618-505-7575
Your dog deserves more than traditional dog care. More fun, more freedom, and way more personalized care. No stress, no force just good vibes, a team that’s all in on their well-being, and a space built just for dogs. We're not your ordinary dog place and we don't want to be.
Fetching Pet
Company
Specializing in
The Art of Dogs
Discover the story behind award-winning and science backed dog daycare and grooming.
THE STORY
Mikayla Cavaness,
Owner of Fetching Pet Company
Hey there, thanks for stopping by! I’m Mikayla, the proud owner of Fetching Pet Company in Troy, IL. I grew up in the Troy area and went to Triad until... I dropped out. That part used to embarass me but it was actually a foundational moment that helped create everything FPC is today because it allowed me to enter the dog industry early. By 14, I was already working in my mom's grooming shop, obsessed with dogs but I was also an awful employee for her and had never worked anywhere else a day in my life. I was overly confident and wanted to create my own way in the dog industry so I went straight into a serious dog training and behavior program covering police dog training, narcotic detection, service work, and more. Oh, and did I mention I don’t currently use any of the methods I was taught in school? After school, I got a reactive German Shepherd who changed everything I thought I knew. The methods I was taught weren't working so I went back to independently studying and relearning everything. Suddenly this wasn't just a potential career anymore. It was personal. I needed care I could trust for my own dog, and I kept hitting the same wall: people who didn't understand behavior, methods that weren't backed by science, environments that stressed dogs out instead of supporting them. I knew exactly what to do next. Our area needed better dog care and I was going to be the one to build it so I just went for it. I found a building on Craigslist. A former vape shop in Troy. I walked through it and knew this was where Unleashed, now Fetching Pet Company, would be born. Then I went to my mom's best friend's house and gave her a presentation at her kitchen table. I needed $2,300 to open. I had a list: first month's rent at $800, a grooming table, a dryer, a few basic supplies. That was the whole pitch. She said yes and it took me two years to pay her back. Oh, and the landlord threw in some paint and old floors. We were rockin' and rollin'. How I opened this place with only $2300, I have no idea. My parents, friends, and family showed up with paintbrushes and muscle and helped turn that former vape shop into Unleashed. I showed up at local grocery stores and asked if they'd slip my flyers into customers' bags. They said yes. Thank you to this community for believing in the vision before there was much to see. We opened with a full grooming schedule and daycare dogs already booked. Some of those dogs still come in every single week. To make it all work, I moved back in with my parents and lived on Tyson frozen precooked chicken and broccoli with sriracha. Basically every meal. Microwaved in my basement room. LOL. I worked 12 to 14 hour days, six days a week. I built our systems, our approach, our entire culture around one belief: dogs deserve to be understood for who and what they are, not just managed. Science-based, enrichment, force-free care isn't a buzzword here, it's been the whole foundation since day one in 2017. No one expected a high school dropout microwaving chicken in her parents' basement to be now known by dog care professionals around the world, featured on industry podcasts but here we are. This place was born because I believed our dogs deserved better. But it exists today because I have an incredible team and an amazing community behind us who believe it too. If you're new here, welcome! You're in the right place and so is your dog. Hope to see you soon, Mikayla
Let's be
real
traditional dog care is so last century. At Fetching Pet Company, we’re dog trainer and behavior specialist owned, so we don’t just love dogs—we’ve mastered the
art of dogs. We know your dog isn’t just a walking fur-ball; they’re a complex, thinking, feeling individual. That’s why every part of our service is designed with your dog’s mental and physical well-being in mind. So, how are breaking molds in the pet care industry?
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Positive Reinforcement
We believe in the science of positive reinforcement—because it works! No intimidation, no force, no fear-based tactics. Every grooming session, daycare visit, and training class is designed to build trust and respect with your dog, using proven methods that help them thrive. By rewarding good behavior, we create a more confident, well-behaved dog who’s eager to learn and engage. That means less anxiety, less stress, and more tail wags!
​Grooming stress? Not here.
We’ve created private, soundproof suites with fear-free paint, daylight-mimicking lighting, and even DOGTV to keep your dog zen during their grooming experience. No chaos, just one-on-one attention with the same familiar stylist in a quiet, comfy space so you don't have to worry.
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Small PlayGroups = Big Benefits For Your Dog (And You!)
​Let’s face it, no one likes being stuck in a chaotic crowd—and neither does your dog. That's why we keep our playgroups small and sweet, with a human-to-dog ratio of 1:12 for small dogs and 1:10 for large dogs. Compare that to the 15-50 dog madness at other places, and it’s easy to see why we stand out. With fewer dogs in each group, we can keep a close eye on everyone, make sure your pup gets plenty of playtime without getting overwhelmed, and avoid that stressed-out, “I’m too tired to function” vibe.
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Consistency
We require that dogs stay on a recurring schedule. ​They thrive on routine, which is why we keep things consistent with a set schedule and the same playgroup every week. No surprise swaps, no random dog intros (unless we're introducing a new long-term guest)—just familiar faces and a predictable routine.
For your dog, that means less stress and more confidence, knowing exactly what to expect each day. They’ll be playing with familiar buddies who match their energy, creating a safer, more enjoyable environment. Although, requiring set days is controversial in the world of drop-in, free-for-all style daycare, We’ve got an impressive track record—zero fight-related injuries EVER and just a couple of extremely minor squabbles every year or two, which is pretty much unheard of in the daycare world. It’s all about keeping things low-drama and high-quality.
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Balance Play, Training, Activities, and Rest
At Fetching Pet Company, we know that dogs need more than just endless playtime to stay happy and healthy. That’s why we’ve created a perfectly balanced daycare experience with rotating play periods, rest breaks, and plenty of training and enrichment. It’s the secret sauce to keeping your dog mentally stimulated and physically exercised without burning them out.​
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A Team Invested in Your Dog's Well-Being
The care your dog gets depends on the quality of the team looking after them. That’s why we invest in training, education, and the well-being of our team. When your dog is in our care, they’re getting science-backed techniques and a team that’s well-rested, motivated, and absolutely passionate about what they do. We go above and beyond, offering $16 company minimum wage to start, advancement programs, PTO, weekends off, and holidays off. This keeps our team fresh and focused, and your dog gets the attention and care they deserve—from people who genuinely know and love dogs. So, when you leave your pup with us, rest easy knowing they’re in the best hands, receiving top-tier care grounded in the science of positive, force-free training.
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