URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC.
Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center, Inc. is a privately-held Chicago pet care company operating two North Side facilities that offer daycare, cage-free boarding, training, grooming, retail, and transportation services to individual dog and cat owners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. does
Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center, Inc. is a privately-held, Chicago-based pet care services company founded in 2008 by Dan Gaughan and Ed Kaczmarek. The company operates two co-located facilities on Chicago's North Side: the Urban Pooch Canine Life Center (7,100 sq ft at 4501 N Ravenswood Ave) and the Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center (10,000 sq ft at 5400 N Damen Ave), approximately 1.3 miles apart. The company employs 13 people and serves individual pet owners in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The company's core offering is an integrated pet care platform spanning daycare, cage-free overnight boarding, training (group classes, private sessions, board-and-train, and a LEVELS membership program), grooming and spa services, self-service dog wash, massage and reiki, pet photography, and nutritional counseling. The Canine Life Center houses the daycare, cageless boarding with 24/7 Pooch Pack Counselors, and a 1,100 sq ft retail store; the Training and Fitness Center focuses on group classes, agility, nose work, and self-wash. A proprietary Playtime Express van service provides pickup and drop-off within a defined Chicago service area. The company also operates an e-commerce storefront (shop.urbanpooch.com) with same-day delivery and stocks an exclusive line of Urban Pooch DEFY collars and leashes co-developed with DEFY MFG. CO. Premium product positioning is evident in pricing: Paw Star Academy packages at $849-$1,650, private training at $80-$215, and playtime van rides at $12-$18 per direction.
Urban Pooch's business model is a hybrid of service subscriptions (LEVELS membership, recurring daycare, multi-session training packages) and transactional services/retail. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and community-led, leveraging a 17-year operating history, Best of Chicago award recognition, 165+ five-star reviews, and active partnerships with six rescue and nonprofit organizations. Distribution is through two physical locations, the e-commerce site, and the Playtime Express van; the company carries no debt or equity funding per the source data and operates as a self-funded lifestyle business. No technology product, AI/ML capability, or proprietary software platform is offered.
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC.
- Legal name
- URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC.
- Website
- https://urbanpoochtraining.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center, Inc. is a privately-held Chicago pet care company operating two North Side facilities that offer daycare, cage-free boarding, training, grooming, retail, and transportation services to individual dog and cat owners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pet Care Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (459910)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare) (CRALAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cage-Free / Open-Play Dog Daycare (HSANAFAC), Long-Term/Extended-Stay Boarding (HSANADAJ)
Keywords
Where URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Training Services: Group classes and private lessons for obedience, agility, nosework, and behavior modification. Includes packages like Puppy Paw Star Academy and Urban Pooch LEVELS membership program.
- Daycare and Boarding: Cage-free boarding and enrichment daycare services with 24/7 staffing. Daycare available Monday-Friday 6:30am-7pm and Sunday 9am-5pm.
- Retail Sales: Sale of pet food, treats, toys, accessories, and proprietary products like Urban Pooch DEFY collars and leashes. Offers delivery service for retail items.
- Grooming and Spa Services: Professional grooming for all breeds and sizes, self-service dog wash stations, massage and reiki services by appointment.
- Transportation Services: Playtime Express pickup and drop-off service using company van with air-conditioned, rubber-coated cages. Operates Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Puppy Paw Star Academy - 2 Week Package |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Puppy Paw Star Academy - 4 Week Package |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Obedience & Behavior Private Training |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Agility Private Training |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Behavior Solutions Package - 3 Sessions |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Behavior Solutions Package - 5 Sessions |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Playtime Express Transportation |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Retail Delivery |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center, Inc. is a Chicago-based pet care company that provides cage-free dog daycare and overnight boarding, group and private dog training (including obedience, agility, nosework, and behavior modification), professional grooming and self-wash services, massage and reiki, photography, and nutritional counseling. It supplements these services with an on-site premium pet food and supplies retail store, a proprietary DEFY-brand collar and leash line, and a branded Playtime Express van shuttle for pet pickup and drop-off across North Side Chicago.
