Owning dogs and working as a content producer are seemingly different roles, but they actually share a surprising number of similarities. As a content producer and former dog owner, I can safely say that both are a huge responsibility and require more than meets the eye.
As we continue life in a post-pandemic world, I see as many people considering careers in areas like content creation and production as getting a pet to spend time with. The two may seem unrelated, but managing a video or photo project and welcoming new furry friends into our lives have a lot in common. Just how much? From the constant need for creativity and patience to the importance of consistency and adaptability, here’s a playful yet insightful comparison of how working as a content producer is like being a dog owner:
There’s a story behind-the-scenes
As the auntie of my sister’s Golden Retriever, Pelé, I hear my sister’s stories that reveal the true realities of owning a puppy. Most often, our perceptions of owning a dog or a puppy are idealistic and full of visions with sweet, furry faces. While dogs provide us love and warmth, they also come with certain realities like picking up dog poop and dogs chewing on our favorite shoes or clothes.
Pelé is a good-natured Golden Retriever and I could spend hours with her, but like any young dog or puppy, she sinks her teeth into things I don’t want her to chew like my workout pants. When playing, she’ll run away from me thinking that I’m trying to chase her when I’m really trying to stop her from potentially running into the road. My sister and brother-in-law have spent many times waking up at 3 am cleaning up after Pelé’s sick stomach. Dogs bring a great amount of joy to our lives, but there’s also an unexpected amount of work that comes with them.
The same rules apply to content production. When I tell people I’m a content producer, they often assume I spend all day filming myself for an Instagram reel or that producing a video or photography are easy. Everyone can do it on their phones, so it should be easy and straightforward, right? The reality is, producing content often involves many internal and external stakeholders. Content is often conceptualized, created, and reviewed by multiple people. There are many times projects I’ve started working on that are stopped halfway through or are never published. At times it can feel like a game of hurry and wait.
Clients, department leaders, and supervisors who take the time to empathize and understand the reality of content production have made all of the difference in my work. When a leader takes the time to provide me with objectives, brainstorm solutions to roadblocks, or understand how much time we need to produce several videos it’s much more productive than someone one who assumes quality content can happen in the blink of an eye. Just ask Ann Handley:
Routine and structure are the key to success
Dog owners know that their furry companions thrive on routine. Regular walks, feeding times, and play sessions create a structured environment that helps them feel secure and happy. As a dogsitter, I always expect at least five pages on how to care for the dog that includes how often they need to be walked, when and how much to feed them, and how often they expect attention from you. Maintaining their schedule helps them know what to expect and reduces any anxiety they might have while their owner is gone.
@dogs.made.simple 🤨Do you always feel like your life evolves around your dog? #dogroutine #dogownerchallenges #dogmomproblems #dogownerlife #dogadvice ♬ In Love With You - BLVKSHP
Similarly, a content producer benefits from having a well-organized schedule. Consistent planning, content calendars, and deadlines ensure that projects are completed on time and maintain a high standard of quality.
Everytime I put together documentation for a project, I work my way backwards from deadlines to figure out milestones and exactly when decisions need to be made about style, location, and much more. Setting up these key dates helps me determine whether or not the team is on track and whether or not I need to touch base with a client to manage their expectations. Project management, organization, and communication are a content producer’s love language.
Patience, persistence, and adaptability are necessary
Dogs can also be unpredictable. Whether it’s an unexpected health issue or an impromptu play session, dog owners must be adaptable and ready to handle surprises. When housetraining, my sister and brother-in-law tell me about their early morning wake-up calls from Pelé, especially when Pelé’s unexpected stomach problems rear their ugly head. Having a dog brings lots of joy and love, but it also means your plans might be interrupted by something you didn’t predict.
@noah_and_lincoln 🥹❤️ Be patient with your seniors and love them everyday #seniordog #doglife #petparent #dogmom #dogvideo #cutedogs #petcare ♬ In The Forest (Acoustic Indie No Copyright) (Instrumental) - Lesfm
Growing up, my beagle Snoopy required a great deal of patience and flexibility as she often got into trouble and experienced unexpected health situations ranging from a mysterious illness as a puppy to a rattlesnake bite. I’ll never forget the times I held her in the car, singing “Hang on Snoopy” as we drove her to the vet’s office.
Patience, persistence, and adaptability are equally important for content producers. From refining scripts to perfecting edits and managing revisions, producing high-quality content is a process that demands time and unwavering dedication.
The content production landscape is full of surprises. Sudden changes in project scope, client feedback, or emerging trends require content producers to be flexible and adaptable, often adjusting plans on the fly.
While wrapping up the shoot for a video project, a client decided they wanted to add narration to the video. After they approved a new budget for this addition, the videographer and I quickly checked in with our contacts to make sure we had an audio technician and a narrator.
