According to the latest figures, 33 per cent of British households own a dog. But what to do if you don’t have a pet pooch? Fear not – for, as ever, Instagram is at the rescue. Scientific research shows that looking at pictures of dogs online can have a positive effect on our behaviour – and the social media giant is howling with them.
Here, to celebrate man’s best friend, we’ve sniffed out the finest Dogs of Instagram.
Dogs Of Instagram
Dedicated to user-generated photographs of dogs, this account has a staggering 4.9m followers. The couple behind it, Ahmed El Shourbagy and Ashley Paguyo El Shourbagy, met in July 2011 when Ahmed had been posting pics of his dog on Instagram for just a week and a half. They started dating and brainstorming and together decided to make his wildly popular pictures into something. The result is this massive monetised community of Instagram dog-lovers. Follow here.
David Walliams
Yes, this feed is a publicity vehicle for multifarious projects of this mighty comedian and children’s author. But its highlights are all the pictures of Bert and Ernie, Walliams’s heavenly Border Terriers. He’s had the former for years and adopted the latter in February 2019. Totally besotted, he describes the handsome pair as ‘my boys’ and ‘my loves’. Follow here.
Spot & Tango
The Instagram feed of this chic fresh dog food subscription service is energetic, upbeat and a sheer pleasure. The team behind the US start-up say: “We believe that a happy and healthy life starts with good food – not just for us but also for our pets. Spot & Tango delivers ready-to-serve human-grade meals that fit your dog’s unique nutritional needs.” On the grid, cute pup pics are interwoven with funny slogans and memes. Follow here.
The Queen’s Corgis
Royalists will love this account for its nostalgic photographs of the Queen and her dogs throughout the ages. The Queen was seven when, in 1933, her father first brought a corgi – called Dookie – into their home. When she turned 18, she was given another one – called Susan, from whom all of her others are said to be descended. This is one sweet Instagram feed. Follow here.
Dogs Of Lewes
This highly amusing feed is small but perfectly formed. The clean and well-presented grid is full of hilarious captions that charmingly anthropomorphise its subjects. Expect rambling jokes, fine pictures of our furry friends and serious points about their welfare. Follow here.
Aspen The Mountain Pup
We love this Instagram feed for the stunning, wide, majestic scenery in which its star, a beautiful Golden Retriever, is photographed. Living in California, Aspen is said to love the open road – and, boy, do we see him enjoying it. The ocean, snow, lakes and canyons – it is all there in tasteful glory, throughout the changing seasons. Once you’ve delved into his stunning feed, it won’t surprise you to know that Aspen’s owners are photographers and content creators on mission to tell beautiful stories for their clients. Follow here.
James Middleton
The Duchess of Cambridge’s younger brother James is an ambassador for the charity, Pets as Therapy, and founder of the raw dog food company, Ella & Co. His Instagram feed – with its 211k followers – is a riot of sweet dogs, divine holidays and poses by his pretty fiancée. His dogs include Ella, Zulu, Inka, Luna, Mabel and Nala. He has spoken publicly about his depression and says: ‘One of my best strategies for coping with my own mental health today is taking my dogs for a walk each time to inhale the powerful benefits nature has to offer.’ Follow here.
Beautiful Joe’s Ethical Dog Treats
There is a lot to love about this account. Beautiful Joe’s Dog Treats are made, of pasture-fed ox liver, in Wiltshire. Every time you buy a packet of them (which you will want to just for the tin) the company gives an equivalent quantity of these trendy treats to dogs in rescue centres. The associated Instagram feed features countless canine cuties posing with their Beautiful Joes. Follow here.
Doug The Pug
Doug the Pug, from Nashville, Tennessee, has a cult following. He stars in TV shows and music videos, counts several celebs among his friends and has his own Wikipedia page (which claims that he is the most followed pug on the internet). He even went on a book tour with his ‘pug mom’ Leslie Mosier to promote their New York Times bestselling book, Doug the Pug: The King of Pop Culture. If you get it, you get it. Follow here.
By Becky Ladenburg
June 2021
