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 Nynke (Coco & Flint & Cozy'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?
Van Malderen: At first I started it just to share my love for photography & discovering new places. I saw some accounts about dogs & thought, why not? And now I want to use it to show people life with 3 dogs & we want to educate people about reactivity too. I share as many ups & downs as I can, because I know when I first started our Instagram I missed the reality & honesty on most accounts. Especially when you have several dogs & struggle with reactivity. It could get pretty lonely, so I am all here to create a place where we feel safe to share our journey.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Van Malderen: That’s a difficult one! However I think it’s just their outgoing personalities with each a touch of their own. Coco is the Queen of the pack, Flint the one who takes over everyone’s heart & Cozy the one mud pig who makes sure we smile each day! They just make the perfect trio.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Van Malderen: I always have my camera with me, besides capturing portraits of them. I also try to capture a lot of spontaneous moments! I love the mix of posed & natural photos. I take a lot of photos & select the good ones after each hike. Always trying to tell a story with each photo. And captions? They just come & go, I have a book where I write everything. On days I can’t come up with one, I choose one out of it. But with every post we try to educate people & interact with our followers!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Van Malderen: Yes, we absolutely did.. Unfortunately it was very hard in the beginning. We train balanced & use tools, which can cause some negativity from others. People always told me they would never love me etc. At the start I would always answer those DM’s, however now? We just ignore it & we show our happy daily life! Let them watch, but don’t let them take you down.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Van Malderen: Just do it, don’t let people tell you “no”. And stay true to yourself, because at the end of the day social media isn’t our whole life. So share what you want & don’t let negativity get to your heart. We are all worth a place to share the love we have for our dogs.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Van Malderen: I always tell people Coco is the one that made me, Flint is the one who gave me confidence & Cozy brings out all of my positivity! Besides changing into a better version of myself because of them, they also made my social life way better! We have met many amazing people on our journey & some amazing friendships were created!
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?
Van Malderen: Honestly there are sooo many! I could tell you about our amazing time in the snow, in the Belgian Ardennes,… However nothing will beat our evenings on our field or fields close to home. Enjoying some amazing sunsets, my absolute favourite. One time the sky just turned into this amazing color palette of pink, purple & orange. The dogs were running around playing with each other & just enjoying the here & now. It’s so simple & small, but those moments will stay with me forever.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Van Malderen: Inspiring people to just go out & live in the “now”. Because in our daily life we are too worried about our past or future, which makes us forget to enjoy the moment we are currently in. And also I love creating a safe space for people with reactive dogs without judgment, just pure love.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Van Malderen: We are excited for some collabs with brands we love! And we are just gonna stay our true selves, sharing daily life with 3 crazy Border Collies! And which fun adventures the future will bring us? I don’t know yet, besides some hikes I really want to do. We will just see what comes on our path & take every opportunity possible!
