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 Clair (Sully & Sadie'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?
Heath: Starting around the time we adopted Sully (end of 2019), I had become interested in sharing my sweet duo on social media. I started making TikToks with the dogs during quarantine and loved it! They didn’t really take off at the time, so once school and work picked back up again, I fell out of the habit. Fast forward to roughly 6 months ago, I was at a fork in the road with what I wanted to do with my life. I was leaning towards one path that was more conventional, but I knew that I wouldn’t be as fulfilled. When things started not panning out, my husband encouraged me to get back into content creating with the dogs since I loved it so much. I decided to take it seriously and see where it would take me. Now, collectively across all our platforms we have 44,000 friends, have met so many wonderful creators in this community, and are receiving incredible opportunities (this interview included!) It was the best decision I could have made, and this is only the beginning!
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Heath: At first glance, I feel that it’s a bit unusual to see a bigger dog and a smaller one be the best of friends (especially with the stigma around Sully’s breed). We’ve even been stopped in public for someone to say, “your combination of dogs is interesting.” Which may be true, but they go so well together! I feel like that gets people’s attention, however, their interesting personality quirks is what makes them fall in love! Sully’s quirk is that he carries around an “emotional support bowl,” which is essentially a food bowl that he treats like a toy. He’s been doing it since we first adopted him, and it always makes us chuckle even to this day. So we knew this was a trait the world would love! For Sadie, she is incredibly sweet yet super feisty, and despite her size, she will let out the biggest “awoo’s” or “roo’s." Our followers admire her spunk, but also can count on her to have the biggest smile on her face always!
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Heath: It’s taken me a while to figure out what works best for us, and it involved a lot of trial and error! Typically, we like to do a mixture of following the trends in the dog community, along with a handful of original content. Our most popular series of content, especially on Instagram, has been the inspirational, uplifting, and motivational videos I’ve made coming from the pup’s perspective. These videos are meant to be a mental health check in with some words of wisdom and encouragement sprinkled in, and of course, the presence of a sweet pup. I’ve received so many heartwarming comments and responses claiming that these videos always find them when they needed them the most, and even bring some people to tears. While I love making funny and silly content, these types of videos remind me just how much of an impact our content can truly have. It helps to keep me inspired, motivated, and determined to create more quality content and continue to help others along the way!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Heath: I’ve definitely come to accept that facing negativity is a part of the process of this online presence. It seems like the more we grow, the more negativity we face. It doesn’t help that Sully is a pitbull, and there already is a stigma with his breed. We’ve had comments that were just plain vile to mildly annoying at best. However, the silver lining is that there has been so much more positivity, and I try to channel that as much as I can when dealing with the negative comments. We have made so many wonderful connections with other pet creators, as well as our followers, that it makes it easier to just sit in gratitude for the love and light that we receive on a daily basis. Depending on the nature of the comment, I will delete, block, and sometimes report if necessary. Then, I just move forward and leave it in the past and wish them nothing but the best. I’ve realized that a lot of internet trolls crave a reaction out of you, and when you don’t give them that, it diminishes the power that their words have.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Heath: Simply put, I would say just go for it! Whether you are wanting to do it just for fun, or are interested in making an income, the benefits are limitless! Don’t let the fear of “what ifs,” or perfectionism, or negativity hold you back. If this is something that your heart desires, just take baby steps towards it each day, and one day you’ll be looking back to see just how far you’ve come! Your initial content will not be your best content, but it doesn’t have to be. The fact that you posted it, means that you are moving in the right direction. Just keep posting, and keep learning a little bit more each time. All it takes is one video to change everything! Also, comparison is the thief of joy. There will always be accounts that are looking up to you, and in the same mark, you will always be looking up to other accounts. In other words, success is relative, which is why it’s crucial to remain grateful for the spot that you’re in and the progress that you’ve made. Even if it’s not where you want to be, you will get there as long as you keep putting in your best effort.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Heath: My dogs mean everything to me, which explains why I would dedicate a whole social media platform to them! One of my favorite quotes is from Nora Roberts and that is, "Everything I know, I learned from dogs." I feel like dogs can teach us so much about life and unconditional love. Both Sadie and Sully entered my life (and my husband’s) after periods of significant loss. They have healed our hearts, and provided us with so much love, joy, and laughter. Whenever I catch myself ruminating too much on the past or worrying about the future, I look to my dogs. They remind me that they are here with me in the present moment, and to them, that’s all they need. Everyday I strive to be more like them, and that is to live for today, love with all your heart, and to get excited by the little things.
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?
Heath: They are constantly making me laugh so this is hard to choose! On our YouTube channel, I started an ASMR podcast that’s supposed to be very peaceful, serene, and uplifting. I film it on the couch so the dogs can join me, and as you can imagine, things don't always go as planned! There was one time, my husband came home right in the middle of filming. One moment I was whispering positive affirmations with the dogs peacefully asleep on my lap. Then the next, I am gasping and holding on for dear life as the dogs are going full zoomy mode in a complete whirlwind. Bouncing from the front door, to the couch, and back. It was a sight to be seen, and it cracks me up every time I think about it!
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Heath: There are countless blessings that have come with being a dog influencer, but I would say the greatest part has been being able to make genuine connections with others. Whether this be other pet creators, small businesses/brands, or our followers, they have impacted our lives just as much if not more than we have to theirs. Also, the quality time, and the memories made with my dogs (and cats too!) have been absolutely priceless. I thought I took a lot of pictures and videos of them before, but now I will never run out of memories with the amount of content that I have! It’s such a blessing. While I would give anything to have them live forever, that inevitable day when they cross the rainbow bridge, I know that I will cherish every picture, video, and most importantly the time spent by their side. Pursuing this path has wholeheartedly been the greatest thing I ever could have done. I’m beyond grateful for all the blessings that it has given me thus far, and I can't wait to see all that's left in store!
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Heath: Once we reach the milestone of 40,000 followers on Instagram (we are currently at 39.7K), I plan on starting a series of skits related to how my dog’s act now that they’re influencers. It will be very silly and fun, and I hope it will brighten the days of everyone that watches! It’s different from any content I’ve made thus far, as I have always entertained the idea of skits, but haven’t made one yet! I’m excited to start working on it, and I hope it becomes one of our fan faves!
