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 Ashley (Mary'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?
Engel: It all started as just a way for me not to spam my own Instagram with her photos and videos but then it started to develop into more. She started getting followers, and I started making friends with other dog influencers in the community. And that’s when I started to post more and I got more into making reels and sharing our everyday adventures to share the joy that she gives me, with the world.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Engel: I try to be super true to her on her account, I don’t dress her up in silly costumes or make her “act” I use real authentic content of her living her life and make cute reels and stuff out of it. I also think that our daily stories really set us apart, I try to make it feel like Mary is taking you on a walk with her, her daily digging videos are a staple to our account. I also try to incorporate motivational content to motivate and educate others about the benefits of a daily walk.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Engel: I try to just be authentic with content, a lot of the time I am just always taking videos and photos and when I find a good sound or think of a good idea, I have content ready to use. I keep it a priority to not put Mary through anything or do anything unnecessary or abnormal in the name of social media. I try to keep everything organic. I love to let her dig her heart out and capture that, take her on long walks and runs and make that into motivational reels.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Engel: I have faced some challenges, the first being that people were stealing content, but after adjusting some settings and changing things, I’ve been able to since mitigate that. I also have received negative comments and DMs, for me it is easy to delete and ignore these. I think it is easy because in my head, a person who is hating on a dog’s account is just a sad miserable person. I don’t think any kind-hearted normal person would be able to even think about being negative on a dog’s Instagram account. That is why it is easy for me to brush off and ignore the negative/hateful comments.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Engel: The advice I would give would be to stay true to yourself and to your dog. Don’t start being someone else for social media and don’t put your dog through any stress just for social media. I also would suggest to find accounts that meet your interests and that you have similar outlooks as. This can help you build your community and get in touch with the dog influencer community. Everyone always says that you have to “find your niche” but I think it’s more important to just have fun with it! Don’t get hung up on views or likes, just find your people and share your cute pup with the world!
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Engel: My dog has influenced my life tremendously outside of social media. She really keeps me active and gets me outside. I don’t think I would spend even a fraction of the time outside that I do if it weren’t for her. I have a healthier lifestyle, not only do I get outside and am more active but I sleep better, I have a sleep schedule because I know she needs a schedule. She has given me a lot of structure and a ton of love. I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it.
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?
Engel: Everyday is full of memorable and funny moments, it is hard to choose just one. I think my favorite moments are her daily digging videos. She LOVES to dig, she loves to kick dirt on me and she is so passionate about the entire thing that it just fills me with joy and laughter. I love that it brightens other people’s days as well, I’ve had multiple people tell me how her digging videos are their favorite part of opening Instagram everyday. I love bringing that joy to others.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Engel: I love the community and the friends that I’ve met online through the dog influencer community. I think it is so awesome how we can meet people who have similar lifestyles and mindsets as us. I also love how easy it is to share ideas, tips, etc. whether that be nutrition, training, or just cute moments.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Engel: We have a couple Christmas photo shoots to do this week. And then, hopefully after the holidays, we will be able to plan our visit up to the snow!
