I love the Dogist! I admire how Elias is able to make other dog owners comfortable and really highlights the stories of the dogs and their owners. That being said, I struggled through this book, I read it as a galley and missed the photos of various dogs he's met (I believe photos were added for publication). Unfortunately for me, this had a very dry feel to and I missed the emotional piece that I love so much in Elias' videos and Instagram posts. I may try it again now that it is published to see if that changes my rating.

This was such a fun book! I have followed The Dogist on Instagram for a few years so I was super excited to read this book.
I loved how he pairs information about dogs with stories of dogs he has met. It helps keep the education entertaining.
I learned a lot about dogs and I loved getting to relate that new information to my dogs now. I definitely recommend if you are a dog lover!!

Elias Weiss Friedman loves dogs. He also understands them. Professionally he is The Dogist, a traveling photographer who photographs dogs and posts their pictures on social media with a brief description by the owner. Personally he is a charming dog lover who recognizes the many benefits of owning a dog. He blends stories from his childhood - The Family Dog - with experiences as an adult accompanied by his former foster dog Elsa. There is so much information in This Dog Will Change Your Life. Dog evolution, breeding for special purposes, unscrupulous breeding, how to pick a puppy and how to select a dog that will easily fit into your life. I’ve followed The Dogist on Instagram for years and Friedman’s love for dogs and interest in their owners shines through as it does in this book. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Elias Weiss Friedman for this ARC.

I've followed and been a fan of The Dogist for quite a while now, so I was thrilled to get this ARC. His voice and humor absolutely come through, I love the combination of funny anecdotes with the science behind dog breeding, how they came to be, and how humans and dogs evolved together. The way he talks about the relationship between dogs and humans made me emotional (like the stories of dogs saving kids, and his friend finding an emotional support pup). This is a must read for dog lovers.

To say I’m a super fan of Elias Friedman would be an understatement. His Instagram account, The Dogist, is my go-to source for a daily shot of happiness. This Dog Will Change Your Life shines a light on dogs and their owners in the very best light. Each story made me reflect on the impact dogs have had on my life and on the magic and joy of dogs. Highly recommend for dog and animal lovers alike. Long live the Dogist!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

Disclaimer: I came into this book because I am familiar with (AND love) Elias's IG account The Dogist. I've followed him on IG for years and once I realized he was writing this book, I knew right away it would be an immediate add to my TBR.

As a dog lover (and dog mom) I loved this book. Some pieces were hard to read, like when Elias assists with rescues and discusses how overbreeding causes to "unwanted dogs" (yes, that is an oxymoron in my book as well) being euthanized simply due to overcrowding and there not being enough capacity to keep every dog that comes in.

Reading about his childhood dog passing away made me give my little old man (a 16 year old Yorkie that I've had since he was 6 months old) a squeeze and extra kiss on his head. Reading this book has made me cherish my relationship with him on a different level. To him, I am his entire world and there is not a single thing I wouldn't do for him.

If you're a dog lover or a Dogist fan, I'd highly recommend picking up this book!

I’ve been a fan of The Dogist for years; following his Instagram account. His photos always capture the essence of each pup and the anecdotes from their humans never fail to make me smile. If you love dogs, you’ll love this book.

Friedman provides factual information about our canine companions and pairs it with stories that tug on the heartstrings. What comes through his writing is the incredible impact dogs have on the human condition. We do not deserve them.

The finished copy will include photos which will take the book to the next level.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advance copy.

Whether you are familiar with The Dogist or not, this book is filled with stories and information that will appeal to all dog lovers. I will recommend this book to library patrons.

There are a lot of good tidbits in here, about life with dogs and how they make our lives better. The author, also known as The Dogist, has been wildly successful with his social media posts and pictures of various dogs (mostly in NYC, where he lives). I know it’s a hazard of receiving an advance copy, but I was quite disappointed not to see any pictures (there are quotes in each chapter where there will be a corresponding photo, when the book is released). I want to see the doggos! I’m sure that people will like the book more when the photos are added.

I did want to mention that there are several times when the author talks about other people in a not-so-nice way, and that did bother me. If I was the friend who had trouble navigating…man, I would be so hurt reading that! Yikes.

Coming next week on June 3rd!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I do love the Dogist and was so excited to see that Elias was releasing a book. I mainly opened this up because I was hoping for a lot of dog pics and short stories, which I did get, however, the ARC ebook version of this didn't let me see the pics, so I ended up paging through this looking for a dog pic, to no luck. When I stopped frantically scrolling, I actual took a moment to read what Elias was saying and it is just like his Dogist videos on youtube, all about the dog, but informative and fun.

I have followed The Dogist on Instagram for three or for years, and his posts always make me smile. As the owner/mother of a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer mix named Pepper, I love all things dogs. This book will definitely appeal to the very sizable dog-loving audience. Mr. Weiss Friedman was very lucky to see the potential of social media as a potential lucrative career opportunity. His book is filled with anecdotes, interesting stories about various philanthropic and important rescue organizations. I enjoyed the book, but it definitely will appeal mostly to animal lovers.

Thanks to the author (come to North Carolina to photograph Pepper the pointer mix!), NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.

I started following The Dogist on IG years ago. This book is a wonderful recollection of his work and the joy that dogs bring to our lives. What a wonderful way to continue to share his work with the world!

