Is there anything better than opening your social media and being bombarded with adorable pictures of dogs? These are pooches living their best lives — traveling, seeking out adventures, wearing custom-made clothes and enjoying all the belly rubs in the process.
Social media is no stranger to pet accounts. These dogs (or dog lovers) have their own quirky personalities; they get book deals, sponsorships and use their popularity for social good. Beyond just focusing on dog’s antics, there are some accounts that curate pictures of dogs, rate them, tell us what they are thinking and even call our racism!
This list is for those seeking to add some daily dose of doggo sunshine to their lives.
Note: Before fawning over doggos on social media, it’s best to be familiar with DoggoLingo. Dogs are doggos, woofers, puppers or pupperinos. They bork or boof, sploot (sit with legs splayed) and show their mlem or blep (tongue).
We Rate Dogs
We Rate Dogs is so popular that it now has a mobile phone game and even a store selling merch. @weratedogs / Instagram
Accounts: Twitter, Instagram
Followers: 7.26 million (T); 555,000 (I)
Started by college student Matt Nelson in 2015, this Twitter account posts picture of adorable dogs with delightful captions and nonsensical ratings (that often cross the 10 mark). The posts also highlight dogs in need (with links to crowdfunding campaigns), senior dogs (#seniorpupsaturday) and the heroes — therapy dogs, K9 dogs and other dog heroes (they get the highest score, 15/10).
Much loved posts include Kylie who is two bananas long; Daisy and Luna who comfort each other during car rides; this supportive puppo at the Women’s March and, finally, the infamous Brant’s dog, Charlie. Twitter user Brant Walker once questioned the account’s rating system to which Matt replied saying, “They’re good dogs Brent.” The phrase became one of the best memes of 2016.
The account has spawned a mobile phone game and a store selling merch.
Thoughts of Dog
Account: Twitter
Followers: 1.72 million
An account from the creator of We Rate Dogs, Thoughts of Dog tweets from the perspective of a dog.
This adorable (imaginary) pooch has no name and his spellings are awry, but he is an extremely pupportive doggo. He is afraid of sky booms, his feet go tippy tappin’ when the human comes home, he never forgets his post-snoozle stretchums, enjoys speedy zooms and borking away evildoers. He has a stuffed fren, Sebastian — they take turns watching the skittle under the fridge and go for evening walks together.
The tweets are his daily musings on life, the self-conscious brags, goooob morning wishes, regular “I love you” reminders, walk updates, sleep schedules and, often, quite inspiring messages.
Dogspotting
Spotting an unknown dog and taking its picture can spark the best social media posts. @Dogspotting / Facebook
Account: Facebook
Followers: 1,105,905
It is one of the internet’s most popular sports. You spot an unknown dog, take a picture (or written poems, descriptions and stories about dogs are allowed, too) and post it on the Facebook group. Based on a series of rules, points are given to the spot. John Savoia started this game with a few friends before it became a Facebook sensation in 2014.
Spots can happen anywhere: There’s this pupper and his dad dancing at a Blues gig, this shoe-stealing pup in a bus, this shiba and its dad at a coffee shop, this wise dog at a pride parade and this pub regular. Each spot is shared with a humorous caption (see this winner). And if the rules are too strict, there’s a Dogspotting People’s Court for airing of grievances.
I’ve Pet That Dog
Gideon Kidd captured the hearts of Twitter users everywhere with pics of him petting dogs. @IvePetThatDog / Twitter
Account: Twitter
Followers: 128,000
Gideon Kidd is just 10, but is quite the Twitter star. His bio reads: “I am a 10-year-old boy who likes petting dogs. These are pictures of dogs I’ve pet.” The account, which he began this year, is thus pictures of adorable pooches posing with Gideon. The captions include the name, age, caregiver details, tricks performed and personality traits.
