We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaclyn Novak a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaclyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I actually came up with the idea to start an Instagram page for my dog Riley just to share fun pictures of her with friends and family. I thought it would be a cute way to keep everyone updated on her adventures without flooding my personal page—and it kind of just grew from there!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi there! I’m Jaclyn, the proud dog mom behind Riley’s Instagram page, AlwaysRiledUp. I originally started the account just for fun—as a way to share cute photos of Riley with our friends and family without completely taking over my personal page. What began as a small corner of the internet to capture her goofy personality and adventures quickly turned into something much bigger. Over time, we’ve grown an amazing and supportive community, and Riley has become somewhat of a furry little influencer!

We focus on sharing authentic, high-quality content that celebrates the everyday joy of life with a dog. Whether it’s showcasing Riley’s favorite products, hiking through beautiful trails, trying on new bandanas, or just capturing her silly zoomies around the house, our goal is to highlight the love, fun, and connection that pets bring into our lives.

As far as what we offer, we partner with brands to promote products we genuinely love and use—ranging from dog food and treats to outdoor gear, wellness products, collars, and accessories. I’m very selective about the collaborations we take on because trust is everything to me. I want Riley’s followers (and their humans!) to know that if we’re sharing something, it’s because it truly works for us. I also do creative product photography, reels, and storytelling-style captions that help brands connect more deeply with their audiences.

I think what sets us apart is our authenticity, attention to detail, and our deep connection with our community. I put a lot of thought into every post—whether it’s writing a heartfelt caption, staging a beautiful photo, or answering DMs with product questions. It’s not just about promotion—it’s about building trust, inspiring joy, and making people feel like they’re part of Riley’s world.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the genuine relationships we’ve built—with both our followers and the brands we’ve worked with. There’s something really special about getting messages from people who say our page makes them smile or helped them find a product that improved their dog’s life.

For potential clients, followers, or fans—just know that we’re here to keep it real. We’re passionate about dogs, creativity, and community. And whether Riley’s rocking a cute bandana, testing out a new treat, or just being her usual silly self, we’re always aiming to share content that feels warm, genuine, and engaging.

Thanks for following along with our journey—it means the world to us!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One of my big goals with Riley’s page is to reach 10,000 followers—not just for the number itself, but because it opens doors to amazing opportunities like attending the Global Pet Expo. It’s such a huge event in the pet industry, and I’d absolutely love the chance to be there, connect with brands in person, and discover new products that I can genuinely stand behind and share with our community.

Being at the Expo would allow me to build real relationships, learn more about the people behind the brands we love, and continue growing our platform in a meaningful way. It’s not just about promoting products—it’s about finding the ones that truly make a difference for pets and pet parents and bringing those to our audience with honesty and excitement.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being a pet influencer is the community and connection it creates. I love being able to share Riley’s personality, our adventures, and the products we truly love with people who care just as much about their pets as I do. It’s such a great feeling when someone messages me to say they tried a product we recommended and their dog loved it—or that one of our posts made them smile on a tough day.

Being a part of a space that celebrates the bond between humans and their pets is incredibly special. It’s more than just cute pictures—it’s about trust, storytelling, and helping fellow pet parents discover things that can make their lives (and their pets’ lives) a little better. That’s what keeps me inspired to keep creating and sharing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @alwaysriledup
• Other: TikTok: @jaclyn14xo

Image Credits

Jaclyn Novak