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 Kanna (Miso'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?
Doyal: I have always loved to make content and post on my social media. I have a total of +18k followers on my personal lifestyle account on TikTok(@kanna_iwase). When I first got Miso, I knew that I had to make an Instagram account for him and share his growth with the world. He’s too cute not to share right? Taking videos and photos has been a part of my life ever since I started to grow my TikTok, so it was natural to start making content for Miso on Instagram. On top of that, I live in Los Angeles, and I have many friends who are also influencers. They motivate and inspire me to keep posting.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Doyal: Every dog has a different personality and can be unique in their own ways. There are so many dog accounts making it difficult to stand out. I try to create content that's knowledgeable and related to other dogs and dog owners, and people love it. I also learned that its good to have your own theme for your account. For example, miso is a picky eater, so I make content that's related to food to show what he eats. He’s also a trail dog. My husband and I love to go hiking and mountain biking, so I post about gear and accessories Miso uses out on the trail. When you keep following your theme, you'll gain followers who have the same problems or can relate to you. My account can be all over the place sometimes, but the most important thing is that you enjoy creating your content!
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Doyal: I honestly don't have a creative process, but as I mentioned earlier, I noticed that trends on TikTok and Instagram can be way different sometimes. When I see trends I like on TikTok, I post on my account and on Miso’s account as well. I also like to add trending audio, captions, and hashtags to help the content grow. I love to capture everything that Miso does, especially the little things, and those little things can go viral. You never know what will happen unless you post it!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Doyal: When some of my reels went viral, I received negative comments, but I just ignore them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I just don’t have the time or energy to read them. We live in 2024 when social media is part of our lives. People leave negative comments for stuff that they don’t like or when they have different opinions, but you know what? Let them say whatever they want because they don’t know you! You don't have to explain anything to them.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Doyal: Don't be scared and just go for it! You don’t need an expensive camera to start. Just take photos and videos on your phone when you can. You just have to keep posting and eventually you'll find how you want your platform to look. The most important thing is that you enjoy making content and are happy with your creativity!
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Doyal: Miso has changed our lives a lot!! My husband grew up with dogs but I had never had a dog before. I’ve always wanted a dog though. Miso became my best friend and my baby boy. He’s the center of our lives and we take him everywhere as much as possible. We want him to explore the world and share moments with us. I’m a first time dog mom so I’ve been learning new things every day in order to give Miso the best life. It makes me so happy when he appreciates 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?
Doyal: This story is not easy to talk about… but I want you to learn from our mistake, so I will share it with you. When Miso was 4 months old, he ate a power cord for an electric blanket that we had while we were gone for a short time. I put the blanket where I thought he wouldn't be able to reach it, but he did. We didn't put him in a crate because we were failing to do crate training. He was teething, but we thought that he would be okay. When we came back, there were pieces of rubber wire insulation and copper wiring everywhere. We called the vet immediately and took him to urgent care. They took an x-ray and there was copper wire all in his stomach. We were told to do surgery right away, but the vet gave him medicine and we tried to let him throw it up first for a financial reason. If you’ve ever had the same problem, you know how expensive the surgery is. He vomited some but not all of it came out, so he had to get surgery. He’s perfectly fine now, but if you have a puppy that's teething, don’t leave anything laying around and get them crate trained if possible. Miso doesn’t chew anything while we’re gone now, but we always make sure that we hide the stuff that he could chew or swallow.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Doyal: Being able to help people and meeting people around the world! I also could learn new things to improve Miso’s life!
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Doyal: I would love to grow his social media more! My husband and I love nature and we love to go on a road trip so hopefully we make more time to take Miso out and show him around to experience that he's never had!
