- Kevin Bubolz started sharing videos of himself and his golden retrievers Ellie and Emma on TikTok and Instagram at @elliegoldenlife a few years ago.
- In late 2023, he shared a video showing all the amazing cities where he and his dogs take selfies.
- Bubolz and his wife Katie travel the world with their dogs on a mission to spread smiles.
On Kevin and Katie Bubolz’s trip to Prague, people recognized them from their social channels @elliegoldenlife. They stood out walking the streets with their golden retrievers Ellie (7) and Emma (1), who became famous for videos of themselves taking smiley selfies on their owners’ shoulders.
“You have this ability to connect with people around the world who don’t even speak the same language,” Kevin, 33, tells PEOPLE of the family’s ability to spread joy through clips. “It really keeps you going.”
Ellie has “always loved the camera,” says Kevin, in part because she knows that taking a photo often leads to a treat or extra playtime.
“So whenever you pick up the phone or set up the tripod, she immediately smiles and just runs over, it’s so funny to watch,” he says. “She had this joy about it, and I thought, well, let’s turn it into something.”
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He soon noticed how Ellie could “smile” on cue when she was rewarded, and “that’s where the genesis of the selfie came from,” Kevin says of his clips.
“I notice when I watch videos that I smile when I say ‘Smile,’ and I think it has the same effect on people watching. It’s joyful.” (Adding Emma only brought more smiles after she learned to copy her big sister.)
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Before the pandemic, Katie, 34, and Kevin took Ellie, a therapy dog, to volunteer events near their home outside Washington, DC, turning to TikTok and Instagram when COVID put them on hiatus.
But now interacting with people live and via video is “really nice,” says Kevin.
“Something as small as a smile can make a big difference.” In fact, plans for 2024 include opportunities for fans and followers to volunteer alongside the foursome, helping out at a local children’s hospital and other non-profit organizations.
Kevin and Katie Bubolz with their dogs Emma and Ellie at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
@elliegoldenlife8BIM
In addition to charity work, the Bubolzes also love to travel — Kevin previously served overseas as a member of the military — and knew they wanted to make that part of the dogs’ lives, too. Although many of their TikToks feature recognizable international landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and London’s Big Ben, “most of the time we’re traveling,” says Kevin.
“We actually bought a van and often go around the country visiting different places with Ellie and Emma.”
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The dogs are “best friends,” Kevin says, despite their differences (“Emma’s wild!” he jokes). “Their personalities are very different, but they both love to learn. And they both have the ability, when they’re in situations where they’re interacting with people, where they’re going to change their behavior. They’re going to be such crazy, wild, fun puppies one moment, then we’re going to go into the hospital room and there’s a baby on the bed and Ellie will just lie there with them, nice and quiet. It’s amazing. They’re really great dogs.”
So great that they have a combined 10 million followers on Instagram and TikTok alone. “I never imagined we would be where we are today,” says Kevin. “When we talk about it, I’m just happy. It’s so much fun. Our mission has always been to spread smiles, and this year I think we’ll be able to do that even more.”
Do you have a story that makes you smile? Send it to [email protected].
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education