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 Alyssa (Evie'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?
Thompson: The start of our dogfluencer journey was bittersweet. I lost my 13 year old heart dog, Brock, to hemangiosarcoma and was struggling to do much of anything at all. When Evie came around, I had a difficult time connecting with her. I was still grieving the loss of my dog, Brock, and wasn't sure if I could love another dog as much as I loved him. Not only that, but Evie is so different from Brock. While he was a mellow, well-behaved, and loyal senior pup, Evis is a demon in disguise; she's wild and chaotic and extremely naughty. Anyway, I started our account because I love taking pictures of my dogs and thought it would help me strengthen my bond with Evie. And it has!
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Thompson: Evie obviously has a unique appearance, we receive comments on it all the time. But I think once her beauty catches someone's attention, it's her wild personality that gets them to stick around. It's an intricate balance: her striking appearance and devilish temperament.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Thompson: My account focuses on my beginner photography (with Evie as my muse) and my journey through grief. I like snapping pics and videos of Evie when we go hiking and use those for most of my content. I also share occasional reels about Brock, typically when my grief feels heavier than usual. It's nice being able to connect with other owners who are navigating pet loss as well.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Thompson: Honestly, I haven't experienced much hate! The community I'm a part of has been very kind and supportive. There have been occasional hate comments on some of my more popular reels, but they come from random accounts and they're so few and far between, I don't really focus on them. Not only that, but if/when I do receive a hate comment, I just laugh!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Thompson: Just do it! Don't focus on whether or not people will like or care about what you have to share, and just share it. There will always be someone out there who will enjoy your perspective. Set small goals for yourself, like post X amount of reels per week, or reach X amount of followers by the end of the month. Keep the goals attainable and realistic, but still enough to push yourself. Most importantly, keep it fun.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Thompson: Evie is a very high-energy dog and she keeps me busy! We're always going on walks, exploring different trails, going for drives. Everything is so fun and exciting for her, it's helped me to appreciate things I took for granted before.
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?
Thompson: A couple weeks ago, I shared a reel with a few clips of her running around. You can hear her feet making suction cup sounds. Some people were doubtful whether it was real or not, but it is real! Evie has sweaty little paw pads and they squeak when she runs on our hard floors!
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Thompson: The connections I've made. I've made so many friends from so many different backgrounds. We've bonded over the puppy blues, pet loss and grief, and our love for dogs.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Thompson: We have lots of big plans for the future! Right now, we're just building our following, while I figure out my photography. Outside of social media, I hope to do canicross with Evie when she's old enough. We're already working on different commands during our walks. Things like, 'turn left', 'turn right', 'wait', 'let's cross', 'turn around', etc. I think Evie will make an excellent running companion and we'll be able to put her pulling instincts to good use!
