Why You Should Follow the Egyptian-Owned @dogsofinstagram

I remember an ecstatic phone call from Ahmed ElShourbagy (yup, that would be my brother) telling me about how he created some dog account on Instagram and how followers were rolling right in. That was nearly three years ago, when @dogsofinstagram first came to life. The now wildly popular account boasts nearly 700,000 followers, making it one of the biggest dog accounts on Instagram.

So what is @dogsofinstagram? It’s a vibrant feed, providing canine-lovers with a daily dose of Instagram’s most lovable pups. It’s no easy job, though. @dogsofinstagram receives 100-200 daily submissions that must be carefully sifted to post two to five of the most adorable follower-submitted doggy pictures.

“@dogsofinstagram is really sort of a perfect storm scenario. Instagram was the first mainstream social network dedicated to media. Dogs and puppies are pretty much universally loved. Bring the two together, do it before anyone else, and you have @dogsofinstagram,” said ElShourbagy about the success he’s achieved. It is quite remarkable to see their account grow on the platform. I’m sure he’ll be putting a bio link on this account in the near future so that fans can visit their other social media pages too.

ElShourbagy, a Management Consultant with an MBA, who was born in Cairo and raised in Minnesota, is now proudly the mastermind behind the best destination for dog lovers.

Before adopting Lucy, his dog and the original face of @dogsofinstagram, ElShourbagy was no pet guy and had not pets growing up. It took him the first 15 years in Minnesota – a very dog-friendly community – to soften up to them, but once he did he was hooked. Lucy, the super cute, super ugly Boston Terrier and Pug mix, depending how you look at her, turned him into a dog enthusiast and not surprisingly inspired him to bring together the dogs of Instagram.

The simple idea has since then evolved into much more, including exciting and profitable business opportunities. @dogsofinstagram is already striking some strategic partnerships with companies such as Purina, Bark Box and startups like Whistle to create fun campaigns that keep the content fresh and followers engaged. With the kind of following @dogsofinstagram has generated, it is quickly becoming a magnet for many big dog brands.

“The biggest challenge really is figuring out what to do with all the great content we receive daily. Through hashtag campaigns and other creative ventures, we’re looking for ways to give those not lucky enough to get their dog featured a chance to show off their furry friend to the world,” he added.

“The best part of @dogsofinstagram is reading some of the comments and emails we get from our followers, which sometimes can be a page long, about how much they love the account or how happy it makes someone they love. People really love dogs and the pictures really do bring small doses of joy to people.”

When it comes to the future outlook of @dogsofinstagram, ElShourbagy said, “I see a community of 1 million + dog lovers that continues to look for creative ways to keep the content fresh and engaging. Imagine the Oscars, but for dogs. Imagine accessories and apparel for yourself and for your dog, inspired by the creativity of the community itself. We’re also going to focus on giving back to the dogs. We’re thinking of creative ways to utilize our reach and influence to help rescue dogs find permanent homes. Cuteness will remain at the core of @dogsofinstagram but stay tuned for more.”

When I asked him about the biggest failure, he claimed that @dogsofinstagram hasn’t featured any dogs from Egypt! Come on guys let’s see those cute pups. Send them in to dogs.instagram@gmail.com and make sure to mention this article in the subject line.

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