DOGFLUENCERS: Meet Aretwo NYC's King of Side Eye

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 Tess (Aretwo'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?

Marty: Starting my dog training business in the city made me want to start posting more. Aretwo is often the subject for my training videos! I use my platform to educate and empathize with pet parents, especially those living in urban environments.

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

Marty: Everyone seems to love Aretwo’s independent nature. He’s strong-willed and knows how to get what he wants (without breaking the rules!). Overall, I think pet parents relate to my content because I am empathetic and real—positive reinforcement without the sugar coating. I spread awareness about rescue and show love to reactive dogs.

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

Marty: My creative process mainly comes from my dog training clients in the city. If I encounter something out of the ordinary, I try to post about it so others can relate to the ever-changing atmosphere of being a pet parent in the city.

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

Marty: Of course! I have posted photos of Aretwo wearing a hat (or most recently, eclipse glasses), and I have gotten some hate for being “abusive.” Aretwo is very tolerant and gets lots of snacks for his efforts, and definitely doesn’t mind the few seconds I ask him to pose. To combat that, I have shown content related to how I desensitize him to it and how to have your dogs pose for photos in a positive setting.

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

Marty: My biggest suggestion has always been to post EVERYTHING. If you take a silly video, post it. If you take a clip of them walking, sleeping, breathing—post it. You can use clips as B-roll and put text over it that relates to the target audience. I have posted some videos that I made in less than 5 minutes that have gotten thousands of interactions! My best advice is just to START! (and take high quality, stable videos)

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

Marty: How has he NOT!? Aretwo is “technically” my boyfriend’s dog, but ours together for the past 6 years. Because of him, I met my partner (he’s the ultimate wingdog), which led me to move to NYC to pursue my career in dog training. He helps me get out of bed even on the hardest days and reminds me to slow down and enjoy our time together. Especially getting older now, I’ve learned to stop with the multitasking that we are all accustomed to and spend time just the two of us—no phones or outside distractions (other than the smells outside!).

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?

Marty: Aretwo is king of the side eye. Not the whale-eye. Side eye. When we take photos I always laugh because he poses perfectly, but I always say I can’t train him to not look absolutely THROUGH with me.

What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?

Marty: Connecting with people who feel the same as me, and educating about rescue. I’ve helped a couple of my followers choose adoption first, and anytime I can educate people and help animals in need, I feel fulfilled. It’s important to me, also, to connect with reactive dog parents. Many times they can’t get advice or empathy from their physical community because they have to keep their dogs separated, so I think it’s so important to give them an outlet to vent and to know they’re not alone.

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

Marty: I may begin working more with rescue to showcase training for adoptable dogs. I think the content will help those training their dogs, as well as helping dogs who need the training to become more adoptable!