Product overview
Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center, Inc. operates two physical facilities: the Urban Pooch Canine Life Center (7,100 sq. ft. at 4501 N Ravenswood Ave) and the Urban Pooch Training & Fitness Center (10,000 sq. ft. at 5400 N Damen Ave). The company offers an integrated suite of canine care services combining a retail store with service offerings. Core products include Enrichment Daycare and Overnight Boarding at the Canine Life Center, complemented by training programs including Urban Pooch LEVELS Training (a membership-based class structure), Puppy Paw Star Academy (intensive puppy programs), Board and Train (drop-off training), and diverse group classes (Agility, Nose Work, Behavior Specialty, Canine Good Citizen certification). Supporting services include Grooming & Spa, Self-Service Dog Wash, Dog Bakery, Playtime Express (transportation), Massage & Reiki, Photography, Nutritional Counseling, and Pet Adoptions. The retail division offers natural pet food, treats, toys, and accessories from multiple premium brands with local delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enrichment Daycare Cage-free daycare service with separate play areas segmented for large dogs, small dogs, senior pets, and cats, available at the Urban Pooch facilities for individual pet owners who need daytime care while at work.
- Overnight Boarding (Cageless Lodging) Cageless overnight boarding service with 24/7 Pooch Pack Counselors sleeping on-site with the dogs, available at the Canine Life Center for individual pet owners seeking kennel-free lodging.
- Grooming & Spa Full-service professional grooming for all breeds and sizes using natural, wholesome products, available daily for individual pet owners at Urban Pooch's facilities.
- Self-Service Dog Wash Do-it-yourself dog-wash facility with three tubs and K-9 hair dryers available for individual pet owners who want to bathe their dogs themselves using professional-grade equipment.
- Puppy Paw Star Academy Intensive half-day puppy program for puppies ages 8–16 weeks covering training, socialization, and confidence building, structured as 2-week or 4-week multi-session packages for new puppy owners.
- Board and Train Drop-off intensive training program where dogs stay at the Urban Pooch facility for multi-day sessions conducted by professional certified trainers, designed for owners seeking accelerated results.
- Urban Pooch LEVELS Training Membership Membership-style group class program for obedience and manners that lets enrolled dogs attend unlimited or flexible sessions within their current skill level, sold to individual dog owners.
- Private Training One-on-one training sessions with certified trainers in obedience, agility, behavior modification, and management, sold per session or in multi-session Behavior Solutions packages to individual dog owners.
- Agility, Sport & Fitness Classes Group sport and fitness classes for dogs including Trick Star, Dog Dance/Freestyle, Rally!, Fetch, Sports & Fitness Academy, Canine Fitness, Agility, K9 Nosework, and Treibball, taught by certified trainers to individual dog owners.
- Behavior Specialty Classes Behavior-focused group classes covering Reactive Dog, Reactive Dog 2, Charm School, and Separation Anxiety Solutions for individual dog owners dealing with specific behavioral issues.
- K9 Nosework Classes K9 Nosework instruction run by NACSW-certified instructors for individual dog owners who want to train scent-detection skills with their dogs.
- AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification AKC Canine Good Citizen testing across multiple levels for individual dog owners who want recognized behavior certification for their dogs.
- Playtime Express Transportation Pickup and drop-off van service for dogs using a custom vehicle with rubber-coated cages and air conditioning, sold per ride or as multi-ride packs to individual pet owners within Chicago service zones.
- Massage & Reiki Therapeutic canine massage and reiki services provided by licensed professionals by appointment, sold to individual pet owners for wellness and recovery.
- Pet Photography On-site professional pet photography in a dedicated studio staffed by two professional pet photographers, sold as a service to individual pet owners.
- Nutritional Counseling Expert pet nutrition counseling covering life-stage, breed-specific, and condition-specific diets, sold as a consulting service to individual pet owners seeking tailored feeding recommendations.
- Dog Bakery All-natural oven-baked dog treats and jerky, including products from local suppliers such as River Valley Farms, sold over the counter to individual pet owners.
- Pet Food & Supplies Retail 1,100 sq ft on-site retail store selling natural pet food, treats, toys, and accessories from premium brands, with same-day local delivery and no-contact options, sold to individual pet owners.
Companies that use URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC.
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DEFY MFG. CO.coreUrban Pooch partnered with DEFY MFG. CO. to develop and sell the Urban Pooch DEFY line of premium collars and leashes. Products are hand-crafted in Chicago with imported Austrian buckles. The partnership produces a proprietary product line sold exclusively at Urban Pooch locations.
