A Lucky Dog, Danville

It's fair to say that the desire to work with animals is in Jennifer-Lee Wilson's blood. She started young, watching her father tend to animals and their owners in the family's pet store. Then in 1998, she opened A Lucky Dog. Here, she leads obedience training classes that inspire owners to encourage their pets to sit, come, and stay with rewards such as treats and toys. As a certified dog trainer and animal behaviorist, she's found that positive reinforcement is the best way to teach a dog proper behavior— whether he's in a park full of rambunctious puppies or at a Texas hold 'em tournament and has just gone all in.

Jennifer and her dog-loving staff also provide doggie day care and handle pet sitting duties. Unlike typical boarding facilities, they actually come out to pet owners' homes to feed and walk their four-legged charges. They go this extra mile, both figuratively and literally, so that the animals can stay in familiar, stress-free surroundings.