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 Courtney (Thorne & Eevee'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?
Podgorski: Sharing dog related content almost felt like coming home to me. I started sharing on social media to share my woodworking projects beginning in 2017. After I spent more time in that space, I started zeroing in on only creating dog related items--such as the leash holders we have become known for! That connected me with more dog people and I felt like I had finally found my corner of the internet! That has felt natural to me in the same way that I have always been known as the girl at the party that finds the host's pets and hangs with them for most of the evening. There's a lot to see on the internet, but typically speaking, the dog community is quite positive and I just genuinely love seeing and talking about dogs/the relationships people have with them.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Podgorski: My dogs are true shop dogs! They love to hang with me in the garage while we create pieces for other dogs in our community. They are no strangers to sawdust, getting dirty, and the wild noises that come with power tools. (Don't worry, we take their safety very seriously!) We also have a bit of a rotating pack, as we've recently become home to foster dogs!
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Podgorski: Planning for social media posts for me usually comes from a spark of inspiration based on a goofy thing my dogs have done. Sometimes it's hard to have new, creative ideas that you haven't already seen a bunch of times over. The best posts for me come from my dogs doing something funny and unique to them that makes me want to share their personalities more. For example, Eevee is a great model and puts up with a lot of instruction (don't worry, she gets rewarded!). Whenever we set up for a shot, without fail, she yawns at the beginning. So, I have a video sitting in my drafts that I keep adding clips to where Eevee is just yawning at the work I have spent years perfecting. I can't wait to be able to share the compilation of her being less than impressed with my life's work. It's perfectly relatable to people because most dogs wouldn't care if you were the one to paint the Sistine Chapel, compose a Grammy winning album, or climb Mount Everest. They think you're great just because you're their person!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Podgorski: I have been so lucky so far on social media, and have had mostly positive experiences with other users. Here and there we get hate comments because there's always going to be someone bored enough to try and bring down someone else. I just delete them because I want to remain a positive place (for myself and everyone passing through). Honestly, sometimes the biggest negativity problem comes from within. Overthinking what I should post, if I should post, is what I made good enough, is it the right time of day, and how the algorithm is ever-changing. It's a problem I know many deal with. As an artist, it can be overwhelming to be creative towards your work and then turn around and also be creative in ways to share your work to hopefully interest people. In that sense, I am so lucky to have the subjects of my content to be Thorne, Eevee, and our foster dog (if we happen to have one at the time)! They often inspire projects that I work on and people get to know and love them too.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Podgorski: Dogs have been and always will be absolutely adorable and a total joy to follow; it's the personal connection that you have with your dog that can set you apart from the masses if you're looking to make a splash as a dog influencer. People love to be able to see themselves in others--so focusing on your own relationship with your dog would be a great source of relatability. Though each person and dog are different, there are so many things we all have in common. For example, documenting the very real process of potty training a puppy or helping a shelter dog decompress will be something people can relate to and learn from. Others going through the same thing will instantly feel better knowing they're not alone. When I had my first foster dog, I was getting so overwhelmed with preparing her for meet and greets and the potential of having to say goodbye to her. I immediately looked up other dog foster parent content and seeing that I wasn't alone in how I felt was comforting, and it reminded me of why I decided to take on fostering in the first place. Additionally, if you're just posting for fun, don't overthink it! Post your favorite moments that you have documented and you'll have your memories in a nice little package to look back on in the future. Always remember the reason you have your dog; it can be easy to get lost in numbers, but remember that your dog will not care or even know how many followers you have at any given moment.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Podgorski: Thorne had a bit of a rough life before us and he can be quite anxious. My heart breaks thinking about other dogs like him that don't have a home to feel safe and loved in. I knew I could be doing more to help dogs and that is what inspired me to become a foster dog parent. Our first foster dog had fear reactivity and she did not do well in the shelter. She is such a loving and sweet girl, but shelter visitors didn't get a chance to see that side of her while she was there. After she came home with us, she was able to learn how it felt to be safe and cared for, which allowed her to decompress in ways she couldn't have in the shelter. She stayed with us for about three months, and by the time she met her forever family, she was much more receptive to strangers and made an awesome first impression on them! Without knowing Thorne and where he came from, I'm not sure I would have felt like putting myself through the bittersweetness that is fostering dogs. Though it is hard to say goodbye, I would do it a million times over if it meant I could help more dogs!
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?
Podgorski: I am so happy to say that the most memorable moment of my entire life included my dogs! My husband, Dylan, and I took Thorne and Eevee with us to elope in Colorado last November. Thorne actually signed our marriage license with his paw print, and it was so beyond special to us. We live in the south suburbs of Chicago, so driving to Colorado meant a long road trip for the four of us. The dogs had the best time stopping at all the rest stops to stretch their legs while we switched off driving. One of my dreams in life was to show my dogs the mountains (since they usually just see corn fields around us). They hiked with us on a mountain in Boulder, and they were with us while we exchanged vows. While we didn't intend for our elopement to be a social media moment, our photographer got the most incredible photos for us! The rest of the trip was also amazing, we took them to the Red Rocks Amphitheater, and I think Eevee had the time of her life going up and down the steps. She loves to "roo" instead of bark and everyone in the stadium could hear the acoustics of her happy roos while she explored! It's a trip I would relive over and over if I could!
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Podgorski: Besides having a treasure trove of memories at my fingertips, there is just nothing like connecting with other like-minded dog people! You know when you see a dog in public and you can't help but want to pet them and know everything about them? Well, on social media, you are just experiencing that at all times! You may not be able to pet them, but you do get to learn about them, stay connected and keep them in your community!
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Podgorski: We are actually so excited for the next few weeks on social media! We recently held a search for other dog influencers that wanted to test a new product that we are working on releasing. Our sweet spot has always been personalized leash/collar holders, and we have plans in the works to release a line of hardwood ID tags, and we're so excited to see how they work for dogs all over!
