Ben & Cosmo

why i started lukas k9

My professional career began at the age of 14, and by 17, I had graduated high school early while working full-time for a family business as a driller. I spent nearly a decade doing hard physical labor under the guise that I would eventually take over the family company one day and run it as my own. However, by my mid-20s, I realized this path no longer suited me for numerous reasons. Feeling lost and having missed the chance to explore my personal interests as a teenager, I spent the following years bouncing between a few hourly wage jobs, but none brought me happiness or fulfillment.

I met my partner Lauren during this transitional period in my life, and she encouraged me to think creatively about my career options. Unfortunately, she has chronic health conditions that changed her own career path, and her health declined after we met. By the peak of COVID, her symptoms worsened, requiring more assistance much sooner in life than we both anticipated. Like many others during this time, I lost my job. This opened up an opportunity to work part-time as her in-home caregiver, but by the time COVID restrictions lifted, her inconsistent schedule made it challenging for me to find a flexible part-time job.

Feeling stumped after exploring various job options, I turned to my lifelong love of dogs. I’ve often been told that dogs are drawn to me, and I believe it’s because they sense a person's need for peace and understanding. Their non-judgmental love and acceptance make it easy for me to bond with them. I have always found joy in spending time with dogs, but I never considered that it could turn into something lucrative. So, when my partner Lauren suggested I try dog walking and in-home dog sitting in addition to the handyman work I had taken on, I decided to give it a shot. I signed up for a well-known pet care platform, and my business quickly took off. From dog walking to long care jobs and sleepovers, I stayed busy with new and repeat clients, maintaining a perfect client rating and a host of happy customers.

So why start my own business?

While my experience on this particular platform was initially successful, I decided to start my own business for two main reasons. 1: Many clients wanted to pay me directly outside of the app to avoid the increasingly high fees added by the platform. As I developed relationships with my clients, it became clear that while these dog owners valued the app's advertised protections, the high fees—much of which don’t benefit the provider, like myself, directly—prompted the majority of my clients to work around the app (which created a risk for me of getting removed.)

2: The most significant reason for parting ways with this platform and investing in myself was my personal experience with the app’s lack of support for the providers. After being attacked while on the job, and despite evidence regarding the owner’s shortcomings, it was painfully obvious that the company did not stand behind its ‘employees’. This incident left me discouraged, questioning again my career options, and all while simultaneously dealing with my own unexpected health issues. However, with time to reflect and the encouragement of Lauren, I decided to take a leap of faith. A year later with time to recover my over health and broken spirit, and LUKAS K9 was created. Although I’m new to running a small business, my commitment to providing the same level of care I would want for my own dog drives me. By prioritizing communication and trust, I hope to create a welcoming environment for dog owners and their furry family members.

I’m excited to keep growing the LUKAS K9 family!

Ben, Cosmo & Lauren

ben & lauren