DOGFLUENCERS: Meet Suki, A Rescued Stray Living Her Best Life and Documenting it on Instagram

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 Victoria (Suki'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?

Brambilla: My personal Instagram account was getting flooded with Suki content and I was feeling a bit uneasy as I know most of my friends aren't dog people. I decided to create an account dedicated to Suki so I could post as many pictures and videos of her as I wanted.

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

Brambilla: Suki was rescued as a stray and she has stranger danger. We try to break stereotypes on dog handling such as dogs greeting every dog and the impact of not respecting your dog's boundaries. Many owners with reactive dogs of their own are realizing that their dog isn't "just like that and there's nothing they can do about it." We teach them that they can work on their dog's feelings through training and by advocating for them.

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

Brambilla: I try to balance between videos of just Suki being Suki versus videos about her reactivity and what we do to help her. I have a full time job as a product manager which is very demanding so I'll create a reel whenever I have time.

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

Brambilla: Yes, I got a video that reached millions and it received a LOT of backlash. The first few days, my chest felt tight and I could only sleep for a couple of hours, I was extremely stressed. People were sending me death threats, calling me names, telling me to put my dog down... All because I advocated for Suki's space. I refused to take the reel down because I know it was also speaking to so many people but it was very tough. I now have made a rule for myself: if the comment is disrespectful, delete it. I am 100% OK with someone disagreeing, but I won't allow them to call me or my dog names. This makes me feel more in control and at peace.

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

Brambilla: I'd say to find a good balance between posting what your followers want to see and what you want to post. My posts about Suki being a funny girl don't always get picked up by the algorithm and tend to flop but our followers love them! So I keep posting them because it makes me happy. Posting on IG shouldn't only feel like you're posting for others, it'll ruin the experience and feel like a job instead of a hobby.

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

Brambilla: Yes. She's changed my perception of dog handling completely. She's taught me all I know and we still have so much to learn together.

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?

Brambilla: So we had received a new crate that we had to post about within 2 weeks. I usually start filming the day the product arrives and will get a bit of footage everyday so I can just pick and choose what I want and have a variety of clips to use for the final post but... Suki was TERRIFIED of the crate hahaha! She'd go inside but had whale eyes and looked like I had thrown her in prison! I had to build her relationship to the crate so it became her safe space, and had to film everything the day it was due once she was finally comfortable with it. She now absolutely loves her crate. (She was already crate trained, she just wasn't a fan of the crate switch haha)

What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?

Brambilla: Being a part of the IG dog community. I have made so many friends, they are the most supportive people I have met. They've taught me so much. People who love animals are truly my people.

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

Brambilla: I'd love to get into dog sports and share our experience! Suki is having some hip issues so my priority is fixing her up before we can look into it. I'd also love to get into fostering and use our page to find adopters but I need to work on Suki's feelings towards other dogs for a bit longer.