About Dogs Deserve It

The Need for Dog Walkers and Pet Care Providers in Chicago

Dogs Deserve It LLC® was formed in response to the pressing need for qualified dog walkers and pet care providers in the Chicagoland area.

Owner, Lauren Pietrocarlo, identified some shortcomings in the present dog walking industry and decided to address the issues. A dog lover herself, Lauren was aware of the importance of the daily walk to the health and well being of her pet. She became determined to create a service that would maximize its potential.

Lauren worked with a well-respected dog trainer to learn the proper way to walk a dog, the way to introduce and reinforce positive canine behavior during this daily routine. Clients benefit from this special attention to on-leash etiquette. DDI dogs are not aimlessly paraded through city streets. Instead, their walk becomes purposeful and engaging.

In addition, pet CPR certification is required for all DDI walkers.

Pietrocarlo left the corporate world to share her long-time passion for dogs. She is now using her communications and public relations experience to bring a fresh, professional, accountable perspective to the world of pet care.

our difference

Leash Etiquette

So, what dog doesn’t love to go for a walk? For the most part, both owner and pet look forward to this “together” time. However, does the excitement sometimes turn into a battle for power? Does your dog pull on the leash and walk you, instead of you walking him?

At Dogs Deserve It®, we provide direction to reverse this frustrating behavior. Whether your dog is a puppy or a more mature dog, rest assured that this negative on-leash behavior can almost always be corrected.

Our dog walkers have comprehensive training in DDI leash etiquette® skills. We will implement simple and easy techniques so that your dog will walk better on the leash. All of our techniques are force-free and may involve the use of specific leashes and collars. The Deserving Dog Etiquette® option is not a requirement.

Dog Walker Tracking

We know that it takes a “leap of faith” to allow access to your home. We respect your trust and will not abuse the privilege.

DDI offers state of the art GPS walker tracking and Dogs Deserve It pedometers.

You receive an email as soon as the walk starts and ends, along with a GPS tracked map of the walk. Our service provides more than the typical, daily anecdotal report regarding your dog’s output. We will provide a detailed daily adventure calendar to personalize your pet’s experience, including a daily manners evaluation.

We are also proud to partner with Nest, an indoor security camera used for child or dog monitoring. We believe that Nest is a natural addition to our dog walker tracking services. We also provide Musher’s Secret Paw Wax to all clients free of charge. As always, Dogs Deserve It is committed to providing you with the most innovative and reliable pet care service!

Pride in who we employ

At DDI, we take pride in who we employ. We believe that all DDI workers should be treated as employees and not 1099 contractors. The difference between independent contractors and employees is essential to how your pet is taken care of.

Independent Contractor-based Company Employee-based Company
Worker contracted for a specific project or time period Worker’s employment is ongoing yet may be terminated
Worker decides when and where to work Worker has set schedule and location
Worker does not receive skills training Worker receives training and instruction
Worker may delegate tasks to others Worker cannot delegate work to others

Chart Courtesy of the Pet Industry Coalition

We are proud members of the Pet Industry Coalition, an organization that requires 100% legal compliance in all operations.

We also take pride in who we are-that means the type of employer we are and the type of service provider we are. You don’t have to take this from us, though. Check out one of our former walkers turned client’s email below.

“Hey all at DDI, I just want to reach out and send a quick message about Stubs’ and my plans for the future. I don’t know how I’ll be able to keep this brief because DDI has been so important to me, but here’s my best shot:

At the end of this month Stubs and I are moving to Lake Tahoe, CA. I can’t really begin to explain how grateful I am for the relationships I’ve made through this company, and for the hard work you all do day in and day out. If it weren’t for DDI, Stubs never would have entered my life! I’ve made life-long friendships because of you. When I was 21 and looking for a way to stay afloat, you offered me a job as a walker and introduced me to experiences I’ll never forget.
I also want to reiterate how thankful I am for the special care you’ve given me the past 2+ years as a client. Welcoming a dog into my home on a tight budget wasn’t exactly a part of my plan (what are plans, anyway), but thanks to your generosity I was able to make it work. There’s so much more to DDI than what you can write in a business pitch. You’ve been a rock to me, a source of love and patience, and I can’t express my gratitude enough.
I’ll be sure to keep y’all updated on our life in the mountains. There will be plenty of pine trees for Stubs to pee on. I am indebted to y’all. “