The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos How Dogs Changed my Life (with The Dogist)
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Jun 16, 2025 
Elias Weiss Friedman, known as The Dogist, shares how dogs transformed his life and career after losing his job. He reveals the comfort and joy dogs provide, emphasizing their role in emotional healing and connection. Elias discusses the profound bond between humans and dogs, scientific benefits of companionship, and the community fostered by sharing dog stories. He highlights the importance of adopting mixed-breed dogs and how they inspire us to be our best selves, all while promoting happiness and authentic relationships.
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Early Life-Saving Dog Anecdote
- As a toddler, Elias disappeared but was found safely with his grandmother's Labrador, Oreo.
- Oreo kept him safe, marking the start of Elias's lifelong bond with dogs.
Firing Sparked Dogist Career
- Elias was fired from his job and chose to follow his passion for photographing dogs in New York.
- This decision launched his career as The Dogist and gave him a new identity.
Dogs Teach Vulnerability
- Dogs are free from self-consciousness about their image, unlike humans.
- Their uninhibited nature teaches us to embrace vulnerability and authenticity.
