Vip’s Pet Hotels

I visited a handful of spots for our dog and found this one to be especially nice. I was given a tour of the place and was very satisfied on how clean and presentable it is. They groomed Chewy and she came out looking great. We will definitely be going back. Thanks to Dave who took us in on short notice.

My dog spent a month during Christmas season there and he liked it. Really friendly stuff — would definitely recommend.

Every time I take my doberman puppy outside, I say a little thank you to Dave Reese. Dave’s background in the military and police sector is unlike any other trainer I’d come across in Chicago which is why I chose to do the 6-​week private training course at VIP’s. At 45lbs, my puppy used to pull me down the street every day and was wildly unpredictable as puppies are. Now, my 75lb dobe will run from any distance and heel to a (nearly) perfect sit at my left side, no matter what he is doing, what he sees or what he is playing with.
Dave’s training is simple, straightforward, and very unlike the treat– and reward-​based «positive» (and largely ineffective) training methods that are so common. It is also time-​consuming and requires you to work with your dog every day in between sessions. Finally, it’s not the cheapest option, by a long shot. Yet, it is very effective, and will create a lasting bond of mutual respect between you and your dog that will endure for the rest of your furry friend’s life.
I have literally called my dog back from chasing a rabbit, from playing with his best buddy at the dog park, from running toward the street — you name it. Just last week I put him in a sit, stay at the cash register of Pet Supplies Plus while I walked to the very back of the store to find a staff member and he had not moved a muscle when we returned a few minutes later. Trusting that my dog will obey me regardless of the distractions around him is worth every penny and every hour I spent reinforcing the simple building blocks Dave gave me to work on every week.
VIP’s is not the kind of place where you’ll find a dog massage therapist on staff or a «luxe» anything, but it is the kind of place with the absolute best of everything that matters (kennels, facility, quality of care). It’s the kind of place where the owner himself will pick you up and drop you off, free of charge, for your training session because it’s pouring out. I’ll take that over a ‘premier pet resort’ with ‘cuddle time fees’ any day. Dave & his staff have made me a customer for life (or as long as we live in Chicago: D)!

So I’ll start by saying we had never boarded our dogs and were really nervous as one of ours used to be a stray and isn’t always friendly with people he doesn’t know, so we shopped around and found VIP due to the reviews here.
I called ahead of time and asked if we could see the place on a Saturday to see how we felt about it and they ended up walking us through the entire place to see all of the boarding options.
We decided on the private suite to see how they did in there. Once they were boarded we asked for pictures and got a bunch of them texted to us.
The biggest thing was that at pickup, our dogs both seemed tired and relaxed. Our high-​anxiety dog actually kept following Nick (who works in the kennel) back to the back area, which we’ve never seen him do with someone else. They seemed to do well with everyone that worked there, including the owner, which really out our minds at ease.
Overall, this is going to be our goto place any time we go out of town, which, thanks to how well they seem to have done, is going to be more often.

I LOVE this place for my pups. Both of my dogs, Chase (7yr old pitbull) and Lulu (5.5 yr old Yorkie) have been here at least a dozen times since we moved 6 months ago to Chicago from Florida. The facility is top notch and very clean, which is a MUST for us. When I pick up all of my blankets have been laundered and chase doesn’t have nasty residue that he does with most kennels we’ve used before due to how dirty the place is. I know when I leave my babies here they literally love on them and give them sooo much attention and exercise! The owner Dave is amazing and always more than accommodating! I have a crazy schedule due to work with a lot of last minute trips and they are always willing to do whatever to help me out. I appreciate places like this because believe it or not, good/​trustworthy dog care is hard to find. We are loyal customers and always will be. THANKS GUYS!!!

I have been really pleased and impressed by the care and service VIP provides my dog Moose. I know Moose loves all the people there, especially Nick, and they go out of their way to take extra great care of him.

