Meet the owner

A man smiling outdoors in a white shirt holding a small, black and gray dog with large ears.

I’m Ben Lukas, the proud owner of LUKAS K9 Tri Valley Dog Sitting. Raised in Pleasanton by my wonderful grandparents, their guidance shaped who I am today. Now at 36, I am excited to share my passion for dogs with my local community.

With support from my partner, Lauren, I took a leap of faith to start this business—turning a dream and a love for dogs into reality. Her encouragement and love made this business venture possible.

My four-and-a-half-year-old wire-terrier mix, Cosmo, is my pride and joy. I understand firsthand how pets really are just furry 4-legged family members. I couldn’t do life without him, and I strive to build that same bond with every dog I meet. Lauren often says my calm demeanor helps dogs feel comfortable, and I hope pet parents experience that, too.

Beyond running LUKAS K9, I stay active outdoors, whether walking Cosmo or hiking with my grandpa. Family means everything to me, and being an uncle to my two-year-old nephew is one of my life’s greatest joys. Right now, I’m embracing a balanced, quieter pace—one that keeps me connected to what matters most.

A smiling man sitting outdoors holding a small, scruffy dog with large ears.

I started working at 14, and by 17 I graduated high school early and stepped into my family’s drilling business full-time. For nearly a decade I expected to one day take over the company, but by my mid-20s, for numerous reasons, I knew that path was no longer right for me. Unsure of my next move and feeling like I had missed the chance to explore my interests as a teenager, I worked various jobs over the years but struggled to find fulfillment.

It was during this time that I met my partner Lauren. Her experience living with a chronic illness had already shifted her life’s direction, and she helped inspire me to reassess my own potential. Like many, I lost my job during the pandemic. At the same time Lauren’s health worsened, and I stepped into a caregiver role much earlier than either of us anticipated. When restrictions lifted, her unpredictable needs made it hard to find flexible work, leaving me unsure of what was next.

After weighing my options, I turned to my lifelong love of dogs. I’ve always felt a natural connection with them—they seem to know when someone needs comfort, and their companionship makes it easy for me to bond with each dog I meet. With Lauren’s encouragement, I signed up for a well-known pet sitting platform alongside handyman work I had taken on. What started as a small side gig while I figured out my long term moves, quickly grew into a steady stream of dog walks and long-term sitting jobs, with new clients regularly booking me for services. Before long, I had built a loyal clientele—and, more importantly, rediscovered a sense of purpose. For the first time in years, I felt at home in the work I was doing.

So why start my own business?

While my initial experience on the platform was successful, I eventually chose to start my own business for two key reasons. First, many clients preferred to pay me directly to avoid the increasingly steep platform fees. As I built relationships with clients, it became clear that although they valued the platform’s advertised insurance protections, the high costs—most of which didn’t directly support providers like myself—often led them to bypass the app altogether, putting my standing on the platform at risk of removal.

Second, and more importantly, my personal experience revealed how little support the platform actually offered its providers. After being attacked on the job, it became painfully clear that the company didn’t stand behind the people doing the work. That left me discouraged and questioning my career path—all while navigating unexpected health challenges of my own. But with time to reflect and Lauren’s encouragement, I decided to take a leap of faith. A year later, after recovering both my health and spirit, LUKAS K9 was born. Though I’m new to running my own business, my commitment to providing the same level of care I’d want for my own dog drives everything I do with this business. I aim to create a welcoming, stress-free, and personalized experience for every dog owner and their furry companions.

Ben Lukas, owner of LUKAS K9 Tri-Valley Dog Sitting is smiling and hugging his partner near the ocean on a sunny day, with Ben wearing sunglasses and a black shirt, and the woman with blond hair and a nose ring.
Two smiling people, Ben, a dog walker and dog sitter in the Tri Valley, owner of LUKAS K9 Tri Valley Dog Sitting, standing next to a woman with long blonde hair, holding a small black and white dog, with a view of a city and water in the background.
A man in a white t-shirt smiling while lying on a bed with a large, fluffy white dog on its back, petting the dog.
A brown dog with a chain collar holding a blue and orange tennis ball in its mouth, sitting on a concrete patio with a black plant pot and rocks in the background.
A man squats outdoors on green grass, hugging a white puppy that is licking his face. The man has short brown hair and a slight beard, and is wearing a gray T-shirt and sneakers. There are bushes and a wooden fence in the background.
A man smiling outdoors holding a black dog with thick fur against a blue sky with some clouds and greenery in the background.
A man sitting on a brown leather couch with a light-colored dog, both looking to the right, in a living room with framed pictures on the wall.
A man sitting on a black leather couch holding a black and white dog with a white stripe on its nose, in a room with white walls and a closed white door.
A young man with short hair and a slight smile, wearing a white shirt and green jacket, holding a small black and gray dog with curly fur inside a room with a ceiling light.
A man lying on a couch with a black puppy on his chest, smiling as the puppy nuzzles him.
A person walking a small dog on a leash along a winding paved path through a green wooded park.
A man with short dark hair and a beard smiling while holding a small gray and black dog with floppy ears outside on green grass.
A black dog lying on a gray cushioned mat in a corner next to a wall and a wooden dining room chair.
Ben, owner of LUKAS K9 Tri-Valley dog sitting, is lying on a sofa, smiling, holding a white dog with light brown patches and floppy ears, in a cozy living room with a warm lamp in the background.
A smiling man sitting on a couch with a brown, curly-haired dog next to him in a living room.
A man sitting on a sofa holding two puppies in his lap, smiling at the camera.
A young man with short dark hair and a gray striped shirt holding a fluffy black and white dog with curly fur, sitting on a leather couch in a cozy home interior.
A white dog lying on a sunlit outdoor patio with beige brick flooring, surrounded by patio chairs, a small wooden table, and a black outdoor heater.
A black dog wearing a harness on a leash, walking on a sidewalk next to a grassy area with shrubs.
A man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a gray shirt, is holding and gently kissing a brown puppy on the face. The man is sitting on a bed with white and red patterned bedding in a cozy room.
A young man smiling while holding a small, curly-haired white dog indoors.