Meet the owner

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

I’m Ben Lukas, the proud owner of LUKAS K9 Tri‑Valley Dog Sitting. I was raised in Pleasanton by my wonderful grandparents, whose guidance shaped who I am today. Now in my late 30s, I’m excited to help care for the dogs in my community.

My dog Cosmo is my pride and joy. I understand firsthand that dogs are more than pets, they are truly family members. That value guides how I care for every pup I meet.

Beyond LUKAS K9, I enjoy being outdoors, working with my hands, and spending time with my family. I love hiking with my grandpa and being an uncle, and these days I’m embracing a quieter, more balanced life filled with lots of family time, Cosmo walks and cuddles, and exploring new interests.

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.

How I Got Here

I started working professionally at 14, and by 17 I had graduated high school early and stepped into my family’s drilling business full‑time. For nearly a decade I expected to take over the company, but by my mid‑20s I realized that path wasn’t right for me. Unsure of my next step and having missed the chance to explore other interests earlier in life, I worked a variety of jobs but struggled to find fulfillment.

During this time I met my partner Lauren. Her experience living with a chronic illness had already reshaped her own life, and she encouraged me to rethink my potential. Like many, I lost my job during the pandemic and at the same time Lauren’s health worsened. This forced me to step into a caregiver role much earlier than either of us expected. When restrictions lifted, her unpredictable needs made it difficult to find flexible work, leaving me unsure of what to do next.

Eventually, I turned to my lifelong love of dogs. Being around them has always come naturally to me, and they’ve always been drawn to me, so with Lauren’s encouragement I signed up for a well‑known pet‑sitting platform. What began as an attempt to fill in the gaps in income quickly grew into a steady stream of clients booking everything from quick walks to weeks‑long care. Before long, I had built a loyal clientele and, more importantly, found a renewed sense of direction. 

While my experience on that platform was a great starting point, I eventually chose to build my own business for two main reasons. First, many clients disliked the platform’s rising fees and wanted to pay me directly. Even though they valued the insurance protections, the high costs (most of which didn’t directly support the people doing the work) often pushed them to bypass the app, which put my profile on the platform at risk of removal.

Second, and more importantly, I learned firsthand after being attacked on the job that the platform didn’t support its providers when it mattered most. That experience, paired with my own unexpected health challenges, forced me to reevaluate how I could continue a career in dog sitting. But with time to reflect and Lauren’s encouragement, I decided to take a leap of faith. A year after the incident, after regaining both my health and confidence, I launched LUKAS K9 Tri‑Valley Dog Sitting.

Though I’m new to running my own business, my commitment to my clients has remained the same: to provide the same level of care I’d want for my own dog. I’m proud to support my Tri‑Valley neighbors, and I’m grateful for every family who trusts me with their home and their four‑legged family members. I’m excited for what’s ahead as the LUKAS K9 family continues to grow.

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.