On the day of recording, I offered an empty office for recording the sound, but the videographer and audio technician informed me it would not be ideal with the air conditioner in the background. We quickly searched for another spot and once we found a quieter location, I reminded them we would need to be done recording at a certain time as the office would start getting busier and create background noise. Working within these boundaries, we were able to get sound recording we needed after much experimenting and problem-solving.
Both dogs and content production bring many rewards to my life, but they are also constant reminders of how my plans can shift in a moment.
Expect to juggle many relationships and tasks
A strong bond between a dog and its owner is built on trust, affection, and consistent interaction. This relationship is nurtured over time through positive responses and juggling various responsibilities, from feeding and grooming to training and healthcare. Once a dog knows they can rely on a certain person to feed, bathe, and take care of them when they get sick, their bond to that person is like no other, but dog owners know that juggling all of this requires good time management and patience.
While sharing a bed with Pelé during a holiday vacation, I came to realize that I would be balancing needs beyond my own. Quickly I learned that sleeping past 6 am or 6:30 am would not be happening. When Pelé was awake and ready to go outside to play, she let me know and I understood that there are some things I would need to provide her like making sure she can spend time outside to relieve herself before breakfast. Eventually her trust grew when she knew she could rely on me for certain things like everyday routines, treats, and nighttime cuddles.
Building relationships with clients, team members, and audiences and staying organized when juggling many tasks is equally important for content producers. Content producers wear many hats. They may be involved in overseeing pre-production planning, scripting, filming, and editing. Efficiently managing these diverse responsibilities and establishing clear communications with clients, internal creative teams, and freelance production crews is essential for maintaining productivity and meeting project goals.
Trust, clear communication, and positive collaboration are the foundations of successful content projects and long-term professional relationships. While working on a project involving multiple videos to promote an institution, an exhibition, and a performance, I arranged check-ins at different points with a freelance video production team, curators, and marketing department to make sure everyone was aligned. Having these moments to ask questions and clarify anything along the way supported everyone with understanding where we were going and how we were going to get there.
Find a balance with fun and responsibility
While owning a dog comes with significant responsibilities, it’s also a lot of fun. Playtime, adventures, and shared moments bring joy and balance to the routine.
When Pelé’s ready to play fetch, Pelé’s ready to play fetch. Even though it’s good to have a routine and training for a dog, it’s also good to build in some time for her to chase a ball and hang out in the sun. Like most dogs, she’s looking for entertainment just as much as a routine.
In content production, mixing creativity and fun with responsibility and professionalism is an important recipe for establishing a long-term relationship between clients, internal teams, and the production crew. The excitement of bringing ideas to life and the satisfaction of completing projects go hand in hand with meeting deadlines and maintaining high standards.
Before you start capturing anything whether it’s video, audio, or a photo, it’s a good idea to get to know the person you’re filming, recording, or photographing. Talking with them beforehand helps set the tone and mood and may also help the director, DP, and production crew feel more comfortable. During pre-production meetings, it’s also beneficial to provide the production team with a direction but also give them flexibility to explore possibilities. Just like Pelé, they crave some guidelines, but they also need some space to test out different approaches to be their most creative selves.
Loyalty is the ultimate reward
Dogs are known for being loyal companions. My childhood dog, Snoopy, could sense when my sister and I were stressed or unwell. Snoopy knew when we were pulling up in the driveway on our way home for a visit from college.
Pelé shows the same sense of loyalty to those who reciprocate with love and attention. When my sister and brother-in-law went skiing during the holidays, my family and I agreed to watch Pelé. Although we played with Pelé in the snow multiple times, she spent most of the time sitting by the front door, waiting for her owners’ return.
When my sister lost her wallet, my mom recalls Pelé sitting beside my sister, offering comfort. Somehow dogs always know when you’re overwhelmed or anxious. Their unwavering loyalty gives them a sixth sense to be by their owner’s side and follow them through thick and thin.
Similarly, the satisfaction of seeing a finished project come to life and resonate with an audience makes all the hard work worthwhile. Creating impactful content that turns viewers or clients into loyal supporters gives everyone involved a sense of pride.
As a content producer, I aim for this kind of loyalty from both customers and clients. Providing quality customer service to clients and creating content that inspires audiences to become loyal followers. It's a win-win situation for the content producer who gains trust with clients who want a quality content piece, creative teams who want respect and productive collaboration, and audiences who want a product or service to address their pain points.
Both dogs and my work as a content producer remind me that when I show genuine care and concern, I can earn loyalty that can last for a lifetime. It can be a lot of work to earn someone else’s trust, but it’s worth it, especially if you get a friend for life.
