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 Kaitlyn (Woody & Dennis'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?

VanRiper: I had always seen dog Instagrams while browsing through my feed. We, (my husband and I), didn’t have a dog at the time, but once we decided we were going to get Woody, I was like I want to document EVERYTHING. Woody was a Covid pup, so what better thing to do than to start an Instagram for him. I could look back and remember all the memories we made together. It started out being his milestones. I had a little sign that I sat him next to and put his age, his likes and dislikes. I wanted to remember each stage of him being little.

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

VanRiper: I try to be as real as possible with what I share. I talk a lot about training each dog, the difficulties with that. A touch a little bit on what I feed the dogs and enrichment. I also go into Denny’s rescue story and how he has changed our lives. He has shown us how deserving dogs are of a second chance, and has helped me raise awareness of how awesome rescue dogs really are.

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

VanRiper: I don’t necessarily have a creative process. Most of the videos I post are funny ones I captured randomly of the dogs being silly. I usually like to include videos of our walks or training and show what that looks like for each dog. But most of the time it’s spur of the moment. I really try to get a lot of pictures and videos when we go out to new places to walk or if we go on vacation. I get different video clips and pictures that I can keep in my back pocket for when I have an idea for a creative post. It’s good to have a lot to pick from content-wise when you do come up with an idea for a post. I just try to be as real and genuine as possible.

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

VanRiper: I wish I could say no, but I have. I think it comes with the territory of showing your life on social media. People are ALWAYS going to have opinions about how you raise your dogs. Mine have mostly been with how we choose to use crates at our house, and there’s also been controversy over the weight of my dogs. My vet says they are a healthy weight and they are fed a high-quality food. The Vet’s opinion is really what is most important, as long as she says they’re healthy, I don’t need to listen to other people’s opinion online. As for the use of crates, I wholeheartedly trust our trainers and their opinions. They know my dogs well, and know what is best for them. The people on the internet see a 10-second clip and think they know what’s best. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I wish people would be more uplifting in the dog social media community. I’ve learned to just brush it off and at the end of the day I am happy with how my dogs and I live together.

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

VanRiper: To just have fun with it! Post what makes YOU happy. Don’t post to make others happy or to “fit in”. Find your niche. Even if you don’t end up having a big social media platform, you will have all those memories in 1 place of your dog(s) that you can look back at and reminisce. Ignore what people have to say about the way you raise your dogs, people are always going to have an opinion. As long as your dogs are well cared for, who cares what other people think! I would also recommend being uplifting to others. We need more positivity in the dog community!

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

VanRiper: I’ve always loved animals! I had a family dog growing up that I adored, but there’s something about getting a dog as an adult on your own that makes it that much more special. Woody and I have a bond that I cannot even describe. He has taught me to be more responsible. He helps keep me on track and keep a routine. Dennis, our rescue has taught me to be more patient. He was skittish when we first adopted him, but he just needed time to unwind and settle in. With training, I’ve learned to be incredibly patient with him, and realized that all good things take time. He’s also opened my eyes to the rescue world and how great rescue dogs can be. I try to help spread awareness on social media of rescues and shelters because of him. I love these dogs so much and I had no idea I could love an animal as much as I love them. At the end of the day I just want them to be happy.

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?

VanRiper: My most memorable memory of a photoshoot with Woody is our wedding, we didn’t have Dennis at that time. This little guy has been through buying our first house, our engagement, and the most important our wedding. I knew he needed to be a part of the pictures. We got him a matching tuxedo bandana to fit in with all the groomsmen. He was SO handsome. He greeted guests at the church and got to scope out the venue before the actual reception. I got to see him right when I arrived at the church before the ceremony. He was SO happy to see me and me him. This is a memory I have so vivid in my mind. The photos turned out amazing. I’m just so glad we were able to share that BIG moment with him. That is something we will remember and cherish forever.

What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?

VanRiper: Just showing the world my dogs. Dog people will understand how obsessed I am with my dogs and that I just want to show everyone a cute picture or video of them. I also love being able to connect with people from all over the world over the love of dogs. I’ve met some pretty cool people on social media sharing my dog journey.

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

VanRiper: Nothing major in the works. I’m hoping to hit 6k followers here in the next few months. That would be a major milestone for our account. I’m hoping to take the boys on a few pretty cool hikes this summer and maybe even the beach! They’ve never been there. I love being able to capture videos outside. Both of them love the outdoors, so they will definitely be in their element there.