618-505-7575
Traditional dog care? We're good.
No chaotic daycare. No assembly-line grooming. Just one-on-one care, purposeful enrichment, and a team that understands dogs as deeply as they love them. We aren't your ordinary dog place, and that is exactly the point.
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 didn't set out to build another dog daycare or grooming salon. We built the place we wished existed. We're dog trainer and behavior specialist owned, which means we don't just love dogs. We understand how they learn, communicate, recover, and thrive. Every decision we make, from our facility design to our daily routines, is guided by one question: "What's best for the dog?"
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We don't believe in "good enough"
We believe in the science 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 rejected assembly-line grooming from day one. Every appointment at Fetching Pet Company is one-on-one with one dedicated groomer in a private suite designed to keep dogs calm, comfortable, and confident. From daylight-mimicking lighting and DogTV to anti-fatigue flooring and thoughtful handling, every detail was intentionally chosen to reduce stress and build trust. We believe great grooming isn't about getting dogs in and out as quickly as possible. It's about creating an experience where dogs feel safe, understood, and genuinely cared for.
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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
Dogs thrive on routine, familiar faces, and knowing what to expect. That's why we require recurring daycare schedules instead of drop-in visits. Every week, dogs spend time with the same coaches, the same playgroup, and the same predictable routine, allowing them to build confidence instead of constantly adjusting to change. It isn't the most convenient model, but it is the one we believe is best for dogs. It's also one of the reasons we've never experienced a fight-related injury in daycare. Consistency isn't restrictive. It's one of the ways we protect every dog in our care.
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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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We Don't Race to the Bottom
​Exceptional dog care starts with exceptional people. That's why our grooming and daycare prices are intentionally higher than many local providers. We believe skilled professionals deserve livable wages that reflect their expertise, not pressure to groom more dogs, supervise larger groups, or rush through appointments.
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