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 Annika (Frannie's Human). You can find a direct link to their Instagram here.
@franniesfight Meet Frannie! #rescuedog #obesity #dogsoftiktok #rescueanimals #goldenretriever #animals #dog #animals #fyp #foryou #newyears #dogchallenge ♬ Make You Mine - PUBLIC
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?
Bram: I wanted to start a social media page to track her progress and to be able to share it all with friends and family in one place! The most inspiring part of sharing Frannie's journey is hearing from people who are also facing challenges. Knowing that our story resonates with others and offers them a sense of hope or inspiration drives my motivation to keep posting and sharing her progress!
What do you think sets your dog apart from other dogs on social media? What makes them unique or particularly interesting to your followers?
Bram: What makes Frannie unique is the way she resonates with her followers. Many viewers see themselves reflected in Frannie's journey, as she overcomes challenges similar to theirs. Watching her perseverance and positive attitude has given her followers hope and has inspired them to tackle their own challenges! Frannie's story is more than just overcoming adversity, it's a testament to her resilience. Leaving her past behind, she has embraced a new life filled with joy and accompanied by a wagging tail. Her positivity resonates with her audience, and I often see written in the comments, "If Frannie can do it, so can I!" Seeing her story inspire others is truly remarkable.
How do you come up with ideas for your dog's posts and content? Do you have a specific creative process?
Bram: Since most of Frannie's content is posting updates and progress videos, it is pretty simple to come up with the posts. I try to find music that embodies her fight and her tenacity for getting through the challenges life brings her. I like to include photos or videos from where she started and where she is at now to really emphasize how much improvement she has made!
Have you ever faced any challenges or negativity on social media, and how have you dealt with it?
Bram: Yes of course, as I believe many other people have. I try to assess the root of the negativity and if there's any validity to it. More often than not, it is unwarranted and just malicious. In those cases, I choose to avoid engaging with these comments and instead direct my energy towards maintaining a positive and supportive community.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own dog influencer account or share their dog on social media?
Bram: Enjoy it! It’s such a rewarding experience to be able to catalog your dog’s day to day life and share it with others. Whether or not your dog is going through a health recovery journey, it’s such a privilege to connect with others across the world who have also fallen in love with your dog.
How has your dog influenced your life outside of social media?
Bram: She is helping me heal from losing my last dog, Georgia, who was also an obese senior golden (she was 160 pounds when I got her!). What I loved so much about Georgia was how she was my sidekick, my buddy, my ride or die. When she passed, I was really missing having such a close bond with a dog. So in December when I first learned about Frannie, I knew I had to continue the Georgia legacy and take Frannie in. I took it as a sign from Georgia that I had to help this dog! I now have a new sidekick and someone to love and be there for me on both good and bad days.
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?
Bram: One of the funniest things I remember was putting her on her "box" for the first time, which is this large teal storage container I flipped over and was using for support underneath her. I look back and think about how funny it was when I used to hoist her up on the box just so she could get some "standing" time. It’s incredible how much progress she was able to make from such a silly idea, as it really helped her get used to putting weight on her legs without being fully weight bearing. She looked so funny propped up on her box and loved playing with the tennis ball on it!
What is your favorite thing about being a dog influencer?
Bram: The fact that I get to post pictures of my dog every day and people are so receptive to it. I also love sharing her progress with everyone and seeing how much support people have to give her, and how much she gives to them! I love the fact that she is inspiring and resonating with so many of her followers. The messages I receive that say how much Frannie has inspired them are incredible! I feel tremendous pride and joy knowing that what I’m doing with Frannie is bringing so much joy and inspiration to all her followers.
Lastly, what's next for you and your dog on social media? Any exciting plans or projects in the works?
Bram: I am focusing on documenting Frannie's weight loss journey and watching her personality come back to life one day at a time. I am hopeful for a lot more weigh-ins, some more tail hair growth, more personality to shine, increased mobility, and much more!