There’s Stella, the poodle who helped her caregiver through depression; the mini long-haired dachshund Riley, who stands on his hind legs if you say “meerkat;” Odin whose superpower is the ability to get into human food no matter where it is kept; and Maizy who visits nursing homes to comfort people.
Earlier, Gideon would pet the dogs in his neighborhood (and share it on his blog), but now, he and his mum drive around looking for dogs to pet. He is even sometimes invited into people’s homes to pet their dogs.
Menswear Dog
Bodhi likes to dress in fun menswear for all to see. @mensweardog / Instagram
Account: Instagram
Followers: 356,000
Bodhi is a Shiba Inu who is often considered the most stylish dog in the world. He was “discovered” in 2013 and, since then, has graced the pages of magazines and newspapers. He has his own clothing collection and even a book!
What Bodhi does best is be a patient model when his parents, designer Yena Kim and her husband, David Fung, dress him up. Kim is Bodhi’s in-house tailor, and everything is customized to fit him. Bodhi’s lookbook features pink suits, trench coats, gingham shirts, leather jackets, parkas and tuxedos. He rocks accessories like hats, tortoise shell glasses, pocket squares, knit beanies and sunglasses, too.
His style is versatile — the beach look features a Panama hat and bird print shirt, a throwback to the ’50s involves a flat cap and braces, winter wear involves a hooded parka, and his band gear involves a stylish fedora and leather jacket. Each outfit comes with its own set of poses, and he has mastered the side swag.
Neville Jacobs
Neville Jacobs, bottom, is designer Marc Jacob’s bull terrier, and he has lots of famous friends. @nevillejacobs / Instagram
Account: Instagram
Followers: 210,000
Neville Jacobs is designer Marc Jacobs’s bull terrier. He is just six but has already starred in fashion ads and graced magazine covers. He flies private, has a customized wardrobe, visits St. Barts for his winter holidays, and his inner circle includes top models like Christy Turlington, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Kendall Jenner, Adriana Lima and Cara Delevingne.
A patient model, he enjoys hugs, chilling with Choo Choo Charlie (his BFF), wearing his dad’s designer wear, riding shotgun with him and even brushing up on the classics like “War and Peace.” Though pampered, this pooch also raises money for charity, The Sato Project, which works with abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico. He even has a coffee table book about his life.
The Dogist
This Instagram account captures all kinds of doggos. @thedogist / Instagram
Account: Instagram
Followers: 3.3 million
The photo-documentary series was started by Elias Weiss Friedman five years back. Elias goes on “dog safaris” across the world and posts pictures of doggos he has met, and some have even made their way into a book.
It’s the doggo version of Humans of New York. Each post has a little story about the animal. There’s Cheeto, the blind lab who can walk on a trail off-leash; Arly, the rough collie who is a “love sponge;” Lucia, the pug with a Russian passport; and Ace, the beagle who stole a sandwich from a homeless guy. Elias captures dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes, including service dogs. He also posts about doggos looking for homes and rescues like this one displaced after Hurricane Harvey.
As most dogs don’t like being photographed, Elias goes prepared, with treats, a squeaky tennis ball, slobber wipes (to clean the lens) and kneepads (to crouch to the dog’s level).
Wat.Ki
This adorable pet family has two dogs, Watson, right, and Kiko (and cat, Harry). @wat.ki / Instagram
Account: Instagram
Followers: 580,000
This adorable pet family has two dogs, Watson and Kiko (and cat, Harry, and hedgehog, London). Watson is the star and gained internet fame for showing off his #trustfall. His father just says trust fall, and the golden retriever obediently falls backwards. He even falls into the “arms” of his giant teddy bear and helps others do the same. Watson likes doing trust falls so much, he even does them when not told to!
He is an emotional support dog to Kiko. The duo love doing things together, including hugging and cuddling. Their owners also share adorable images of all the pets getting cozy together outdoors or at home. This happy family also has its own store selling #trustfall and other merch.
