/shots on an occasional basis, but have pet walks during the week frequently. Since we aren't on a regular schedule, we have had several people in the team walk our dog, and get great service each time. I really like the online scheduling, email updates with pictures, and that they've been able to accommodate some last minute requests for walks. I don't worry about my dog being home alone during the day - she looks forward to her walks with the Prairie Path team! read more

Prairie Path has been phenomenal! My family loved them and we got GREAT reports about their friendliness and professionalism from the senior community where they walked my mother's dog. They were as impressed as we were. We used Prairie Path to care for my mothers dog as she was suffering from Alzheimers. They enabled my mom to keep her dog when she could no longer care for her. Getting twice daily emails detailing the dog visits helped my sister and I keep up to date with how the dog was doing and what she needed but also gave us regular insight into what my mom was doing. My mom looked forward to their daily visits. Fantastic. The company was reliable, trustworthy and totally compassionate. They were accommodating of our special situation and willing to go the extra mile to help in sensitive situation. I could not recommend them more highly. Tom, Brittany, Janell and Tienne - Prairie Path is the best read more

Absolutely the best! We were on a vacation in the Bahamas, and hired Prairie Pet Care just to walk our 2 dogs once per day, as we were having someone stay at our house round the clock to take care of the dogs (and tortoise). That person BAILED, but didn't tell us - Holly - our walker with Prairie Path - emailed me and notified me that there was no one at the house - took the extra initiative to let me know - and came alot more just to take care of them - and our tortoise. She saved the day, and helped in a bad crisis - I fully trust her to do the right job - and believe me - the next time we go out of town - I will be using them! I love Holly so much I plan on having her come while I'm at work during the day just to walk the dogs.... AMAZING AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! I love the email updates I get after each walk - it really kept me in touch and made me feel better knowing they were in good hands!!!! Love them all!!! read more

We have been using Prairie Path Pet Care for around 6 months now and they are fantastic. Our dog gets really excited but at the same time a little nervous when someone new comes to the house. Tom, the owner, was so understanding of this and came and met him a few times before he started walking him. And once his permanent walker came, Tom made sure the transition was smooth. Now our dog is so comfortable around both and gets so excited to see them. Both Tom and Gina are great with him. We were nervous about having a walker come as our dog was use to daily daycare but not only does our dog love them, but they love our dog. I feel at ease leaving him for the work day and know he is in good hands. I also love that they use an app so I can see what time they came/left, where they walked, pictures, and read a summary. I would recommend Prairie Path Pets to anyone looking for a responsible and a trustworthy dog walker. read more