Pet Services in Chandler

Since opening the barn doors back in 1984, Twisted Tree Farm's training facility has both fostered champion riders and horses and helped beginning equestrians first climb into the stirrups. Owner Janet Hischer began her own riding career at the age of 9, and today she oversees an expansive ranch peppered with cacti and stone alleyways. Resident mares keep cool with misters and ceiling fans in the 27-stall stable, perfecting their novels while waiting patiently for buckaroos to take them into the exercise ring filled with rubber footing or out on the natural trails. Boarding, training, and grooming services keep serious riders' steeds healthy and happy, and year-round group or private lessons let students of all experience levels hone their skills. Between saddling sessions, visitors are welcome to relax with beverages in the cantina, where couches, Internet access, and a wide-screen TV envelop them in Southwestern comforts as the Arizona sunset peeks through the blinds.

Staffers roaming the 8,000-square-foot of Petz Place often pause to greet regular shoppers and their pups by name. The friendly associates also do their best to spot first-time pet owners so they can direct them to essential items and share tips on how to train their new companions to sit, stay, and greet them at the door with cocktails in paw. They only stock premium items, including durable pet toys and beds, as well as a huge selection of natural and raw pet foods. They also house a colorful community of birds, reptiles, and tropical fish within fetching distance of care products and equipment. In addition to helping keep pets healthy and clean, the store entertains pups and their owners with visiting photographers and, at Christmas time, photo ops with Santa Claus.

As a little girl, Vanessa Ortega was often found snoozing underneath her family's mobile home alongside her german shepherd, Giant. An intense sleepwalker, on many nights she would leave her bedroom, open the front door, and make her way down the front steps with the faithful Giant. Her bond with canines continued into adulthood, during which she's owned up to four dogs at a time. After trying different overnight-boarding facilities, Ortega noticed that her pups displayed anxiety, timidity, and other signs of trauma, so she decided to open her own pet-care business to give dogs high-quality attention.

During daily visits, Ortega and her staff care for pets in their owners' homes, taking them out for walks, filling their food and water bowls, and playing games such as catch and Stratego. Staffers spend the night at the animal's home during overnight visits, which can be a comfort to anxious pets, or take more sociable pets to their own home for a sleepover. Without fail, regular customers are assigned the same caretaker and substitute caretaker for each visit, both of whom they meet during a consultation before the first visit. They can rest assured knowing that Ortega interviews and background-checks all employees thoroughly to ensure that they love pets and are not going to dress them up like the characters of Little Women. Staff also provide masters concierge services, which include running errands and performing light chores, such as grocery shopping, house sitting, and home organization.

The trainers at Best in Show Kennels aid pups and their owners in breaking down communication barriers that hinder behavioral correction. Training lessons—formulated by a head training director with 15 years of experience in world training competitions—are tailored to each pet’s needs, beginning with an evaluation that identifies any specific behavioral issues, from jumping on the couch to selling family heirlooms on the Internet. Along the way owners learn to bolster their body language and identify any issues in their nonverbal behavior. When boarding is needed, staffers keep a close eye on pups overnight, during supervised playtime sessions, and on two regular walks each day.