This Dog Will Change Your Life

Elias Weiss Friedman is a photographer, social media influencer, philanthropist, and writer. Friedman grew up in the Philadelphia area with his parents, two siblings, and an array of family dogs. As a shy and introverted child, Friedman discovered that talking to and walking his dog Ruby helped him overcome social anxiety and form genuine connections with others. This connection with Ruby formed the foundation for his work as The Dogist.

Friedman attended Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. While there, he began pursuing a degree in science and medicine. He quickly discovered that he wasn’t as scientifically minded as his parents, grandparents, and many other relatives. Instead, he preferred the arts. After college, Friedman relocated to New York City, where he worked at a popular marketing and advertising agency for two years. However, this work quickly proved unfulfilling. After he was laid off unexpectedly, Friedman took it as an opportunity to reinvent himself.

Friedman launched The Dogist in October 2013—a dog influencer page on various social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter. Since The Dogist’s inception, Friedman has acquired over 7 million followers and photographed over 50,000 dogs and their owners. As PAC NYC claims, Friedman “has redefined dog portraiture through his singular