DOGFLUENCERS: Meet Sunny, Spreading Sunshine One Paw at a Time 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 Kassidy (Sunny's Human). You can find a direct link to their Instagram here.

View this profile on Instagram

Sunny ☀️ (@sunnythedachshund_) • Instagram photos and videos

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?

Bauer: I started sharing Sunny on social media as a way to keep photos and videos of him in a space I could look back on, kind of like a digital photo album! I quickly discovered that I really enjoyed sharing him to the world but I never thought it would turn into anything bigger! My hairdresser (who is obsessed with her doggy’s like me) has an Instagram account for her three cocker spaniels which was a huge inspiration!

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

Bauer: I think Sunny’s personality and looks give him a unique profile. He is a funny and quirky little guy and he is a golden color with a white chest which I don’t often see in dachshunds! I also think our profile aesthetic is something that sets us apart from a lot of others as well.

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

Bauer: Honestly this is a hard question! I don’t like to put stress on myself about what to post as I don’t want it to start feeling like a job or a chore. I find enjoyment watching reels of other dog accounts and find inspiration from those and trending sounds. Sometimes I just have ideas that I think I’ll give a try and it works out! I basically just have fun with Sunny and take photos/film my time with him, there is always good content that comes out of that.

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

Bauer: Luckily this hasn’t been an issue for us (yet). I know that this is always an issue with social media and should it ever occur I will remind myself that it is a fun account to show off my cute dog and not to get involved with that kind of thing. However I have found a lot of other dog mums running their dogs accounts have really big personalities and opinions, which is so amazing but can often make me second guess if I am doing the right thing for Sunny. I always remind myself that what works for me and Sunny is what’s best and not to let their opinions get in my way, each dog is different and what may work well for mine might not for theirs and vice versa!

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

Bauer: Just have fun with it! Don’t get too worried about what to post, just have fun and do whatever makes you happy. Having a page for your dog is something that is so exciting and special to look back on all their memories. Try not to overthink things just post whatever you like of your dog! Also to try not to get involved with dog mum drama or react to negative comments, if something works for you that’s all that matters. A big tip is to create reels if you are looking at growing your account and reaching non-followers, this is how we have grown our account so quickly in such a short period of time!

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

Bauer: Sunny is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to me. He has changed me and my partners entire life, all for the better of course. Sunny has made us both mature a lot and we consider him our first child. He inspires us both to do better and be more active, we have explored places we would have never been if it weren’t for him. We never have a weekend at home anymore, all we want to do is show Sunny the world! Dogs have such a short time on earth and we want to make sure he sees as much of it as he can.

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?

Bauer: Sunny is the BIGGEST foodie. He is so incredibly obsessed with anything that even resembles food, I’m sure this is the same with so many dogs! We recently had an Easter photoshoot with Sarah Woodward in Brisbane where the theme was “cottage kitchen”. There were cookies and icing (yogurt) as props for the photoshoot which was an absolute dream for Sunny. I should have known better but let’s just say the cookies and icing did not last long at all. These made for some pretty funny photos though with icing all over his nose so I suppose it worked out well! He even kept sneaking them off the table while myself and Sarah were looking through the photos! He is so cheeky with food.

What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?

Bauer: I absolutely love having a space where I can share photos and memories of Sunny, it is like a whole different world. My favorite part is the amount of love and support that we receive. I have made so many new real-life friends through Sunny’s Instagram account. So many dog moms that are incredible and we have since met in real life and chat daily. It is amazing how social media can bring us all together when we are all from such different lives! As an adult, it is also often difficult to make friends so this part is definitely my favorite, there are always people you can go to for advice and support.

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

Bauer: Me and Sunny very much just go with the flow. I don’t plan much regarding his social media account but we have some amazing collaborations in the works as well as some photoshoots! And always so many cute photos and reels to be posted of course.