We recently had the chance to connect with Mark Carter and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mark, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Mark Carter, founder of This Lil Dog of Mine Pet Services here in Austin, Texas. What started as simply wanting to give dogs better walks has grown into a full-service pet care company with a personality of its own. We’re more than just a dog walking and pet sitting service, we’ve built a brand that’s rooted in community, trust, and a genuine love for animals.
What makes us unique is how we weave training, enrichment, and real connection into everything we do. Our signature Walk & Train program doesn’t stop at exercise; it helps reinforce basic obedience and builds confidence in every dog we work with. Beyond that, we host Yappy Hours for apartment communities, create tailored memberships for busy pet parents, and even roll out new services like adventure hikes and pet amenity programs for properties.
At the heart of it all, my story is about taking care of pets the way I’d want someone to take care of my own. We’re consistent, we’re transparent, and we put just as much emphasis on client peace of mind as we do on wagging tails. Right now, I’m focused on scaling our membership programs, expanding our partnerships across Austin, and continuing to position This Lil Dog of Mine as the go-to team for pet families who want more than “just a sitter.”
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My grandmother. She always pushed me to be better than anything she could have imagined for me. She had this way of seeing the bigger picture in me, even when I couldn’t see it for myself. Where I saw obstacles, she saw opportunities. Where I felt small, she reminded me I was capable of much more.
She spoke life into me and carried an unshakable belief that I was meant for something greater. That kind of love and vision gives you a different type of drive; it makes you want to honor it, live up to it, and eventually see yourself the way they saw you.
So much of the confidence and determination I bring to my brand and my work today comes from that foundation she gave me. She didn’t just see me; she saw who I could become. And that’s a gift I carry with me every single day.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
It happened when I finally got tired of carrying someone else’s narrative about me. Early on, someone told me that I should hide what I looked like if I wanted to succeed in the pet sitting industry; that no one would trust a Black man coming into their home. For a long time, I let that comment weigh on me. It planted fear and made me feel like I had to shrink myself to fit into an image that wasn’t true to who I am.
But at some point, I realized that hiding who I was wasn’t protecting me; it was holding me back. I decided that if someone couldn’t accept me for who I am, then they simply weren’t my ideal client. From that moment forward, everything shifted.
I stopped leading with fear and started leading with authenticity. I poured my energy into building a brand rooted in trust, love for pets, and a genuine commitment to community. And once I showed up unapologetically as myself, my business didn’t just grow; we thrived. My pain became power the day I understood that what makes me different is exactly what makes me valuable.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies our industry tells itself is that pet sitting, dog walking, grooming, anything in pet care, isn’t “really” a business. That because we love animals, we should be willing to accept crumbs. People love to negotiate with us, tell us our prices are too high, or act like what we do is just a hobby. But the truth is, this work is as legitimate and demanding as any other service industry.
We don’t just show up to play with pets. We bring experience, training, responsibility, and a commitment that is physical, emotional, and constant. We work 365 days a year, often on holidays, early mornings, and late nights. We sacrifice time with our own families and our own pets to care for someone else’s. That deserves respect and fair compensation, just like any other professional service.
The second lie is that charging less will somehow help you “win” in this business. The reality is, when you undervalue yourself, you attract the wrong type of clients, the ones who don’t respect your time, don’t see your expertise, and will never truly appreciate the love and care you put into their animals. Those clients will burn you out.
What I’ve learned is that you can’t cut yourself short just to get clients. You have to charge in alignment with the value you bring, because this is more than a job, it’s a career that requires heart, skill, and dedication. When you own your worth, you attract the right people, clients who respect you, appreciate you, and allow you to continue loving what you do. And that’s how you keep this work rewarding and free-spirited, instead of draining.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think our customers would miss the peace of mind we bring them most. Our families don’t just count on us to walk or sit their pets, they count on us to show up with consistency, trust, and genuine love. They know their pets are treated like family, and that we take the extra time to reinforce training, clean up their space, or share detailed updates that make them feel connected even when they’re away.
They’d also miss the community we’ve built. From Yappy Hours to adventure hikes to partnerships with apartment complexes, we’ve created something bigger than just a service; it’s a culture of care and connection. Our clients know we’re not just a business; we’re a team invested in their pets’ happiness and in making their own lives easier.
At the end of the day, it’s that blend of professionalism and heart that makes us special. If I stepped away, clients would miss the reliability, the personal touch, and the way we go above and beyond to make sure every tail wag and purr is backed by real care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thislildogofmine.com
- Instagram: thislildogofmine
Image Credits
TLDOM Team