I have brought my 2 larger dogs here 3 times since I moved here last December. They definitely know their stuff about dogs, and they are really getting their business smarts together (I believe they only opened a little over a year ago). The first two times I dropped them off for long weekends. This last trip I left them for 9 days.
I used to board them in New Orleans, and they couldn’t socialize there and were only let out by themselves. That facility said they just got too stressed out in the large group of dogs: one dog became aggressive and the other terribly anxious. I told Dave this, and actually selected his facility because they allow for private play time when necessary. He asked me if I would trust them to try letting them socialize and then switch to private play if that seemed better for the dogs. He had told me so many wonderful anecdotes on our extensive tour that I decided to go for it.
My dogs have never come back from boarding so well balanced. They would always come back from a long stay somewhat hyper, or so wiped out that I suspect they hardly slept. This time, after an extended stay, they seemed happy and relaxed, just like their normal selves. The woman at the desk and Dave (who is literally always there) were telling me about different dogs mine had made friends with and describing perfectly the way they’ve always played in the dog park when I take them. I know they were truly paying attention and giving an appropriate level of supervision while still letting dogs be dogs and play together. I feel totally comfortable letting my dogs socialize there, and I’m thrilled that they’re able to because I know it makes for a much more pleasant stay for them.
This was the longest time I’ve left them at VIP’s Dog Hotel for boarding, and I would not have any qualms doing it again. They really care about the dogs and have the knowledge and experience to take care of them as well (if not better!) than I do.

Before leaving our beagle for a weekend, I asked for and was given a tour of the facilities. In short I was impressed and felt that had I been a dog who required a TV in his private room with heated floors, I’d be very satisfied! Our beagle is however not one of those dogs, yet felt his accommodations were comfortable, safe and very clean.

I was visiting Chicago for an event and after much research I decided to leave my toy puppy at the hotel overnight. I have never left my pet behind anywhere so I was a little skeptical but after a few discussions with Bess, she convinced me that my pup would be in good hands.
PROS:
My pup was picked up on time.
I was instructed by the owner to call in as much as I wanted too.
Dave sent me a video when I called to check in on him.
They answered the phone or returned my call right away.
CONS:
They should install cameras like other establishments so you can check in on your pup as often as you’d like.
I don’t believe they followed my feeding instructions. (Came home and found that the food, kibble, and treats were all mixed in the baggie.) My pup is a picky eater and does not eat his food this way.
He was extremely thirsty, I’m not sure he had enough to drink.
Overall, I would recommend and leave him there again and Dave the owner has 20 plus years experience in dog training.

I had to leave my puppy for one night and could not have left him in better hands. He had a wonderful time!
The guy who owns the place is the best thing about it. He trained dogs for a living and has so much helpful information and knows exactly how to care for a dog. Something you want when you’re leaving your dog with a stranger.
I can’t recommend this place enough!

I’m a crazy dog lady and this was my first time leaving my two kids, Pelus & Mia, at a Doggy Hotel this past August 2014. Its safe to say that I was a paranoid and worried dog parent. However, Dave calmed my fears! This place encourages doggy socialization in wide open spaces. The staff and owner are clearly dog lovers who cater to the needs of their guests and owners. The prices are reasonable. All in all, a good experience! Pelus and Mia looked super happy and came home to an extended nap after such an active weekend. I would not hesitate to leave them in Dave’s and his staff’s care again!

Greatly recommend VIP! My kennel called to cancel on me last minute due to the dog flu. Sent an email to Dave late at night and got a quick response that they did have room for my dog Benny! What a life saver. No cases of dog flu with VIP!!!
Got a tour the next day with Jackie — so nice and friendly. The staff sent me videos for my boys to see. Lots of room for dogs to play and run around. Very happy with VIP. Saved our Spring Break. Will be back!

Several months later, and I’m still in the honeymoon phase with VIP! Colin knows he’s getting close when we turn onto Lake Street, and he starts whining and jumping around in the back of the car. When we get there, he can’t wait to go in back and see the other dogs.
I have always gotten the best customer service at VIP and I can tell that Colin loves being there. I’m so glad to have found a place that gives this kind of attention and care to my sweet (but very rambunctious) boy!

