Meet Jared
DOG ADVOCATE. RESCUE SUPPORTER. ADVENTURE LEADER.
Built on Trust, Enrichment and a Lifelong Love of Dogs
Hi, I’m Jared Hocking—the founder of Chicago Adventure Pack, a Lincoln Park dog dad, outdoor enthusiast, rescue advocate, and the person trusted to lead every Adventure Day.
For more than 15 years, dogs have been at the center of my life. I have cared for puppies, seniors, cautious dogs, energetic working breeds, rescue dogs learning to trust, and dogs whose people simply wanted them to have a bigger, happier life. That experience taught me that excellent care is never one-size-fits-all. It begins with listening, paying attention, and building a real relationship with each dog.
Chicago Adventure Pack grew from a simple belief: dogs deserve more than a rushed loop around the block or a long day indoors. They deserve fresh air, movement, variety, friendship, beautiful places to explore, and a caregiver who knows them well enough to make good decisions on their behalf.
15+ years of hands-on dog care • Chicago rescue advocate • Small, thoughtfully matched packs • Direct communication with every family
BUILT FROM A LIFELONG LOVE OF DOGS
The Dogs Who Changed My Life
I have always been drawn to dogs—their honesty, their resilience, their ability to live completely in the moment, and the trust they place in the people who care for them. Over the years, that love became a serious commitment to rescue, fostering, fundraising, advocacy, and the kind of everyday care that helps dogs feel safe and understood.
My own rescue dogs, Sylvia, Parker, and Layla, changed the direction of my life. They did not arrive as interchangeable pets with the same needs or personalities. Each of them communicated differently, found joy in different things, and asked something different of me. They taught me patience, consistency, humor, responsibility, and how much a dog can grow when someone takes the time to understand who they really are.
Living with them also showed me how much enrichment matters. A fulfilled dog is not simply a tired dog. Dogs need opportunities to sniff, explore, make choices, move their bodies naturally, build confidence, enjoy trusted companions, and rest when they need to. A good day balances excitement with safety and activity with recovery.
Those lessons became the foundation of Chicago Adventure Pack. The company may have started with my dogs, but its purpose is to give every dog in my care that same feeling of being known, valued, and genuinely excited about the life waiting outside the front door.
WHY CHICAGO ADVENTURE PACK EXISTS
More Than a Walk Around the Block
Chicago is an incredible city for dogs, but city life can also become repetitive. Even deeply loved dogs may spend much of the day indoors, follow the same neighborhood route, and miss the variety that keeps their minds and bodies engaged. I created Chicago Adventure Pack to open up a bigger world for them.
Adventure Days take dogs beyond their normal routine to trails, forest preserves, beaches, prairie, and other dog-friendly spaces throughout Chicagoland. The destination changes with the weather, season, route, and dogs attending. The purpose stays the same: meaningful movement, sensory enrichment, appropriate social connection, and time outdoors with a familiar caregiver and thoughtfully matched pack.
This is intentionally personal care. I lead the outings, learn every dog’s signals, communicate directly with their family, and make decisions based on the individual dogs present that day. Pack size, pace, destination, rest, water, and play are never chosen by a generic formula.
I also wanted to create a service that gives people real peace of mind. When your dog is with Chicago Adventure Pack, you should know who is caring for them, where they are going, how the day is being managed, and how your dog is feeling. Photos and videos are part of the experience, but clear, honest communication matters just as much. Trust is not a marketing phrase here. It is the responsibility at the center of the job.
RESCUE CHANGED THE WAY I CARE
Patience, Structure and Respect
Animal rescue has played a major role in my life and shaped the way I approach every dog. My work with PAWS Chicago, One Tail at a Time, and the Michigan Animal Rescue League gave me a close view of what dogs can overcome—and how much thoughtful human care can change their future.
In 2017, I was PAWS Chicago’s top overall fundraiser. I have continued to foster, donate, fundraise, and advocate whenever I can because rescue is not a chapter that ended when my own dogs came home. It is an ongoing commitment to helping more dogs receive safety, medical care, patient handling, and the chance to be known as individuals.
