DOGFLUENCERS: Meet Tucker & Steve, Instagram's Iconic Golden Retriever Brothers
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 Mish (Tucker & Steve'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?
Mish: I really stayed off social media in general until just after losing our late Golden Retriever and planning to get Steve, to keep Tucker company. My adult son and his girlfriend really pressed my heart about how much our girl (Ashes was her name) made such a difference in their life and how much Tucker meant.
That’s when I decided to at least give Tucker a platform and prepare to bring Steve into it. If I could make someone laugh, smile or consider their dog (or pet) in some influential way, I was game to make that positive impact. From there I started having a ton of fun learning how to create and ways I could grow and make a difference.
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Mish: That’s a tough question for me to answer. I feel like there is amazing talent out there on socials so I don’t really see it in a competitive light. We just try to share real dog life, humor and as I learn and grow, we get more creative in ways to help our audience relate to dog life.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Mish: Real life with them inspires me. Being real about it with the public inspires me. Once I wasn’t afraid to show my face in reels or skits, my ideas took off. My process is pretty simple. A pen and paper. Usually I’m first inspired by a song, other content outside of my audience and pair it with real life.
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Mish: Not yet!! *well one snarky comment. I just ignored it.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Mish: Take your time. Be methodical. Learn. Grow organically. Only talk to brands you would endorse / use. Don’t fall for scams. Have fun and get creative. So many apps out there and creators with free advice. See what happens. For us, I’m ready to take on the growth because I’m slow. I’m careful. And I’m learning.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Mish: My dogs changed my life. They’ve taught me to slow down. They teach me patience daily. They let me laugh or cry without judgement. They’ve taught me that small things are really big.
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?
Mish: Probably during the cheese skit. My poor doggos were retaking the scene where they find me in the shower with cheese. Due to having to redo it a couple times, the drool was so bad that I slipped coming out of the shower and it caused Tucker to slip on his own drool too. We got a great drool shot but definitely had to pay the cheese tax.
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Mish: Them. All day long. Them. The tricks. The laughter. The editing. All the things them.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Mish: I am learning to work with new equipment and mapping out my 2024 goals. I’m still small. My goal is to team up a partnership or two and learn how to incorporate that into our account. And most importantly is to grow organically and reach a target number of followers.