On a trip to Prague, Kevin and Katie Bubolz had people recognizing them from their social channels @elliegoldenlife. They did stand out, walking the streets with their golden retrievers Ellie, 7, and Emma, 1, who have become famous for videos in which they snap smiley selfies on their owners’ shoulders.
“You have this ability to connect with people around the world that don’t even speak the same language,” Kevin, 33, tells PEOPLE of the family’s capacity to spread joy through the clips. “It really keeps you going.”
Ellie has “always loved the camera,” Kevin shares, in part because she knows that snapping a photo often leads to a treat or extra playtime.
“So anytime you bring up a phone, or you set up a tripod, she smiles instantly and just comes running, it’s so funny to watch,” he says. “She had this joy for it, and I thought, well, let’s turn it into something.”
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