Loki
Loki is a large Arctic wolf-like dog who loves to explore. @loki / Instagram
Accounts: Instagram, Facebook
Followers: 1.8 million (I); 170,517 (F)
Loki is a large Arctic wolf-husky-malamute hybrid who loves going on adventures with his human, Kelly Lund. From the time he was adopted in 2012, Lund wanted to show that it is possible to travel with your pet. Loki thus has paddled on an Alpine lake, camped under a starry sky, run down icy mountains and discovered his own ice throne.
He looks completely at home, posing majestically in snow, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, beaches or national parks. He loves his tents, sleeping bags, hammocks and camping chairs, too. His posts even come with inspiring captions and poems, and, occasionally, songs from the background of his adventures. Some of his adventures have made their way into a book titled, “Wild Together.”
Doug the Pug
Doug the Pug is famous across all social media accounts. @itsdougthepug / Instagram
Accounts: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Followers: 3.6 million (I); 2.8 million (T); 6 million (F)
The self-proclaimed King of Pop Culture, this Nashville, Tenn.-based dog has starred in a music video, has his own book and his own line of merchandise. Doug rose to popularity in 2015 with a series of parody videos spoofing pop culture. He has dressed as Harry Pugger, he played every “Stranger Things” character for “Stranger Pugs,” did his version of “Despugcito” and, lately, made a guest appearance on “Queer Eye.”
He’s very camera-friendly and allows his mom, Leslie Mosier, to dress him in clothes and props. When not hobnobbing with celebs like Justin Beiber, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran, he shares details about his #PugLife, from overeating to being a morning person.
Marutaro
Maru lives in Japan and owns his own store in Tokyo. @marutaro / Instagram
Accounts: Instagram, Facebook
Followers: 2.5 million (I); 159,376 (F)
Maru is a Shiba Inu living in Japan. His dad, Shinjiro Ono, began posting photos of Maru after Japan’s 2011 earthquake to cheer people up. Now, nine years later, Maru continues to spread joy to his many followers; most of his pictures have him smiling at the camera, squinty-eyed and tongue out. How can anyone be sad looking at this face or even bum?
Maru’s posts show him making friends with horses, wearing backpacks in which he stores treats and toys and sharing his love for the Beatles. He also reminds you of important things, like staying hydrated and stopping to smell the roses (or sakuras). This celeb dog even has his own store in Tokyo.
Traveling Chapati
This traveling pooch visits all the fun places, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. @travelingchapati / Instagram
Accounts: Instagram, Facebook
Followers: 21,800 (I); 7,765 (F)
It’s the perfect underdog story. Chapati was once a stray Indian pariah in Fort Kochi, India. The dying pup was rescued and later adopted by Ukranian couple, Kristina Masalova and Eugene Peterus. Today, Chapati is a globetrotter vacationing with his parents in Italy, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Vienna, Prague and Ukraine.
The couple started chronicling Chapati’s travels as a way of creating awareness about how Indian street dogs make for perfect pets. The pup has played pilot, made friends on a Thai beach, posed against beautiful backdrops, explored new places and even shared recipes, like Belarusian potato pancakes. He enjoys giving reccos on dog-friendly places and cities — he loves Vienna because they have biodegradable bags to clean dogs’ poo and fenced territories inside parks for dogs. On a break from his travels, he also shares important tidbits about native Indian dogs.
Racism WatchDog
Account: Twitter
Followers: 551,000
This good boy has been trained to sniff out racism. Since 2017, the account subtly alerts Twitter users to racist tweets or news with its trademark angry “borks,” “woofs” and “barks,” and, sometimes, “grr.” It has barked at right-wing figures like Roseanne Barr, and U.S. President Donald Trump is a frequent target. His tweet about crime in Germany increasing by 10 percent since migrants were accepted received angry woofs. Then, there’s the British political activist who used the phrase “white genocide,” which was angrily greeted with barks.
Whether you like it’s political views or not, it’s one of the few animal accounts on social media currently making a political statement.
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