DOGFLUENCERS: Meet Bad Dog Badger, Instagram's Chesapeake Bay Retriever x Australian Shepherd

Welcome to the ultimate destination for dog enthusiasts and social media mavens alike. At Dogfluencers, we're passionate about showcasing the best and brightest in the world of four-legged fame.

Whether you're looking for adorable photos, heartwarming stories, or expert tips on how to turn your own pup into a social media star, we've got you covered.

Today we got the honor of interviewing Kinsey (Bad Dog Badger's Human). You can find a direct link to their Instagram here.

Here is their story:

Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a dog influencer? What inspired you to start sharing your dog's adventures on social media?

Stiles: Being a dog influencer, never even crossed my mind! I honestly had no clue this was a possibility for a little doggie from Oklahoma. We got Badger when he was 6-weeks-old; and as he started to grow, his personality began unfolding. He became famous in our small town! People would always ask about him, and they loved seeing his pictures. I started his social media account when he was around one-year-old, and it just grew from there. We love him, and I knew others would love him too! Navigating social media has definitely been a learning process, but seeing how many people love him has been such a rewarding experience.

What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?

Stiles: Badger is such an intelligent and quirky little fella! He is ALWAYS getting into trouble (hence, the name Bad Dog Badger), but he never fails to keep people laughing. His unique personality and charisma sets him apart from fellow social media doggies. He has a BIG personality, and it just shines through in all his posts. He’s such a fun-loving doggie, and you can’t help but see how much he enjoys life to the fullest!

How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?

Stiles: I don’t really have a creative process. Sometimes I have trouble coming up with content for Badger's page, but I try to remind myself to just have fun! I’m obsessed with Badger so I always have tons of pictures and videos of him. Most content stems from him in his natural element - just being a happy, carefree dog. I do try to keep up with trends to stay relevant and give people what they want to see. I also strive to incorporate a balance of original content to set Badger apart from fellow social media dogs. But most of all, I just try to have fun and share what I enjoy!

Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?

Stiles: Most definitely! Badger is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever x Australian Shepherd mix - which are two high energy, working dog breeds. Badger is not a working dog, though! We’ve had our fair share of people who make sure to point this out, but I do not feed into that negativity. At the end of the day, Badger is happy and healthy which is all that matters!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?

Stiles: Just start sharing! The dog community on social media is booming right now. Show off your dog. Engage with fellow dogs. Don’t compare your account to other accounts. Share what you love and the right people will find you. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun!

How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?

Stiles: Badger has influenced my life in so many ways! Because of him, I enjoy going on new adventures and exploring. I love watching him explore the world, and it’s so fun to see life through his eyes. He enjoys life to the fullest, and I aspire to be just like him!

Can you tell us about a particularly memorable or funny moment you've had with your dog during one of your photo shoots or adventures?

Stiles: Oh, boy! I have so many funny memories of life with Badger. When he was a puppy, he fell in love with the water! He would swim for so long that he’d forget to keep paddling, and he'd start to go under the surface. After a few near-drowning experiences, he got a little shark life jacket! He loved his life jacket because he could swim even longer without getting as tired. He recently outgrew his little life jacket and upgraded to a big boy life jacket! While he doesn’t need a life jacket anymore, he still wears it as a precaution.

In his most popular video on TikTok, he’s wearing his shark life jacket. Most people loved the video and thought he was so cute; but since he was wearing a life jacket, someone reported his video for animal abuse/cruelty which is crazy!

What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?

Stiles: My favorite thing about being a dog influencer is most definitely the doggie community! It’s so fun to engage with like-minded people who are obsessed with their dogs, too. We have grown close to so many fellow dog influencers and their pawrents. And they support us so well! I hope one day I can meet all my social media friends in person!

Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?

Stiles: We don’t have any plans as of the moment! I’m hoping for more collaborations throughout the year and to just grow his social media community in general. It’s amazing being a part of such a supportive community. Hopefully lots of fun adventures are in our future!