Over 11 years ago, Elias Weiss Friedman, fresh from being let go from his corporate job, decided to ease the stress of being unemployed by photographing New York City’s eclectic mix of dogs.
The fun project grew into The Dogist, a social media brand with over 11 million followers, that focuses on delivering stunning street photography shots of canines and sharing the stories of the pups Friedman meets. And he has met a lot of dogs. Friedman estimates he has befriended and photographed over 50,000 pooches since the start of The Dogist.
Over that time, Friedman has traveled the world to meet dogs, helped raise awareness about the power of pet adoption, and highlighted challenges facing our four-legged friends.
“I have had so many incredible experiences over the years: meeting thousands of people, thousands of dogs, working with amazing organizations. And I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m ready to write a book.’ Because these experiences are unique, I think I’m one of the few people on earth who’s photographed so many dogs and has come to understand this canine zeitgeist, if you will,” Friedman tells PEOPLE about what’s next for The Dogist.
Elias Weiss Friedman
On June 3, Friedman released This Dog Will Change Your Life, his third book, but first narrative venture after two photography books. This new effort is filled with the most memorable and moving canine moments Friedman has encountered in a life of adoring dogs.
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“I had a lot of fun writing it,” he says, adding, “It’s about my experiences and other people’s dogs, but really about our relationship with dogs. The book is divided into three categories: how dogs change our identity, purpose, and relationships.”
The book includes extremely personal storytelling from Friedman, who shares true tales about his family dog Oreo — considered a hero in Friedman’s family for protecting him when he was a toddler — and his current canine, Elsa.
Elias Weiss Friedman
“She has changed my life for the better. There are a million intangibles, like the amount of laughter I get daily through voicing Elsa and watching her do things. And the number of people I meet, the fresh air I get to have, and the places I get to go, because Elsa needs to go for a walk,” Friedman says of his pup’s impact on the book and his everyday life.
The Dog Will Change Your Life is also packed with some of Friedman’s favorite moments from being The Dogist, including a look at the dog behind one of his most viral photos.
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“Lunchbox’s posts went viral, millions of people saw it,” Friedman said of one of the numerous Dogist dogs featured in the book.
Lunchbox stood out to Friedman because of scars on the canine’s face, which he later learned came from neglect the dog experienced before his adoption.
“Lunchbox’s story illuminates that when you rescue a dog, you’re entering a book that’s already partially written, which may not have good chapters. As a human, you have to work with that and adapt to that. And it ends up being this very maturing process. And you learn patience and understand that you have flaws as well, everyone does,” Friedman notes.
He hopes stories like Lunchbox’s and the real-life tales of impressive rescue pups, astounding working dogs, and wonderful pets inspire all readers to give dogs more compassion and respect.
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“I think my goal is to deepen people’s appreciation for dogs. Certainly, we give our dogs plenty of credit. We love them, we’re obsessed with them. We take pictures of them. We can’t stop talking about them, but no amount is enough. And so I think by reading my book, you will learn things you didn’t know, making you look at your dog as more than a pet,” Friedman explains.
“Someone once told me that a dog opens a chamber of your heart that you didn’t know was there. And it’s true,” he adds. “Dogs are often the spark we didn’t know we needed, but we are glad to have. And so these are all the things in my book that I underline and highlight, even if it’s hard to study or quantify. We owe dogs more credit.”
This Dog Will Change Your Life is now available for purchase, wherever books are sold.
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