Book is supposed to be a celebration of the joy dogs bring to our lives and the way they make us grow. Wish he included the picture of the dog at the end of the chapter, not just the quote.

I certainly support shelters and adopting dogs but unfortunately sometimes shelters make it too hard to get a dog. Not everyone has a yard and that ends adoption attempts right there, even though you can take the dog out on a leash and have a nice walk that way.

He has a lot to say with the book being much longer than I would have expected, but it is a nice memoir for all of us dog lovers out there.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of This Dog Will Change Your Life. I am absolutely the target audience for this book. I’ve followed The Dogist on Instagram for a while and love his videos. He seems like such a genuine person and I loved the stories throughout this book. He has had some pretty amazing opportunities. It was cool to read about all of the incredible organizations involving dogs and just the way they change peoples lives everyday.

I’ve always been a dog lover. Yes I cried several times while reading this and yes we truly don’t deserve dogs.

3.75 stars, rounded up.
thank you, firstly to netgalley, the dogist, and random house publishing for this arc copy of “this dog will change your life”. it arrives june 3, 2025.
i read much of this while my service dog was close by so my favorite parts were parts about sully.
the part about capturing biden’s dogs were interesting too.
some of this definitely felt very subjective and outwardly wrong and doesn’t seem to shy from oodly mutts, which i don’t love. i did appreciate a general consensus of adopt or shop responsibly and an understanding at many points of purpose breeding.
overall this was in a way a look at our modern connection with dogs through a photo based blogs lens. in many ways it reminded me of my tattered copy of chicken noodle soup for the dog lovers soul i had as a kid.

A very good book about dogs, what they mean to us, and some organizations that help them. The ARC did not contain the photos, so I think I would have liked it even more with them. The book was well-written and appreciated the different stories.

The perfect book to read with your own furry friend curled up against your side.

To be honest, I finished this book quickly but kept finding reasons not to review it in order to be able to hang onto it a bit longer, so to speak. Yes, I enjoyed it thoroughly. And, yes, much of it was read with my own rescue, Daisy, curled up next to me or snoozing on my feet, one of her favorite spots. I think it's to make sure I don't go anywhere without here. The author, who I'm almost embarrassed to admit that while I've heard of him, I'd never checked out his Dogist site, would probably know. It was great fun to sort of travel along with him as he talks about his childhood dogs through the creation of his Dogist site.

His love of dogs shines through even when he shares a few not-so-fun experiences as he learned the best way to approach and handle his mostly random encounters with dogs and their humans. I found his thoughts on not staring into a strange to you dog's eyes interesting, for instance. His thoughts on puppy mills and rescue are equally thoughtful and shows his disciplined approach to learning more about all aspects of the dog world.

I won't detail the text as those familiar with his photography are probably more familiar with him than I was when I started this book. To be honest, I think I was expecting a sweet book of dog photos, some of which are included. After all, that is how I became aware of him, but was impressed by his depth and ability to share this thoughts in a conversational manner that made this an easy, enjoyable read. Instinctively, I think most dog fans know how dogs touch our lives but it's nice to see it laid out in print and I found myself taking extensive notes. Heck, even designer dogs, if that's the right turn, are discussed, as is the toll on those who rescue. My Daisy is a rescue, so I have the utmost respect for them, that's for sure. I even learned about a distant cousin, so to speak, of the corgi, the Lancaster Heeler, so there's much to learn here, too. Bottom line, if you love dogs, you will love this book. My sincere thanks to #RandomHousePublishingHouse for giving me this early peek at this book. Dogs do change us for the better, that's for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I've been a fan of The Dogist for several years and was so excited to read this book. It didn't disappoint! As a golden retriever mom, I was happy to see goldens mentioned a lot. My favorite parts were the chapters about working dogs and service dogs. Some of those stories brought tears. Never ceases to amaze me how much dogs bring to your life. Every dog lover should read this.

Having followed The Dogist on Instagram, I knew I'd want to read This Dog Will Change Your Life. Just watching Mr. Friedman interact with dogs and their owners on the street is enough to show how much affection we have towards our pets. The book is extremely well written, with historical facts and personal anecdotes about his own dogs that really touch the reader. I saw the author venture into cat territory once but have no fear, he's no Catist. Elias Weiss Friedman has written a book that will resonate with dog owners everywhere
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book will change your perception of dogs. I have loved seeing Elias Weiss Friedman talking to dog owners and photographing dogs, getting only their best sides. Throughout the book, he describes how dogs make such a huge impact on their human families, from service dogs to family pets. He is transparent with the stories he tells about his friends, the people he meets along the way, and even himself.

Elias has travelled the world and encountered dogs in all kinds of situations. His heart is easily discerned through his stories and through his pictures. When he talks of his friends and their dogs, the love shines through. When he encounters street dogs his heart breaks for them. His anger burns at puppy mills, his love shines through when dogs are obtained through reputable breeders or adopted from a rescue agency. He applauds fostering--even when it fails and the foster becomes the pet adopter.

This book may not change your life, but it will give insight into dogs and dog owners. I loved it.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a dog to love you forever.

Random House Publishing Group provided the copy of this book for me to read. All opinions expressed are solely my own.