Noticed every dog walker in my complex filming their pets lately

I was just walking my beagle and saw like five people with their phones pointed at their dogs. They were all trying to get that slow-mo running shot that that famous husky account does. It dawned on me how much these online pet stars shape what we do with our own animals. My friend's cat now has a TikTok because she saw a viral clip of a cat playing piano. Our community board even has a thread for sharing pet videos to get likes. It's funny how something as simple as a walk has turned into a content session. I guess we're all hoping our pets go viral too.

3 comments

3 Comments

ninasmith4d ago

My golden retriever, Buddy, and I see this all the time at our local park. Last week, I counted three people staging their dogs for photos instead of just letting them play. It makes me a bit sad that simple moments are now for show. I miss when walks were just about enjoying the fresh air together.

kai6194d ago

Consider how staging photos might mess with our own memories of time with our dogs. We end up remembering the posed shot instead of the real fun they had playing. It shifts focus from enjoying the moment to getting a perfect image for others to see. That constant need to perform can even stress the dogs out, making walks less fun for them. Over time, we might look back and see only the photos, not the actual joy of being together. Does that risk making our bond with our pets feel less real?

the_abby4d ago

True, but sometimes a quick pic captures a memory for later. Just gotta make sure the dog is still having a real good time.