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 Justine (Riley'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?
Aho: Smiley Riley isn't your ordinary pup, she's a charismatic golden retriever who's always (you guessed it)... smiling! From the day we brought her home as a puppy, her boundless energy and loveable charm immediately won over the hearts of everyone she met.
It wasn't long before we decided to share Riley's infectious joy with others on social media. We knew that if her playful personality made even one person smile we had achieved our goal!
Riley has been wagging her tail (...and eating lots of peanut butter) on Tiktok since 2022, and has recently taken to Instagram to share her antics with even more dog lovers. Today, she continues to share her love for fetch, stealing socks, and doggy adventures with her amazing followers!
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Aho: What makes Riley stand out on social media? The answer is the purpose of her videos: to create relatable content for dog parents and share real, goofy moments from her daily life.
Riley's talent is her ability to make people laugh (Edit: she also wanted me to add that she's incredible at fetch). Even on the rainiest days, she'll be splashing in the puddles, wagging her tail, and then digging in the mud. From day 1, we couldn't resist her constantly positive outlook on life, and asked ourselves: How can Riley make even more people smile?
When we started sharing moments like this on social media, we had no real expectations regarding account growth, and had no clue how many people her videos would impact. It wasn't until her account continued to grow, and we were receiving messages about how a video had made someone smile on a bad day, that we realized we were doing something great.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Aho: The beauty behind Riley's content is that we're just capturing exciting, silly, and adorable moments from her daily life. Our followers get to witness the most tiring games of fetch, the worst bath times, and the best squeaky toys.
We decided to start posting on social media because we were already capturing each and every moment as a memory. In a way, Riley's page has become both a showcase of her goofy antics and a daily journal of her life. If you scroll all the way back to our very first post, you'll see the socks Riley was stealing at just 8 weeks old. Now, at 1.5 years old, she's gone on many adventures since then (and has also stolen more socks).
I think it's the honesty behind these types of posts that engages so many viewers. The main idea behind our most popular content is letting Riley just be herself!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Aho: I think one of the biggest challenges when getting into social media is staying true to yourself. In an age where the internet is so powerful, we often find ourselves scrolling through post after post, and many of them don't feel authentic.
This is something that is constantly in the back of our minds when sharing moments from Riley's life: How do we do this in a way that's interesting, but also honest and relatable?
We've dealt with this challenge by always keeping in mind that at the end of the day, it's just social media, and it's important not to take it too seriously. Some of Riley's less popular videos are our favorites!
Riley is our first dog, and our biggest goal is letting her live her life to the fullest while capturing some of our favorite moments. If these also resonate with her social media audience, it's an added plus!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Aho: If you're looking to share your dog on social media, the biggest piece of advice we have is don't get discouraged and don't go in with expectations. There are countless dogs sharing their lives on social media, and they all started somewhere.
Instead of worrying about views and followers, focus on sharing what makes you and your dog happy. Ask yourself: What makes your pup stand out? What traits do they have? What things do they do that can make others laugh, smile, or learn something?
I'm sure you'll read lots of articles and see lots of videos when you start out about the struggles of growing on social media. Ignore them and just go for it! At first, you may be the only one that sees those special moments you share of your pup, and that's okay!
Even if Riley had no other followers, I'd be happy knowing her videos have made our friends and family smile. When they're missing her or just need to laugh, they can open her page and look at her recent videos. So, just create videos with the people you care about in mind!
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Aho: We can't even count the ways Riley has positively impacted our lives. Thanks to her, we are constantly exploring the best fetch spots, going on new adventures, and appreciating every moment life has to offer.
She brings us endless laughs, lots of cuddles, and shares her love with everyone she meets. Riley sees the best in every person she meets on the sidewalk (as long as they can give a good belly rub), and knows how to make them smile.
Her social media page only captures a fraction of the joy she creates daily, and we couldn't ask for a better pup to capture these moments with.
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?
Aho: When searching for the perfect dog, we wanted to find a pup that would keep us active. Well, Riley's boundless energy has more than exceeded those expectations.
She is always excited for the next adventure, This could be a long walk, jumping through the snow, or a game of tug-of-war.
We quickly learned that Riley's FAVORITE type of adventure, however, is a trip to the beach, even when it's only 40 degrees out! We've been able to catch these beach visits on camera and share them on her page, including the way Riley jumps into the water in a way that resembles a dolphin more than a dog....
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Aho: Being a dog influencer has allowed us to share with others the reality of owning an active dog like Riley, from the puppy stage all the way through her current adolescent stage. We have been able to address the ups, downs, and share our favorite moments with our followers.
Because of Riley's page, we now have the ability to connect with other dog parents through social media that relate to our content, have questions, or simply enjoy watching Riley's videos. We've created a diverse community of dog parents and pet lovers who have similar experiences and interests.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Aho: We will be continuing to share clips from Riley's life on Tiktok while working on creating a similar community on her newer Instagram account.
We are always looking for opportunities to share Riley's endless joy with more people, and are currently exploring partnerships that are in need of a smiling golden to spread their message!