- Rescue Me CliffordminorUrban Pooch has been an active partner with Rescue Me Clifford for 3 years, regularly fostering dogs at-risk of euthanasia from rural areas in East Central IL. The company also raised over $1,200 for the organization at Pooch-A-Palooza events.
- One Tail at a Time Dog RescueminorUrban Pooch supports local pet adoptions by promoting One Tail at a Time Dog Rescue on their website and facilitating adoption connections.
- Felines & CaninesminorUrban Pooch supports local pet adoptions by promoting Felines & Canines rescue organization on their website.
- Care for Real Pet Food PantryminorUrban Pooch donates food, toys, and accessories monthly to Care for Real Pet Food Pantry, which helped feed more than 3,000 pets last year. The company also donated $1,200 from Pooch-A-Palooza event proceeds.
- Mutt Jackson at Montrose Dog BeachminorUrban Pooch partnered with Mutt Jackson to offer obedience and agility classes at Montrose Dog Beach location, and participated in fun tricks contests awarding trophies to talented dogs.
- Live Like Roo FoundationminorUrban Pooch hosted an ice cream social event for the Live Like Roo Foundation, which supports families with dogs who have cancer.
- WortheeminorUrban Pooch offers a special referral deal for customers to Worthee, a dog walking service they recommend and trust for walking services.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Camp Bow Wow: National dog daycare and boarding franchise with a comparable all-day play, web-cam, and cage-free positioning; competes for the same urban, premium-segment pet parent.
- Best Friends Pet Hotel: National pet hotel chain offering daycare, overnight boarding, grooming, and training; operates larger-format facilities comparable to Urban Pooch's Canine Life Center concept.
- Zoom Room: Franchised dog training facility with group classes, agility, and private lessons; comparable to Urban Pooch's training-centric revenue stream and small-group class formats.
- Central Bark Doggy Day Care: Franchised dog daycare, boarding, grooming, and training operator with an enrichment-focused model; highly comparable service mix to Urban Pooch's integrated offering.
- K-9 University: Chicago-based dog daycare, boarding, training, and grooming facility; direct local competitor cited in Urban Pooch staff backgrounds, offering similar urban premium positioning.
- Dogtopia: National dog daycare, boarding, and spa franchise with hundreds of locations; directly comparable to Urban Pooch's cage-free daycare, boarding, and grooming offering, but distributed via a franchise model across multiple U.S. markets.
- Bark Chicago: Chicago-based dog daycare, boarding, grooming, and training operator; direct local competitor with overlapping service lines and shared staff lineage with Urban Pooch.
Broad incumbents
- Petco: National pet retail chain with full-service vet hospitals, grooming salons, dog training, and adoption events; broader incumbent with overlapping services across retail, training, and grooming.
- PetSmart: Largest U.S. specialty pet retailer that also operates PetsHotel boarding and Doggie Day Camp plus in-store training; competes with Urban Pooch's retail and daycare/boarding offerings as a broad incumbent.
Emerging players
- Woof Gang Bakery: Franchised neighborhood pet retail and grooming concept with bakery treats and self-wash; partial overlap with Urban Pooch's dog bakery, self-wash, and premium retail offerings at a smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. social profiles
Digital presenceURBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC.
What does URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. do?
Urban Pooch Training and Fitness Center, Inc. is a Chicago-based pet care company that provides cage-free dog daycare and overnight boarding, group and private dog training (including obedience, agility, nosework, and behavior modification), professional grooming and self-wash services, massage and reiki, photography, and nutritional counseling. It supplements these services with an on-site premium pet food and supplies retail store, a proprietary DEFY-brand collar and leash line, and a branded Playtime Express van shuttle for pet pickup and drop-off across North Side Chicago.
Is URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. a public or private company?
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. founded?
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. based?
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Training Services are the primary driver. The others are daycare and Boarding, retail Sales, grooming and Spa Services and transportation Services.
Who are URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Camp Bow Wow, Best Friends Pet Hotel, Zoom Room, Central Bark Doggy Day Care, K-9 University, Dogtopia and Bark Chicago. Broad incumbents are Petco and PetSmart. Woof Gang Bakery is listed as an emerging player.
Does URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. have an API?
No public API is recorded for URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC..
What industry is URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC. in?
URBAN POOCH TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER, INC.'s product category is Pet Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAIAJ, Pet Services (Grooming, Training, Daycare), with a secondary code of HSANAFAC, Cage-Free / Open-Play Dog Daycare. Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 7900.