Why I started an Instagram for my dog
I have an Instagram account for my dog. This is something I am both proud of and sheepish about. It’s an amazing community and worthy use of my energy, but it’s also a surefire way to sound very weird when meeting someone new.
As time has gone on — it’s been more than two years since I created Scout’s account! — the way I approach our Instagram has changed.
Here are some reflections on why this whole “dog-stagram” thing started and how it’s evolved.
In the beginning: Share without driving everyone nuts
Quite simply, I first started our dog Instagram because I knew I wanted to document, share, and reflect on Scout’s training journey after we adopted her — and I also knew that my personal social media friends probably didn’t want to watch ten videos of her every day
By creating an account specifically focused on my dog, I was able to post whatever and whenever I wanted without worrying about driving my real-world friends nuts.
If someone wants to follow Scout’s journey, they can opt in. But they aren’t forced!
An added bonus: Connect with fellow dog lovers
Beyond getting to shamelessly talk about my heeler, I quickly realized that one of the best things about a dog-focused Instagram account is the community.
I’ve met so many amazing dog owners, trainers, and enthusiasts on social media.
It’s not a perfect place — sometimes we deal with unsolicited advice, staunch opinions on training philosophies, and the occasional general nastiness that comes from online anonymity. But on the whole, our Instagram experience has been overwhelmingly positive.
Through Scout’s Instagram account, I’ve been able to:
Feel less alone in our dog reactivity journey
Help other owners feel more supported, too
Get inspired by a huge, dedicated community
Share what works for us personally (and hear alternative ideas!)
Make new real-world friends
Further hone my passion for writing
Experiment with my graphic design skills
Ultimately feel more connected, fulfilled, and present for Scout
Don’t get me wrong — it’s not all rainbows and butterflies and yellow heart emojis.
But when I hold myself accountable to using the platform in a healthy way (read: not obsessing over every detail and reminding myself that the internet isn’t the most important thing) I find that our Instagram adds a lot to both of our lives.
Looking ahead: Create small incremental change
Part of connecting with other owners is growing myself — and possibly being part of other folks’ growth, too.
There are a lot of things I’ve changed my mind about over my years of dog ownership. (And I’m sure there will be a lot more as time goes on!)
It’s an amazing feeling to realize that what I share may help inspire someone else. I need to be careful about not getting too caught up in this goal — there’s a balance between encouraging open conversation and just enjoying the sound of my own voice or wanting to feel more important than I am! — but it’s something I find really motivating.
Most importantly: Have fun and feel fulfilled
At the end of the day, the most important thing about our dog Instagram is that it’s fun and fulfilling.
I’m happy to put in effort, engage in difficult conversations, and even sometimes feel overwhelmed if I’ve put a lot on my plate. But if Paws and Reflect ever starts feeling like a source of negativity more than joy, something will need to change.
Sharing about Scout is amazing. Connecting with other owners is wonderful. Thinking about the fact that I may have impacted another dog-owner team is still overwhelming (in the very best way).
At the same time, I never did imagine our account would grow to any meaningful degree — and I want to be conscious of how I approach it as time goes on.
Our dog Instagram is a delightful, weird, inspiring passion project. It’s also not our whole life… and I can’t forget that Scout doesn’t even know it exists