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 Gabriela (Hazel & Potato Ace'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?
Ramirez: I guess we all say that lol, We were not looking to become influencers. We decided to get Hazel after my boyfriend’s 14 year old dog Zeke sadly passed; she came into our lives and she brought light, since she was a little puppy she has this powerful energy that makes you get off the bed, it’s contagious. I decided to start her Instagram account just to be able to save all her pictures and make other people smile, she is very pretty and smart so she gained followers fast and then some small shops reached out to us to be brand ambassadors and we just said yes! Almost a year after we got Hazel we decided that she needed a friend, because she was staying home alone for some hours when we were at work, so we brought home Potato Ace on August 2023. He was the shyest chubby boy ever! He was super scared the first couple of weeks and Hazel was super happy and anxious to play with him and jealous at the same time haha! It was a lot of fun, and of course I decided to start Potato’s IG account soon after because the world needed to see his cute puppy eyes; With him was a little difficult to work with because he is skittish and he runs away from the bags or pretty much anything that he does not know, now he knows that we always have fun doing pictures or videos and he pretty much follows on everything that Hazel does, I always make sure that when doing content they feel good and they have fun. They know there’s a lot of treats and playtime after a video or a photo session, we really love doing this, it’s just fun!
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Ramirez: This is a hard question! All dog owners say they have the cutest pups ever and they are not wrong, every pup I see in social media is super cute and adorable. Hazel and Potato turned out to be perfect balanced dogs, it’s funny that some of our followers thought they were actually siblings because they look alike but they are totally different breeds, Hazel is a Border Collie and Potato Ace is a mix of an Aussie and a blue heeler. When we do a video or a photo I try to show how they truly are, Hazel loves the camera and she knows how to look pretty haha, Potato is a very handsome pup, he does not smile often but when he does, oh my dog! He has a super cute smile. I try to share our day to day adventures, and I think that’s what our followers like about our accounts, they have seen my pups growing up, it’s amazing!
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Ramirez: I don’t have an specific creative process when doing content for brands, to be honest I like to be spontaneous, what I do plan is when I have to take seasonal pictures, I like to go shopping for the accessories and I like to choose the perfect bandana or bow, I love doing seasonal pictures.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Ramirez: Fortunately we haven’t faced any negativity towards our content or towards our pups, IG community has always been supportive and loving and we are very grateful for that.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Ramirez: I would just say DO IT! Have fun with your pups and enjoy every single moment, nobody started an IG influencer account being an expert, don’t get sad if you don’t get a bunch of likes or comments. I truly do this for fun and because my pups get to enjoy the rewards.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Ramirez: Oh! Our life has been happier and brighter since they came into our lives, they wake us up every morning, Hazel licks our faces and Potato has this funny way to lay all his weight on us haha, it’s just happy happy happy! We love hiking with them and when we plan a trip it’s almost always around them, we love seeing them playing at the park, we love when they pout because they have to stay inside their crates, it’s always fun with them.
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?
Ramirez: I would say that the 1st time they both played in the snow was very rewarding. We were not doing content we just went for a hike to Mt Charleston, we found a lonely trail at one of the highest points of the mountain, the snow was fresh and they were super happy running around and chasing each other it was a Beautiful day, core memories were made on that day.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Ramirez: My favorite thing is that I get to share this with my pups, and that our followers love our content and that we have connected with awesome people along the ride!
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Ramirez: I have been working on my own small business, still on the making but hopefully this year I would be able to share the news with our followers. Stay tuned!
