DOGFLUENCERS: Meet Mandy, Canada's Most Photogenic Miniature Australian Shepherd

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 Mégane (Mandy's Human). You can find a direct link to their Instagram here.

Here is their story:

Proofread Dog Influencer Interview

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?

Denis: Well at first, I created Mandy’s Instagram so I can share pictures of her without annoying my friends on Facebook. I knew I would want to show her off to people a lot so I created her own account. Never would I have thought her account would get so much fame. A hobby became a passion. The more I saw the account scale up, the more I put my interest in photography. I had never touched a camera before Mandy’s account and I fell in love with it.

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

Denis: I think what sets apart Mandy from other dogs is her looks. She is an adult dog and she still looks like a small puppy. With her big 19 pounds, she is the definition of cuteness. She is smart, always looks happy, and makes people smile.

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

Denis: Usually, my content ideas come to me spontaneously. I’ll give you an example, I am driving to work, and I see a little field with an old wooden fence on the side of the road. I will pinpoint that location and look if it’s accessible with Mandy. I will do a whole photoshoot with some tricks that Mandy can do and some live action shots. I let her run around having fun and those shots are mostly my favorites. That is my process for the locations of my content. However, I do training at home for Mandy’s tricks so I can make original pictures in the future.

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

Denis: Honestly, I didn’t deal with a lot of challenges or negativity. However, the one subject that people are triggered by is the fact that Mandy has a short tail. Some people will jump to conclusions and think that her tail has been cut off at birth, which is a sensitive subject. To deal with those comments, I just explain that Mandy was born with this short tail, which is true. If they don’t believe it, I don’t go further. I tell them the truth and they can do what they want with it.

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

Denis: Just go for it! It’s fun to share our dog’s journeys and it’s a beautiful community out there. We support each other and we share our experiences. The count of followers doesn’t matter and as long as you’re doing what you love, you are already a winner.

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

Denis: Mandy changed everything. She made me see all the little things I couldn’t notice before. She is always happy to be happy and that changes my perspective. She made me discover so many things, the joy of the outdoors, photography, dog training, and soon we’ll explore dog agility. I can say I found my way, my passion and that is all because of her.

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?

Denis: Once, we went to a place where there is a frozen waterfall. On the way to get there, we were looking for the stairs that would lead us to this beautiful waterfall. However, the day prior, it snowed a lot so the path was full of snow and made the stairs invisible. I looked down the mountain and I sledded down by accident with Mandy. Nobody was hurt, but we needed to climb back up. Mandy had no difficulties to climb so she kept climbing up and down to make sure I climbed up. Each time she came back to me, she licked my face as encouragement. It was so sweet that she stayed by my side the whole climb instead of fleeing. It wasn’t funny in the moment, but now when I think about it, I find it funny and sweet.

What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?

Denis: I love sharing my experiences and solutions to the community and make a difference. I almost really love to support local businesses that are amazing but need more visibility on the market. Just that, makes me feel helpful and happy.

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

Denis: Well, we are actively looking for agility classes and I would love to share my progress with my community. Also, lots and lots of new photography, of course.