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 Victoria (Sage'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?
Piland: It all started when we got Sage as a puppy. We originally had no plans to get a dog (much less a puppy), but friends of ours had puppies and we thought we would just ‘go check them out’. Of course, we found Sage and it transformed from there. When he was a puppy he looked just like a cute fluffy bear. He was so cute we couldn’t stand it! So of course we had to show off his cuteness to the world. Originally we had an Instagram account for our cat, Finn, but we weren’t very active. It was a good time to become more active on the account with Sage to document his cuteness and their adventures together.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Piland: I would say that all dogs (and all pets in general) are unique, right? They each have their own special personalities that fit in with our lives in unique ways. In Sage’s case, we have an opportunity to show the adventures of him and Finn in a low-pressure, natural sort of ‘slice-of-life’ environment. It’s a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of account. We like the way the videos come off as light and easy to digest. Plus they’re both goofballs and make it very easy to share! We hope it brings a smile to peoples’ faces :)
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Piland: Expanding on the question above, we like sharing everyday videos/pictures that generally happen naturally. I think the biggest draw to our account is that we share authentic, genuine posts of Sage’s and Finn’s lives, so I try to capture those moments as often as possible, almost like a ‘home-video’ type of feel.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Piland: Thankfully we have not had any negativity directed at us. We love our pet community – each account is amazing and we’re so thankful to have met so many wonderful pets (and their owners)! Balancing time between everyday life and social media does come with its own challenges though. What is the correct balance, how much will I post/engage, how do I avoid burnout – all things I have come across and am still figuring out. It feels as though I should engage as much as possible to grow the account, but that isn’t sustainable. Finding that balance is the key!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Piland: Just do it! There’s no better time than the present. The key is just starting - don’t worry about how many followers or how much engagement you get. Just enjoy the process and the rest will follow.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Piland: Sage has brought so much to our life. He is the first dog in our immediate family and showed us a whole knew kind of love – dog love. I always thought of myself as a cat person, but when we saw Sage for the first time I knew that he filled a hole in my heart that I didn’t know was there. Our friends had showed us pictures of the new puppies they had and I didn’t have any preconceptions yet. But of course we all know what happened when we showed up to ‘look’ – it turned into a four hour play time with Sage and the rest is history! Originally my husband was the one who was really wanting a dog. Little did I know how quickly I would fall in love with Sage, and even by the end of the first night I knew that I would never be the same. Of course, he has also taught us patience. Australian Shepherds are balls of energy and no matter how much you play with them or train them, they’re always ready for more! Thankfully that energy hasn’t gone into anything destructive and he is quite well behaved (most of the time). We are also going on more walks and are more active in general.
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?
Piland: The memories are already too numerous to count, but there is one in particular that comes to mind. We had taken Sage on his first vacation with us – a trip to a secluded cabin near a state park. He had always had a lot of energy as a puppy and it was difficult for us to get him to stop and relax, even for a few seconds. We were sitting outside on the porch swing and Sage suddenly asked to get up. He promptly fell asleep in my arms with his head on my shoulder and I absolutely melted. I think he knew what he was doing! One of the funniest moments was when I was making a video for Instagram during one of our walks. I wanted to show Sage a flower I had found, and to get him to smell it. Well, he apparently liked the smell a little too much and just chomped it down without any hesitation! Took me by surprise!
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Piland: There are quite a few things that I love - Being part of a big community of pets and their owners, to engage with that community and our friends/followers daily, sharing our cute and silly daily moments/adventures, and working with small businesses to try/promote great products (that Sage always loves!)
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Piland: We will continue to share fun, light-hearted content our followers love. Adding too many plans for our posts takes away some of that authenticity we want to keep. However, we are always looking for new collaboration opportunities with pet brands because we (and Sage) always like trying new things and want to support the pet community!
