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 (Penny, Lola, & Maeby'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?
Bercaw: Initially I started my social media account because I wanted a way to share photos of my dog with the world. I kind of stopped posting for a few years and then during March of 2020, I picked my account back up and really wanted to bring more awareness to the English Bulldogs and Frenchies I fostered through Hoosier Bulldog Rescue since we couldn’t really go out to any in-person events. We began to grow and build relationships with other people who also have the same breed of dogs. My first dog I ever had was also epileptic so I was able to share her health journey and how we treated her epilepsy with a more holistic approach. Now we still share our foster pups as well as bring awareness to the English Bulldog and French bulldog breeds. They have so many health issues and we try to educate people how great these dogs are but they are also a ton of work! It’s important to really do your research on these breeds.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Bercaw: I always try to bring in some comedy with my posts and I keep it real. A lot of people want everything to be so perfect for social media and show their dogs in the best light and don’t let their dogs be dogs.
2 of my dogs have some major health issues. Maeby has copper storage disease and Lola has renal dysplasia and kidney disease. We are very transparent about their journey and talk about what we are doing at the time with their treatment. We always try to educate when we can. You never know who can give you advice or who you may be able to help through your posts.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Bercaw: Sometimes I will just be scrolling through reels and hear some audio and I will think of something to film on the fly. Other times I have friends that will send me dog videos and say “hey, you should do something like this with the girls!” I love that my friends think of them and send me ideas. I even think of ideas at random in the shower. Isn’t that where the best ideas come from? I love having complete creative control and my dogs are great sports with filming.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Bercaw: Not too much honestly! My only real negative experience was when I had a reel go viral of my foster bulldog who had cherry eye and terrible skin and I’d only had him maybe 48 hours. Everyone was commenting how he needed to see a vet. I had put in the caption I was well aware of his skin and eye but he was a new rescue intake so he hadn’t been to the vet yet. People don’t take the time to read so you just have to ignore the comments. If they’re really nasty just block them and move along because it is a waste of your time to argue with them. When you have a public profile on the internet you’re bound to get some negativity at some point!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Bercaw: Go for it! Have fun with it! There are so many opportunities out there and we’ve made so many great friends through our account. You definitely won’t regret it.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Bercaw: My dogs were my life before we ever had social media. They were my inspiration to get involved in dog rescue. I love learning about everything dog-related and being able to share that knowledge. And it brings me joy to help dogs find their forever homes. They’ve taught me a ton of patience and they always make laugh.
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?
Bercaw: We always have a Halloween festival every year in my city. We did a group costume (dogs and humans) and we were trying to get to the stage as a group. It took us probably 35 minutes to get to the stage because people kept stopping our group to take photos and pet the dogs. We had 5 dogs and we were in Wizard of Oz themed costumes. Everyone just gets so excited to see bulldogs and frenchies out and about and dogs in costumes are just the best! It is just so fun to see people also love your dogs as much as you do. That was such a fun day even though we didn’t win the contest!
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Bercaw: The best thing is being able to share my dogs with people all around the world and building relationships. I recently met up with some friends we have from Canada and that was so much fun! It’s like meeting celebrities when we see our other influencer friends.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Bercaw: We are just keeping on! I’m trying to teach Maeby to skateboard but that is easier said than done. Wish us luck!
