About Us
We have a well-trained, experienced, caring team of dog walkers and pet sitters who are passionate about pup kisses and hugs.
Women-owned and locally operated for over 10 years.
The Big City Woof Walker was founded by Dani Pedraza and Maren Lavelle. We first started working together as walkers for a local pet service in New York’s financial district in 2013. By 2017 we had become partners in our venture of building The Big City Woof Walker. We take the business of pet care seriously. We have used our years of experience to build a team of pet experts that we have trained through our personally developed “Dog Walker Orientation Program”, and all members of our team are fully insured and bonded. Having our own orientation program gives us, and you, the reassurance that our pet professionals are the most reliable, attentive, and caring people you could trust with your animals.
We’ve now expanded this to a new level. In 2020, Dani graduated from Catch Canine Trainer Academy’s Master Course program to become a Certified Dog Trainer (CCDT). This led to the development of our Chicago: Walk and Train program, in which we not only walk your dogs, but teach them basic commands, good manners, and how to walk on a leash using positive reinforcement. In 2021, Maren studied with Pat Miller at Peaceable Paws and is a Peaceable Paws Affiliate Dog Trainer. Maren received her CPDT-KA Certification in 2022. We make sure to only hire folks whose love and enthusiasm for pets and animal care is as deep as our own so that we can continue to proudly say The Big City Woof Walker is the most innovative first-class pet care service available.
Our Priorities
Intimate Care
Our team offers personalized care for the busy city pet owner! We are a small enough team that we are able to emphasize personalized service and individualized care from your primary Pet Professional, however our "team mentality" ensures that your pup will always be walked no matter what circumstances come up.
Safety
Safety is our #1 priority so our dog walkers are taught to double check that all leashes and harnesses are tightened and secured before heading out for the walk. They understand the importance of keeping pups on a tightly wrapped leash that never leaves their hands, as well as staying attentive and alert for the entirety of their walks. We require our team to use safety equipment, composed of back-up leashes and locking carabiner clips that connect two pieces of walking equipment together to prevent escape. Our team is tight-knit, efficient, caring, and responsible and we guarantee that your pup will be in good hands with any one of our thoroughly trained dog walkers!
Experience
Every member of our team undergoes several days of hands-on orientation on the ground before ever taking on any walks unsupervised. Our Pet Professionals come to us with years of experience and with incredible amounts of passion and love for pets.
Meet Our Managers
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Chloe
Operations Manager
Chloe (she/hers) was Big City Woof’s first dog walking hire when we started BCWW in 2017. She worked as a Pet Professional for us for over two years from 2017 - 2019. Chloe is a fabulous dog walker, creating lasting relationships with her clients and pups, and maintaining an attention to detail to ensure the safety and well-being of all animals in her care. She has been working independently as a dog walker and pet sitter in Pittsburg since she left the BCWW team pre-pandemic. She’s provided care for several of the pups and kitties currently on our roster, so she’s familiar with our furry BCWW friends!
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Nancy
Scheduling Manager
Nancy (she/hers) first started working with dogs for a company that shipped animals through Chicago’s O'Hare airport. Engaging with people and their pets was her favorite part of the job and when she started walking dogs in Chicago in 2015, she quickly decided that she wanted to have a career with canines. She graduated from Bergin University of Canine Studies with her A.A.S. in Business and Companion Dog Studies in 2018. She also worked in daycares/boarding and as an administrative veterinary assistant before becoming licensed to sell and service pet insurance for cats and dogs in all 50 states. Her devoted years of experience in the industry allows her to really connect with her clients and their beloved pets.
What People Are Saying
“I have been giving out BCWW's information to puppy owners in the park who are starting to stress out about going back to work and leaving their dogs home alone for extended periods of time! Every sitter I have had has been wonderful and knowledgeable and I trust them completely in my home with my beloved pup. They have been a lifesaver for us, particularly during Covid, whether I'm gone for just a few hours or several days at a time. Highly recommend!”
— J.P. from Yelp
“Having just moved to Chicago, I was hesitant to have someone other than a friend or family member watch my English bulldog. Fortunately with the big city woof I was immediately put at ease and after using their services for 6 months now I can say I would not look elsewhere! Whether it's a day time walk for those days i work late or overnight stays when I need to go out of town, I am always kept super informed and sent plenty of updates and pictures. I would recommend to anyone!”
— Rebecca S. from Yelp
“If you want to support local business, know your walker, work with professionals that care about your dog and know what they are doing, then Big City Woof Walker is for you. :)”
— Diana C. from Yelp
“Dani and Maren were a pleasure to work with and put me at ease right away. They understood my concerns and assured me that with TBCWW, my dog would have a primary walker he could depend on. They were thoughtful about pairing my dog with his potential walker, and then arranged for a meet and greet at our apartment to not only ensure it was a good match, but to also help our dog to be as comfortable as possible in his own environment. We really appreciated this level of attentiveness. This is when the love affair between our dog and Shannon- his walker- began.”
— Emily B. from Yelp
“BCWW is the best! We've been using them since we got our dog as a puppy. We had 2 "assigned" walkers, and 1 of them is still is walker to this day (a year and a half later). It's so nice having that consistency. In the event that a walker can't make it, BCWW will coordinate on their end to get someone else over to you (never leaving you stranded). We have never met a walker we (Chandler included) didn't love. Everyone is professional, friendly, and kind.”
