Chasin Chester Questions And Answers

Meet Chester.

With over 300,000 followers on Instagram, there’s a good chance you’ve already encountered this charismatic Golden Retriever.

Whether it’s his facial expressions, goofy antics, inspirational quotes or phonecall videos, Chester knows how to make people laugh.

It’s easy to see why so many people are dedicated followers of this Golden Retriever who delivers lighthearted content to brighten Instagram feeds.

Chester is also a smash hit on TikTok with 1.1M on the video-sharing app.

We spoke to Chester’s mom to learn more about Chester, life owning a Golden Retriever and what it’s like being a dog influencer!

1) How did you end up with Chester?

Chasin Chester (Photo: chasin_chester / Instagram)

We had been looking for a Golden for some time and had reached out to several breeders, but waitlists were long. On Christmas Eve, we got a surprise call from Chester’s breeder. The family he had been promised to wasn’t able to take him anymore, so she wanted to know if we were still interested in getting a puppy. We agreed to come meet him and, of course, it was love at first sight! Two days later, we brought Chester home.

2) What attracted you to the Golden Retriever breed?

Goldens are known for being great family dogs, intelligent with big personalities and lots of love to give.

3) How would you describe Chester’s personality?

He’s hilarious and I swear also a little bit human. He loves attention, and will huff at you or give you side eye when he doesn’t get enough of it. He’s also very playful and mischievous and will mark items for retrieval later in the night when he thinks you’re not looking. So sneaky.

4) What is the most rewarding aspect of being Chester’s owner?

Chasin Chester (Photo: chasin_chester / Instagram)

He makes us and other people smile every single day. Whether it’s the notes we get on social media to let us know or the smiles we see as we’re driving down the road with Chester hanging out the window, it warms our hearts to know just how much happiness he shares.

5) Have you ever been tempted to add to your pack?

Yes.. stay tuned. 😉

6) What does an average day look like in the world of Chester?

The day starts with Chester waking up in the morning and getting summoned for a walk but then stopping at the top of the stairs with the groggiest, grumpiest (cutest) face before finally giving in once he hears the sound of the front door being unlocked. During the week, he usually does about 3-4 walks a day (varying lengths), broken up by some periodic naps and rough housing in the back yard with dad or a pup from our neighborhood. On weekends, we try and get out to hike or sometimes swim. He eats – LOVES food – 3 meals per day with some extra treats thrown in here and there. Oh, and of course, the camera is always rolling because he is just so stinking cute it’s hard not to constantly take photos and videos.

7) Why did you decide to introduce Chester to social media?

I had already followed several dog accounts and it just seemed like a fun creative thing I could also do!

8) What are some of the perks of Chester’s success across your channels? Any memorable experiences or opportunities?

Chasin Chester (Photo: chasin_chester / Instagram)

I think the best part is the response we get from our fans. We’ve gotten some truly heartfelt messages about Chester’s ability to make people smile or laugh, even in some dark times – from healthcare workers during the pandemic to others with fond memories triggered of lost pets, or even others struggling with mental health issues, it makes us smile to know that we can pass on even a little bit of the happiness he brings us each day. Another perk is the network we’ve grown along the way. We’ve made some great dog and human friends in real life that all started because we were able to connect through our platform! And finally, we’ve been able to use our platform to participate in events or create content that helps raise money for good causes. One of our favorites is the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue!

9) Do you think there are any drawbacks to running a pet account? Does it take up a lot of time?

As things pick up, it can take quite a bit of time between coming up with ideas for content, capturing footage, editing content, developing captions, and responding to comments and messages, all while finding time for the other parts of life (I also work an intensive full-time job). I keep up as best as I can but I know that I fall short at times when other priorities take over, and all I can do is just hope folks don’t take it personally when I inevitably miss messages or am unable to post!

10) Do you feel photo or video content best captures Chester’s personality? Do you have a preference when it comes to content creation?

Video – it’s more dynamic and allows you to see a little bit of how funny Chester is in person, but I also have some GREAT snapshots that capture a derp or glance that sums up his personality perfectly.

11) What advice would you give to someone looking to create an Instagram or TikTok account for their pet?

Think about other accounts you enjoy and what it is about them that draws you in. Is it the captions and humor? Is it the quality and consistency of the images and video? Quality always wins over quantity. Know that some days what you love and think will do well totally flops, while other days it’s the reverse, and that’s totally normal – there are always elements outside of your control. Have a consistent voice or angle and try to understand your target audience and stay on top of trends, but always stay true to yourself.

12) Do you have a favourite post or one that you go back to that is guaranteed to make you smile?

So many. This video always makes me smile. Chester has always been curious but scared of water, so we signed him up for a swim lesson and he did such a great job! He was still very nervous but once he took the plunge (literally) he loved it!

13) Why do you think people are so passionate about Chester and Golden Retrievers in general on social media?

Goldens have such strong and funny personalities and truly some of the best smiles out there. Instant happiness. I also find that a lot of folks who follow us also have Goldens or had Goldens growing up, so it brings back a bit of nostalgia.

14) What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to when you first got Chester knowing what you know now?

Chasin Chester (Photo: chasin_chester / Instagram)

Take way more puppy videos. They grow up so fast and they’ll never be that little again!