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 Albert (Peanut'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?
Kim: A friend who works in documentary film production with Ken Burns encouraged me to submit an audition tape of Peanut being cute to a casting site. That led to Purina making a commercial about Peanut and my story together.
That experience led to me becoming more comfortable sharing Peanut with a larger audience on social media.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Kim: Peanut is 2.5 pounds and regularly gets stopped by people on the street who exclaim he's "the cutest dog they've ever seen."
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Kim: So I'm a game developer, and Peanut was the original inspiration for a game I'm building called Pawsitive. It's a virtual puppy game that you fuel with your own IRL steps, meant to give people who love cute dogs a fun twist on getting physically healthy.
Because of that, I try to theme videos around life philosophy and developing a healthy mindset. With Peanut's help, of course. The video ideas naturally unfold out of things we are observing and learning about the world as we navigate our lives.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Kim: I've not yet had to deal with any so far, but I've heard the best policy is to just ignore it. Going out for a walk is a much better use of time than arguing on the internet anyways.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Kim: Do it if it feels natural to you! I had always known Peanut would do well on social media, but had never really been comfortable with either him or me being on camera so I never got into it.
I only started posting when I had crossed that barrier naturally, so it's just whatever works for you individually.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Kim: Peanut was the original inspiration for Pawsitive. Having him by my side seemed to automatically make me healthier, as my habits became so tied to his. I realized that it wasn't just about taking care of myself, it was about taking care of both of us and that made it feel so much more important. And the weight of that realization inspired me to start building Pawsitive, too.
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?
Kim: I'd have to say the most memorable shoot is still the commercial we shot for Purina and People Magazine. They ended up including a lot of moments and shots of Peanut that I thought would be more like bloopers, but it ended up being some of their favorite footage because of how genuinely it portrayed our relationship with each other.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Kim: Honestly just people doting on my little Peanut haha.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Kim: Pawsitive launches this Summer 2024! Look out for it on the App Store, I guess. Or you can follow us @PeanutandHobbes to stay updated on life as we learn about it and the game's release.
