Instagram hound Ralphie charges up to $900 a post, and has 37k followers online
PADDLEBOARDING Instagram hound Ralphie charges up to $900 a post and has 37k followers- and it’s a good job because he eats a bloody lot.
Manly
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HIS food and upkeep costs his owner more than $200 a week, but Ralphie, the 80kg dogue de bordeaux, is helping to pay his way thanks to his growing band of Instagram fans.
Owner Dylan Resnekov, 33, from Forestville, said Ralphie is a mini celebrity on the northern beaches, boasting 37,000 Instagram followers. He’s even starred in print and TV commercials, although they’re few and far between.
He opted for the huge breed because he loved the movie Turner and Hooch starring cop Tom Hanks and his loveable drooly dog.
Ralphie’s online Instagram advertising earns him between $150 to $900 but he can earn thousands for a TV commercial.
“We got to stay in Kiama a couple of years back, he munched on the buffet that was for the staff in the morning and then a quick jump in the car for a 20 minute shoot all for a Japanese VW commercial,” said Mr Resnekov, who runs a Thai boxing gym in Chatswood with his brother Liam, 35.
However he said while he has to spend a lot of time training Ralphie, they are in it for the adventure, rather than the money.
And, the reason why Mr Resnekov got a dog was because he thought it would help him recover from post traumatic stress disorder, which he developed after finding himself caught up in the 2004 tsunmai.
“I became involved in the search and recovery of bodies,” said Mr Resnekov, who lived in Thailand for 12 years.
“I was on the mainland when it happened, but I travelled to Koh Phi Phi to find my Thai friends, I found some of their bodies.”
He said Ralphie had not only helped him with his PTSD, but helped ground him when returning to Australia.
They spend most of their time together and love paddle boarding.
“I am very patient. It took about three months to train him to stay still on the paddleboard,” said Mr Resnekov.
“He wears a special life jacket in case he falls in.”
He said when they’re out and about they’re constantly stopped by admirers.
“I get comments like ‘You should put a saddle on him and ride him’, or ‘How much do you feed him?’”
Check out Ralphie’s Instagram page
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