Clare Balistreri, the voice behind the viral @cleolonglegs account, shares what daily life with her silken windhound Cleo and her sighthound sisters Abby and Marcy really looks like.
Cleo and her sisters have such big personalities online. What first inspired you to start sharing their story?
When I met Abby and her dad, I was totally enamored with their relationship and Abby’s surreal personality. I quickly realized I wanted a “noodle dog” companion of my own someday, and in 2019, we welcomed Cleo into our family. I made her a social media account right away, and I was really just excited to document my first experience as a dog owner and connect with the sighthound community online.
Sighthounds are incredibly expressive and delightfully goofy dogs, so making edits of Cleo and Abby was just naturally entertaining. For years, I just posted for fun, making very low-quality edits simply because I loved watching Cleo run and learning how to edit. It wasn’t until 2023 that I started adding voiceovers to my videos, which really brought Abby and Cleo’s personalities to life. That’s when everything really took off, and my community grew very quickly, turning my account from a hobby into a full-time job.
Lots of times, the stories really do write themselves, and it is so much fun sharing their personalities and our perspective of them with the world.
What does a typical day look like for Cleo and her sisters?
A typical day usually starts with Marcy getting the zoomies simply because she is so happy to exist, which often leads Abby to lament the fact that sleeping in is no longer an option. Cleo, meanwhile, is usually still tucked under a blanket somewhere when breakfast is served.
After they eat and have had some time to rest, we usually head out for a hike or visit a Sniffspot so they can really stretch their legs. Having space to run freely is such an important part of their day. After that, it is back to their true calling, which is napping. Sighthounds are, without question, elite-level couch potatoes.
Honestly, we rarely see them fully conscious again until they come looking for dinner, which typically kicks off the post-dinner zoomies and Abby’s signature “very nice honey” offerings.
How can pet parents keep grooming stress-free?
Keeping grooming stress-free really comes down to making it part of your regular routine and being ready for anything! With three active dogs who love being out in nature, and who have a special talent for finding the grossest things possible to roll in (I am looking at you, Cleo), we have learned to never leave home unprepared. We always keep an emergency kit in the car with grooming wipes, detangling combs, and towels to keep their coats and our car from total chaos. A few treats to persuade the girls during grooming time doesn’t hurt either!
How do you keep Cleo and her sisters active?
We aim for about three bigger outings each week, supplemented with long walks and mental enrichment on the other days. For those bigger adventures, we love visiting Sniffspots, going on hikes, or exploring local dog parks around Portland. It is so important for sighthounds to have the space to really stretch their legs and run, and it is also one of the most rewarding parts of having such aerodynamic dogs.
On quieter days, we stick to 30 to 45-minute neighborhood walks and incorporate mental stimulation through food puzzles, scent games, or snuffle mats to help keep them engaged and fulfilled.
What advice would you give pet parents trying to build healthier habits for their dogs?
My biggest advice is not to get discouraged if things don’t fall into place right away. Building a routine that meets your dog’s needs while also balancing your own life can take time!
Dogs are incredibly forgiving and happy with quality time spent together. Try not to overthink it or feel pressured to go above and beyond based on what you see online. Consistency, care, and connection matter far more than perfection.
