Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Bechta.
Hi Jennifer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story with The Kanine Krew actually began long before I ever picked up my phone to film a video and post it to social media.
Years ago, I became really interested in learning about the ingredients in commercial dog food and treats. I started researching what was actually going into the products I was giving my dogs, and that sparked a passion for wellness, nutrition, and finding simpler, healthier options.
That passion led to the creation of Key’s Treats, named after my soul dog, Kiara. I began baking homemade, organic dog treats specifically for her. She was my little taste tester and baking for her made me so happy. I loved knowing that what I was feeding her was actually good for her. Soon enough, I was selling my treats to family, friends, and neighbors. I even got to bake a birthday cake for a friends dog!
Years later, I began creating content and sharing our dogs daily life and adventures online. After Kiara passed in December 2022, I was completely devastated and felt lost, and really thought about quitting. But… I loved that I had recorded so much of her life and could go back and watch all of those moments again and again.
I had 2 other dogs at the time Kiara passed, Missy and Buddy, but I knew I wanted another big dog, so roughly a year later, we adopted Roxie from our local animal shelter. Each of my 3 pups have their own personality and their own story, and I’m so grateful that I didn’t decide to quit that day, because their stories deserve to be shared, and they bring so much joy to people we don’t even know. (Especially Missy – she’s a 12lb chihuahua/cocker spaniel mix who self appointed herself as “potato”)
The Kanine Krew has grown into a creative brand centered around our dogs; including health tips, sharing products that actually help, simple recipes, mental enrichment, and feelgood videos. We also create UGC for pet brands, which allows me to combine my love for dogs with my creativity. I’m also currently working on creating ebooks filled with the information I’ve learned over the years.
Although the way I share my passion has evolved over the years, the heart of it really hasn’t changed. I’m still just as passionate about dog wellness, understanding product ingredients, and finding simple, healthy ways to care for the dogs I love. What started out as baking treats for the most amazing dog I’ve ever known has grown into a personal brand with an online community filled with strangers that love, support, and care about my dogs, and brand collaborations where my creativity gets acknowledged. I absolutely love this little life I’ve built and I’m so excited to see where it’ll go from here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. The hardest obstacle I’ve had to face was the death of Kiara. She was with me since the time she was 6 weeks old, up until she passed at 13 years old. Another obstacle has been comparing myself to other UGC creators, who seemed to be a little farther along than I was, and imposter syndrome can hit really hard. I’ve really tried to maintain a positive outlook through it all, though. And then recently, Buddy went through a health scare where he needed not 1, but 2 emergency surgeries. Not knowing how I was going to pay for that was a scary situation, but thankfully, we made it through and he’s recovering and feeling much better.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a UGC creator with 3 dogs. We create content for pet brands, mostly in the health and nutrition space. I’m really proud of how I built The Kanine Krew from scratch to what it is now. And as someone who didn’t have any professional photography experience, I’ve received many reviews from brands I’ve worked with that have praised my creativity. I have a background in real estate so to start something completely new and be really good at it makes me feel amazing. I think what sets me apart from other creators is my passion for helping dogs live longer, healthier lives. Especially after learning everything I have about whats allowed to be put into commercial dog food and treats, I can’t just ignore that. I feel so strongly about it and want every pet parent to know, and realize that they CAN make these things themselves right at home. It’s the passion and my love for dogs that really drive me.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Definitely having a strong passion and lots of love for these little souls that I’ve been trusted to care for. I take my role as their mom very seriously. This isn’t something that I just randomly decided I wanted to do; I genuinely want dog parents to be informed so they can make better decisions. I’m also constantly doing research to keep myself educated and up to date.
It’s also important to have self discipline as a UGC creator. You work for yourself. No commuting to an office, no boss watching your every move, and no having to ask for time off. That all sounds amazing, and it is, but with that comes no getting paid unless you really hustle and no guaranteed work/clients unless you’re constantly putting yourself out there. It can get stressful at times, but that’s why maintaining a good, positive attitude is super important.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekaninekrew
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekaninekrew
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thekaninekrew
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/thekaninekrew