This place is a life saver. I needed a last minute place to board my dog Bud for the holidays, and in Chicago, you can’t board a dog if he doesn’t have up-​to-​date shots. Unfortunately, Bud’s owner forgets about these very important details. But with VIP, that’s not a problem. They have a vet on-​site to take care of the shots. So don’t stress about finding a vet for the shots, and then worry about finding a kennel; VIP takes care of it all. I’ve never seen customer service as good as this place.
You can tell this business is truly a labor of love for David and his crew. They do an amazing job of caring for the dogs. I almost felt bad taking Bud back home, because he had such a wonderful time there. The dogs are very well taken care of: they get lots of time to play, the kennels are huge, their training room is AMAZING, and even the floors are heated! They even washed Bud’s doggy bed for me. I can’t say enough good things. Whenever I need to go out of town, I know my dog is in great hands.

I’ve been going here since the first day they opened, a year ago. My Ocho dog absolutely loves it. He drags me in the door and doesn’t want to leave when I come to get him. The place is cleaner than some human hotels. Staff and owner are great and super knowledgeable. They have other services like grooming and vet care, a one stop shop! This place is a must go for any pooch to get a good clean play day and more. 5 stars!

Can’t say enough good things about VIPs. Our 7 mo old husky has been going here since she was a little pup and loves it. She gets so excited when she senses we are near in the morning. We take advantage of the fantastic daycare service and in addition to having no worries that she’s impeccably taken care of, there’s a vet clinic on site! Regular shots, checkups or follow up visits within one stop! So convenient. Grooming is fantastic. They are simply so professional yet truly caring and down to earth. Lastly, training here is a must. There are no better in Chicago. This coming from someone who has been owned by 4 of the very hard headed, opinionated & stubborn breed; Siberian Husky.

I can’t say enough good things about VIP’s Pet Hotel! I recently took a 3 ½ week trip to Asia and needed care for my two pugs. I took a tour of the facility first, and interviewed Dave the owner, as I wanted to make sure my pups were going to be in good hands.
The building is impeccably clean, and offers a ton of space for the pups to run around during play time. They go outside for tinkle breaks once an hour, and get plenty of time to socialize with other dogs. While I was away, Dave gave me his skype address, so I could check in and make sure the dogs were doing fine. He always responded immediately when asked for a progress report, which was extremely comforting. And when it was time to pick the pugs up, they didn’t want to leave! It’s evident from every corner of VIP’s facility the love and care they have for dogs. I have no qualms about leaving my pups there, as I know they will be receiving the best care. VIP’s now has a customer for life!

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
I was leaving out of town on a Thursday but couldn’t get my dog Luey there at the appropriate time for drop off on Thursday. The owner was so understanding so he let me drop off Luey Wednesday night for free!!! That was such a huge relief for me! When I came to pick Luey up, the owner showed me video of Luey playing with other dogs and Luey seemed so happy when I picked up him. Once we got home, it seemed as if he played so much at the hotel that he couldn’t stop playing once he got home! Thanks VIP for taking care of Luey, this is definitely our new «go to» hotel.

Blown away by the expertise, care and facilities at VIPs! Took advantage of a daycare groupon and was given a full tour of the beautiful suites, carefully planned boarding room (with skylights), incredible training area and daycare playroom.
While other pet hotels make you feel at ease with frivolous décor, VIPs backs up its claims with an understanding of how dogs behave, how owners love their pets and years of high-​level, international, award-​winning experience.
Plus, each space is absolutely enormous, and they limit the number of dogs allowed so that there’s more than enough room to safely and happily play.
I hope to take my puppy back soon. I’ve never seen her so well-​behaved, comfortable, happy and attentive in the presence of a stranger (the owner) before. Highly, highly, highly recommend!

WELL! Came by a few weeks later for our second visit! This time just an overnight stay for the 2 pups. Dropped them off 9am saturday morning and picked them up around 5pm on sunday.
We needed to vacuum the couches and wash the carpets and with 2 dogs terrified of a vacuum we decided to drop them off for an overnighter.
We came back sunday to 2 wiped out happy dogs! And for 100 $ for 2 dogs for a total of 20 hours that comes out to 5 $/​hr. FOR 2 DOGS! What a deal! PLUS they get to join in the day care?! I may just end up bringin them for a sleepover once a week when i need to clean the house at those rates!