Rescue dogs often teach us to slow down. Some walk into a new environment with confidence. Others need time to observe, create distance, learn a routine, or decide that a new person is safe. Progress cannot be forced. It grows through consistency, clear communication, appropriate boundaries, and experiences that end successfully.
That perspective carries into Chicago Adventure Pack. A cautious dog is not rushed because another dog adapted quickly. A senior is not expected to match the pace of a young athlete. A puppy is not treated like a miniature adult. A dog with a difficult past is not reduced to a label. Every dog is met where they are, then supported toward the happiest and safest version of their day.
EVERY DOG IS AN INDIVIDUAL
Care Starts With Paying Attention
The dogs in my care are never simply names on a schedule. Before a dog joins the pack, I want to understand their routine, health, energy, social history, equipment, favorite activities, fears, triggers, communication style, and goals. I want to know what an excellent day looks like for that specific dog.
Some dogs are ready for a full Adventure Day after a meet and greet. Others benefit from an introductory neighborhood walk, one-on-one time, a gradual introduction to one compatible dog, or a shorter trial experience. That slower path is completely valid. Thoughtful introductions create stronger relationships and safer long-term experiences.
I pay attention to the details dogs use to communicate: posture, movement, facial expression, breathing, vocalization, distance, play style, recovery after excitement, and changes from their normal behavior. Those signals guide the pace of an outing and help determine when a dog wants to explore, when they need water or rest, and when a social interaction is—or is not—working for them.
The goal is not to push every dog through the same agenda. It is to create an experience in which each dog can feel secure, curious, appropriately challenged, and successful. That is how confidence grows, friendships form, and a caregiver earns lasting trust.
THE FOUNDING PACK
Sylvia, Parker and Layla are the heart behind Chicago Adventure Pack. Their personalities helped turn a lifelong love of dogs into a clear philosophy of care.
SYLVIA — THE ADVENTURE ANGEL
Affectionate, observant, loyal, and happiest when exploring beside the people and dogs she loves. Sylvia taught me that gentleness and resilience can exist together. She showed me how closely dogs watch us, how trust grows through consistency, and why calm support matters just as much as exciting activity.
PARKER — THE WONDERFUL BOY
Curious, playful, affectionate, and fully committed to investigating every interesting smell. Parker is a reminder that a walk is not only about distance. Sniffing, choosing, pausing, and discovering are meaningful work for a dog’s brain. He brings joy, humor, and an explorer’s focus to ordinary moments.
LAYLA — CHIEF FLUFFY HEAD
Joyful, adventurous, exceptionally fluffy, and equally enthusiastic about outdoor exploration and a comfortable couch afterward. Layla represents the balance at the center of good care: move, play, discover, then recover somewhere safe and familiar.
Together, they taught me that the best dog care is personal. It honors personality, creates room for joy, respects limits, and builds a life rich with experiences. Every member of the client pack benefits from what these three dogs taught me.
TRUST IS BUILT IN THE DETAILS
What Families Can Expect From Me
Inviting someone to care for your dog means trusting them with a member of your family. I take that responsibility personally. These are the standards that guide every walk, Adventure Day, pickup, drop-off, update, and decision.
What experience shapes your care?
More than 15 years caring for dogs of different ages, breeds, energy levels, backgrounds, and behavioral needs—combined with rescue, fostering, fundraising, and life with my own three rescue dogs. Experience matters because good judgment is built through thousands of small observations and decisions.
EXPERIENCE & JUDGMENTHow will I know how my dog is doing?
You will receive photos, videos, and relevant updates from the day. I communicate directly and honestly, including when something needs attention. Families should never have to wonder who has their dog, what the plan is, or whether an important detail was noticed.
CLEAR COMMUNICATIONWhat if my dog needs a slower introduction?
That is welcome. Compatibility is evaluated thoughtfully, and introductions can begin one-on-one or with one carefully chosen dog. I would rather build the right relationship gradually than rush a dog into an experience that does not support their confidence or safety.
RELATIONSHIP FIRST