• Instagram handle hurricaneharlo
• Life with Harlo
• Pedigree Rottweiler
• Aotearoa NZ
What breed is your dog, their name and how old are they?
Harlo is a Rottweiler who turned two at the end of November. Time flies!
Why did you decide to create an Instagram account?
A friend I met through an online puppy school encouraged me to start an Instagram page. Harlo had her first walk at our local gardens with her and her dog, Betsy, when she was 19 weeks old. We both loved sharing puppy and dog photos, and I was starting to bore my family by flooding my private Facebook account with puppy spam. At first, I was unsure, but I thought it would be a great way to document Harlo’s development, especially since she’s my first dog. With her encouragement, I set it up, then with further encouragement from her, I changed my account to a public one…and I’m so glad I did!
What sort of content do you share?
I share everything: from feeding and training to our journey with reactivity and all the random things Harlo does… there is a fair bit of random, haha. Over the past eight months, much of our focus has been on training to support her reactivity. Harlo definitely keeps me on my toes, whether it’s her gut issues, allergies, or behavioral challenges, I never have to think about content, it’s simply our daily life.
What sort of posts are the most popular for you and why do you think that is?
The posts that spark the most conversation are usually about our journey with reactivity. I had no idea how many dog parents were navigating the same challenges. Living with a reactive dog takes up so much mental space, not to mention the courage it takes to tackle it, so I love being able to connect with, encourage, and support others. Once I started sharing more, people began reaching out with messages of support and tips that helped them. I’m so grateful for that! And of course, a stunning photo of Harlo never goes amiss. She can be quite the poser 😉
Where are your followers from?
Most of our followers are from beautiful New Zealand, though we also have people following us from other countries; Australia, England, Scotland, South Africa, and Canada come to mind. It’s amazing to meet dog lovers from all over the world! That said, I absolutely love my NZ Insta crew. We’ve even been lucky enough to meet some of the pups and their humans in person, and those connections have turned into wonderful friendships.
How do you promote the account?
I don’t intentionally. I turn up, share, engage and chat with others because I genuinely enjoy doing that.
What are the best things about running your Instagram account?
Hands down, the best part has been the people. The irony isn’t lost on me, this is a dog account, haha – but I’ve met some truly AMAZING humans! Kind, funny, supportive, ride-or-die types who genuinely want to see Harlo and I grow together and become the best team we can be. That means so much to me, and I’m incredibly thankful for them… plus they all have the bestest dogs! Another highlight is having one place to document our journey. Harlo is my first dog. I waited 44 years for her. These past two years have been exhausting, expensive, and challenging, but also one of the most rewarding, love-filled experiences of my life.
Are there any challenges?
Absolutely! I’m definitely technically challenged, so learning the ins and outs of Instagram has been fun. When you share your journey publicly, not everyone will see it the way you do or as you intended—but that’s okay. For me, Instagram has always felt like a space with far more opportunities than challenges, and I’m grateful for that.
What are your goals for the Instagram account?
Purely, to keep sharing Harlo’s life and our journey as a team. Hopefully we might inspire others, make new friends and keep learning.
Follow Harlo at hurricaneharlo
