DOGFLUENCERS: Meet Riggins Hurd, Instagram's Funniest Golden Retriever

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 Kristen (Riggins Hurd's Human). You can find a direct link to their Instagram here.

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Riggins Hurd (@hurd_about_riggins) • Instagram photos and videos

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?

Hurd: We have had an instagram account for Riggins since he was a puppy, but it was more just to log our favorite photos of him. Later on, we stumbled upon instagram reels and decided to make a funny video about the "ice tax" since it seemed so fitting for Riggins as his favorite treat is ice cubes. Before we knew it, thousands of people had viewed, liked and commented on the reel. So many fellow dog lovers reached out sharing that the video put a smile on their face and made their day. From that moment on, we knew we needed to share more!

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

Hurd: I think Riggins personality sets him apart from other dogs on social media! He is incredibly quirky and makes us laugh in real time. He is one of the chillest dogs I have ever met and will literally do anything in exchange for your loving attention...and food. He is always up for making goofy videos!

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

Hurd: Most of what we post, is what happens in our real lives. We just reenact it. We also like to look into what audio/trends are popular and see how we can put a Riggins spin on it!

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

Hurd: Of course. Aside from people critiquing our items in the background of most of our videos shot in our home, we have had people make nasty comments about how they think we are treating Riggins poorly by making him partake in reels. We do not usually respond to the negative messages, instead we try to delete them. We do not want to feed into the negativity and give those people what they want.

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

Hurd: Be your authentic self! Post as often as you can! Be patient! Have fun! The hardest part is making that first post! It took a ton of courage to do this as we were afraid of being judged by others but ultimately the joy you can bring to so many people makes it worth it!

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

Hurd: He has influenced our lives in so many ways! He really is our world. We bring him everywhere and make plans around him because he is a true member of our family. He's taught us how to love, how to be patient, how to be responsible, and how sometimes all you need to brighten your day is a tail wagging at the door when you get home.

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?

Hurd: There's too many to count. But the videos that always make us laugh the most are when we humanize him either by wearing glasses/drinking wine or sit him up in our office like he's working at the computer. Imagining him actually doing these things around our house just cracks us up (sometimes to the point of being in tears...)

What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?

Hurd: Being connected to a plethora of other dog lovers and owners who we would not have been able to meet or chat with, without this social media opportunity.

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

Hurd: We are hard at work! We have many collaborations with companies, big and small, lined up for the months ahead. A little secret we can share with the Fi community is that we will be getting to work with SniffSpot next!