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 Mia (Hilo'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?
Uyeda: We didn’t really plan on becoming a dog influencer. We just started posting random videos on TikTok about Hilo’s lifestyle, diet, and sports we’d enroll him into. All of a sudden, we attend a baby shower where Hilo was playing with a balloon. I thought it was cute, thought nothing of it, posted it on TikTok, closed the app and fell asleep. Next thing I know, there were over 3 million views just overnight. Then it continued to snowball where every platform including barstool sports was contacting us for permission to post the video. It was insane how 1 video changed everything
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Uyeda: Hilo is very aloof. He is indifferent to dogs and doesn’t really care too much about them. All he cares about is his hikes, beach and snow and of course pleasing his parents. He loves going on adventures, trying on new gear including leashes, collars, boots, jackets, etc. He also loves trying out new treats (but what dog doesn’t). Hilo also loves cats, his best friend is a cat. They play with each other every single day and he gets bathed by the cat every day. Hilo is also very energetic, but is also very gentle and knows how to read body language. Hes just an overall good boy.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Uyeda: No specific creative process. Everything we post is either lifestyle, diet, adventure, spontaneous, or ad-related. Every company we collaborate with is with a product we truly love and we use on a day to day basis. If we have to get creative for a collab, we usually like to tie the video with something that’s related to our lifestyle. For example, collars and leash ads are usually tied with hiking, the beach or snow related content— something we do all the time.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Uyeda: Absolutely. At first, it was hard because there are so many eyes on you on what you do and say. But I’ve learned that it’s easier to just ignore them or turn it around make it something positive. It’s harder said than done, but it does help you mentally especially if you’re not used to the attention
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Uyeda: Be yourself, be relatable, and don’t steer away from your own lifestyle. Do what makes you happy.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Uyeda: My dog has taught me how to be more resilient, patient, and understanding. He’s also forced me to go outside more and take more walks on the beach, take snow trips, go on more hikes and most importantly have fun
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?
Uyeda: One of the most memorable moments during an adventure was when hilo was first introduced to the snow. We took him out on a sled, put some goggles on him, and put a snow jacket on him. He had a blast just hopping in the snow like a little bunny. He was only about a year old when he first saw snow. He was running around nonstop for more than 2 hours, he was just so happy. No matter how cold it was, it didn’t stop Hilo from having fun. I swear, this dog never gets cold.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Uyeda: Meeting new people! When we go to events, some people recognize Hilo and they always say hello to him. Everyone is so nice and sweet that it makes making content worth it! Also, meeting people behind the company. Without being an influencer, we probably would never meet the people who run the company and most of the time, these people love their dogs just as much as we do and it’s fantastic to see!
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Uyeda: So far, the only plans for now is just more adventures and photo shoots. Winter is coming to a close, so there will be some more snow pictures in the works
