Internet gone to the dogs: Stoney Creek pup Luna hits the big time on TikTok

It's not every day you see a dog getting a spa treatment, driving a Hamilton police van and even ordering its own drink at Starbucks.

But a Stoney Creek dog named Luna is defying the odds - and gaining a massive internet following while she's at it.

The two-year-old pup is the main character on her owner Ilbron Marogy's TikTok (@heymynamesluna).

Through short clips, Marogy shows off Luna's personality, adventures with friends and even her ability to communicate through talking buttons.

Marogy said he originally downloaded TikTok last spring after he came home to find his wife dancing in the mirror making videos.

Scrolling through his feed, Marogy started to notice countless videos of dogs doing tricks, all while raking in tons of views.

In my head I was thinking my dog is a lot more obedient than these dogs and these guys are getting so much attention," said Marogy. So I just gave it a shot and I started posting some videos."

He started out posting cute" videos of his dog Luna last May. Eventually, they switched gears to training-focused content and her account took off, reaching 300,000 followers by the fall.

People loved how obedient she was at such a young age," said Marogy, noting that Luna was just over one year old when they got started. I was also pretty impressed with myself."

But with a background in filmmaking, he decided to start incorporating what he knew best" into Luna's videos. He started creating stories, skits and taking part in internet challenges in hopes of making people laugh.

And it worked - even faster than he ever expected. As of Wednesday, Luna has amassed more than 2.5 million followers in just a year's time, with some of her videos reaching upwards of 27 million views.

Marogy credits the account's success with his ability to understand the algorithm of TikTok and what kind of content users enjoy.

I just try to make them better and better and more creative every time," said Marogy. It's become easy for me."

A contractor by trade, he brainstorms ideas all morning as he works, then usually films in the afternoons with the help of his wife. Then in the evening he edits the videos together. Some TikToks do take longer but it all depends on the nature of it.

For example, Luna's wedding TikTok took months of planning, said Marogy. They had a custom gown flown in from Los Angeles, they had to find a groom and nail down a location - all the aspects of a regular wedding.

On the other hand, a collaboration video Luna did with Hamilton police happened coincidentally, he said. Officers were in their neighbourhood on a call and once it was wrapped up, Marogy said he approached them with the idea for the video and they were up for it.

Things just come up, and sometimes I feel like when I don't put too much thought into it, those videos do better," he noted.

Marogy also credits Luna's training for their ability to make content. When he first got Luna, he decided to be on point" with her training from the start to ensure she was as obedient as possible."

She's very patient and willing to wait," said Marogy. She's definitely a character."

Food also helps, he noted.

When it comes to food, she's willing to do anything," said Marogy.

But Luna's videos aren't just for laughs, likes and fame.

They're also about challenging the negative reputation and stigma that follows bully-breed dogs - especially in Ontario, where pit bulls have been banned since 2005. Marogy said Luna is a pit bull/cane corso mix.

If you actually put in the time to train these dogs, they're actually one of the most loving and caring dogs out of all the other breeds," he said. It makes me really upset that they're misunderstood and they're mistreated."

They've made videos with kids, a pair of ducklings and Luna's best friend, their cat Ginger, often makes appearances. Marogy said he's also always on top" of watching Luna and making sure she behaves.

Luna is changing the perspective of not just the breed, but all dogs," he added.

With her new-found fame, Marogy said Luna's recognized everywhere we go." They've had fans approach them at the dog park and even in the parking lot of a coffee shop.

They also have sponsorship deals and collaboration projects in the works, while their end goal is for Luna to be a character in a cartoon show.

And with the rate things are moving with Luna's social media, Marogy imagines he'll be creating her content on a full-time basis within the next year or so - something he never expected.

Who ever knew that my dog would change millions of lives around the world," he said. I didn't think we'd ever be in this position ... we're just soaking it all in."

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com