Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How Much Can Pet Influencers Make in 2026? Facts & FAQ

female photographer taking pictures of the dogs

Every pet owner thinks their fur baby is the cutest, and thanks to social media, sharing your adorable dog or cat with the world is easier than ever. Some cute animals attract enough eyes to their photos to generate profits. If you’ve ever wondered how much pet influencers can make, the answer is that it depends primarily on how many followers they have on their accounts.

In this article, we’ll estimate how much money pet influencers make and what they do to earn it. We’ll also talk a little about how to be a pet influencer, including a few words of warning.

divider dog faces oct 2024

How Much Money Can Pet Influencers Make?

When examining social media, you’ve probably seen adorable animal photos or videos. You’re not alone; companies worldwide have noticed that users adore pet videos. The more followers a pet influencer has, the more eyes a company can get on its product or service advertisements. Because of this, the most popular accounts earn the most money. In 2018, the top-earning influencer, a Pomeranian with nearly 10 million followers, made $32,045 per sponsored post.

Influencers with a less impressive following, around 100,000, for example, may earn only a few hundred dollars per post. Creating and posting videos can earn a higher payout because they take more time to produce.

a woman with her labrador retriever dog using a laptop
Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

How Do Pet Influencers Make Money?

The primary way that pet influencers make money is through sponsored posts. For a sponsored post, a brand or company may ask the influencer to post content with a new product they want to promote.  Brands may also produce content featuring the pet influencer.

Once pet influencers start to build their brand, they can generate additional revenue by selling merchandise or signing a book deal. Successful pet influencers can earn enough to fully support their humans, even with the expense of paying for talent agents or other representation.

How Does a Pet Become an Influencer?

If it sounds like a dream come true to make a living posting cute content featuring your pet, you should probably know that it’s not as simple as that. The pet influencer market is far more crowded than a few years ago, and breaking in isn’t easy.

To become a pet influencer, you’ll need a hook beyond “My pet is cute.” Come up with a unique angle or spin, and be consistent across the content you post. Build your brand to the point that companies want to work with you and start paying you for your content.

You may be interested in: 10 Top Dog Influencers: Highest Earning Pets on Social Media

dog with owner using laptop
Image Credit: SpeedKingz, Shutterstock

A Word (or Two) of Warning

If your pet has what it takes to be an influencer, give it your best shot, but keep a few things in mind. Make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons and not just because you want to make a quick buck. This is still your beloved pet you’re working with, and their well-being should be your priority. Not all pets like wearing costumes or posing for photos, so don’t force them to continue if they seem unhappy or anxious.

In addition, don’t buy or adopt an animal simply because you think they’ll be a successful influencer. While this might sound far-fetched, the founder of a pet influencer management company reports that she’s received inquiries from people asking this very question. They wonder if a specific breed is more likely to gain fame or whether a pet with a physical disability has an advantage.

Owning a pet is a lifelong commitment and responsibility that shouldn’t be made based on whether the animal can become “Internet famous” or not.

divider dog faces oct 2024

Conclusion

Companies have always pursued marketing and advertising to help their products stand out and convince the public to spend their money a certain way. Pet influencers and social media are some of the newest ways to make that happen. If watching cute animals online makes people happy, companies understand that including their products in influencer videos can generate sales.

Going viral isn’t just for humans anymore. Pet influencers continue to find new and inventive ways to earn money by doing what the average pet owner does daily: force everyone to look at cute photos and videos of their animal.

 

Featured Image Credit: Ruslan Shugushev, Shutterstock

Want content like this delivered to you?

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News, insights, expert advice, and everything dog

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

My Dog Ate an Ink Pen! Here’s What to Do (Vet Answer)

If your dog has eaten an ink pen, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Ingestion of any non-food objects can lead to obstructions...

Why Do Dogs Like to Sleep Curled Up? 3 Likely Reasons

How many times have you watched your dog prepare for bed only to watch them curl up into a tight ball instead of...

Male vs Female Border Collies: The Differences (With Pictures)

Border Collies are increasingly popular dogs. If you’re considering adopting one, it is essential that you choose the right sex for you. While...

Papillon Pros & Cons: 11 Facts You Need to Know

Papillons are absolutely adorable. The small, fluffy dogs are often described as healthier than other toy breeds, which is true. They’re an excellent...

More related

Why Do Dogs Get Stuck During Mating? Our Vet Explains

If you have ever watched a male and female dog mate, you may have become worried or even confused at the point when...

Spanish Pointer Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care & Traits

Spanish Pointers are some of the oldest dogs around, yet they aren’t recognized by the AKC. Even though these dogs aren’t recognized, they...

Why Does My Dog’s Breath Smell Metallic? 3 Possible Reasons

There is nothing pleasant about the way a dog’s breath smells. No matter how many dental chews you feed your dog and how...

10 Best Harnesses for Bernese Mountain Dogs in 2026: Reviews & Top Picks

Sturdy, fluffy Bernese Mountain Dogs were developed in the Swiss Alps to serve as versatile farm dogs. These sweet, mellow dogs might not...

Keep reading

Can Dogs Eat Brown Sugar? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & Considerations

Many people have a seemingly insatiable sweet tooth. However a taste for sugar may have some benefits, as it supplies energy and is quickly metabolized by the human body with a decent return. Dogs aren’t different from people in our...

Dogster-Can-Dogs-Eat-Brown Sugar

Is Sportmix Dog Food Made in the USA? What You Need to Know

Sportmix dog and cat food are manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, a subsidiary of Nunn Milling Company, Inc. This is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that started in 1926 in Evansville, Indiana. All Sportmix pet food formulas are made exclusively in...

pouring dog food in food bowl

What Happens to Dogs After Eating Chocolate? Long-Term Health Risks Explained

Few things spark panic faster than catching your dog licking up a chocolate crumb. That moment of “oh no!” hits every pet parent at least once and for good reason. Chocolate is delicious to us but dangerous to dogs. Their...

chocolate bars on white surface

Evolve Dog Food Review 2026: Recalls, Pros & Cons

Review Summary If you’re looking at different food brands, and trying to decide what would work best with your pooch—let us introduce you to Evolve. It can work very well for the right canine, and we want to explain what...

Dogster_Evolve Dog Food Review

9 Best Dog Foods for Blue Heelers in 2026 – Reviews & Top Picks

If you own a Blue Heeler, you know these dogs are intelligent, playful, and energetic. Because of their energy level, you want to ensure your Blue Heeler gets the best quality dog food available. These active canines need protein, vitamins,...

blue heeler dog eating

Can Dogs Have Peppermint? Vet-Verified Safety Facts & FAQ

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) makes an appearance in so many things we eat and drink, particularly around the holidays! But many also use peppermint for its homeopathic uses, of which there are a number of potential benefits to humans. But can...

peppermint plants

10 Best Dog Foods for Shedding in 2026 – Reviews & Top Picks

It can be frustrating when your dog leaves behind a mountain of hair on the sofa or in its bed. Shedding is natural and can’t be stopped completely but improving skin and coat condition can help reduce shedding. Shedding or...

german shepherd eating dog food outdoors

Can Dogs Eat Coconut? Vet-Verified Nutrition Facts & FAQ

Coconut and coconut oil are not only tasty treats but they are also said to have health benefits, especially for people. However, does that mean it’s okay to feed this treat to your dog? Coconut is not toxic to dogs...

Can Dogs Eat Coconut