Inspiring Conversations with Isabel Carvajal of Ulti-Mutt Wags and Play

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Carvajal.

Hi Isabel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, my name is Isabel! I was born locally in Durham North Carolina. Ever since I was born my passion was dogs: in fact, my first word was “dog.” Growing up in school I struggled with reading, but I grew a love for reading novels about dogs and nonfiction textbooks about all the different types of dog breeds and their characteristics.

I spent so much time reading these textbooks that to this day I can still name all the breed types when I spot one in public and know an abundance about psychology in dogs. Growing up one of my favorite things to do in the summer when I was not in school was pet sit my neighbor’s animals while they went out of town.

I found joy in taking care of people’s pets and bonding with them and it made me so happy to spend time with all the dogs and cats. I got my first dog when I turned 15, his name is Seuss, and is now 5 years old. I now have grown my family and have a Boxer mix named Bailee, and a Danish Swedish Farm Hound puppy named Jarvis.

I volunteer in my free time with Saving Grace Animals For Adoption in Wake Forest and used to do medical fostering in my free time during my gap year from college during the pandemic. I now am 20 years old running my own small business locally in Raleigh and never would have imagined my small business to take off so fast.

I wake up and look forward to seeing my clients throughout the day. It is so rewarding to see the happy faces all the dogs have as soon as I walk in to take care of them. I cannot wait to keep growing my business here in North Carolina!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges I had to face when starting up my small business was quitting the retail job that I had worked at for a while and getting promoted to Assistant Manager. That was a super hard step for me to take because I was in either a sink or swim situation.

The result of quitting my retail job was all worth the risk and I never thought I would build up my clientele so fast. I am now a full-time student at Wake Technical Community College, and then running my small business is my other full-time job. As a small business owner, I have learned that taking risks will help you in the long run and only make you stronger.

I have also learned that some days are better than others but you have to continue to push forward. The marketing side was also a struggle along the way because I had to think of creative ways to get my business name out in the world. Another struggle I faced was finding a good support system through other small businesses, some were better than others.

I am proud to say that I have found a strong support system through other local businesses like “Underbite Pet Boutique” which is always so kind and helpful.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Ulti-Mutt Wags and Play offers pet sitting, dog walking, and adventure day services. We specialize in structured walks which is helpful for new puppy owners or dogs that need a reminder on leash manners and basic obedience commands. I have a lot of insight specifically on leash reactivity, my personal dog used to struggle with severe leash reactivity, and ever since we started doing structured walks it has helped tremendously.

I always carry high-value treats with me and I always praise eye contact. Eye contact is huge in dogs because if they are checking in with you in stressful situations that is amazing and deserves tons of praise. I now after many years of practice have the knowledge to help others in high traffic areas with loose leash walking and leash manners. Ulti-Mutt Wags and Play also specializes in Adventure Day services. This is a three-hour session full of long-distance hiking and swimming on hot days.

This service is perfect for high-energy dogs or dogs that need more enrichment in their lives. This service also offers long leash fun through fields and woods so your dog can explore and sniff! As a small business, I am most proud of all the support we have gotten to be able to grow our roots and dive deeper into our business. Our mission is to provide services to any age or breed of dog so they can have new adventures and healthy happy life!

What makes us stand out is our customer service, reliability, and our abundance of knowledge of dogs.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
My favorite aspect of Raleigh is all the beautiful trails you can walk on.

One of my favorite trails to walk my personal dogs on is the North Carolina Museum of Art Greenway. It is so beautiful out there especially in September when the leaves turn red and orange. I love how dog-friendly Raleigh is too! There are actually a couple of bars in Raleigh that are dog friendly with a dog park inside!

With every block, you see in Raleigh there is sure to be a dog which makes my heart happy! My only concern is that Raleigh is booming with people moving from all parts of the United States to North Carolina, which means a lot of prices have gone up and a lot of low-income housing has been turned into luxury housing.

I always worry about the lower-income population when Raleigh is expanding so quickly because this makes it hard to pay rent and afford the basic necessities. I am very grateful that I have basic necessities and a roof over my head, especially with Raleigh expanding it makes me very thankful that I have resources.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ultimuttwags.com/
• Instagram: @ultimuttwagsandplay