20 amazing dog portraits from around the world

Who wouldn’t want to spend all day taking pictures of pets?

That’s the job of 27-year-old photographer Elias Weiss Friedman who runs The Dogist Instagram account with over 1.6 million followers. Since starting in 2013, Friedman has taken portraits of nearly 3,500 dogs in the city and around the world, making his Instagram like The Sartorialist or Humans of New York — but for dogs.

With the success of his social media, Friedman never had to go back to his corporate job in brand management and was able to raise money to travel everywhere from Cape Cod to far off destinations like China, Taiwan, and Croatia to take pictures of pets.

Friedman uses his trusty Nikon cameras to take pictures of the animals and has since published a book with some of his best subjects, including dogs in cones of shame, working dogs, dogs in fancy outfits, and, of course, puppies.

Sometimes, it’s his captains that make the post a success. In addition to the dog’s age, breed, and name, Friedman often includes little vignettes into their lives by quoting the owners.

Keep scrolling to see more of The Dogist.

Friedman has been photographing dogs since 2013 in New York after the success of his video project "Barking at Dogs." He decided to make photographing dogs like the Shar Pei Jelly Bean here his full-time job.

Jelly Bean, Shar Pei (7 y/o), 9th & Broadway, New York, NY

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Feb 19, 2015 at 7:56am PSTFeb 19, 2015 at 7:56am PST

Since his Instagram has become popular, Friedman has traveled around the world meeting dogs and taking their portraits. Here's Guójì in Beijing, China...

Guójì, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Dashilan & Meishi St, Beijing, China • "guójì" in Mandarin Chinese means "international"

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Aug 20, 2014 at 4:41pm PDTAug 20, 2014 at 4:41pm PDT

...and Tora the Akita in Milan, Italy. Friedman has also traveled to Los Angeles, Boston, Taiwan, Croatia, Seattle, Miami, Amsterdam, and more.

Tora, Akita (3 y/o), Viale Gorizia, Milan, Italy • "'Tora' means tiger in Japanese. She says 'howlrivederci', meaning arrivederci (see you again) in dogish language."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Sep 9, 2015 at 12:14pm PDTSep 9, 2015 at 12:14pm PDT

He even published a book in October 2015 with some of his favorite pictures, from puppies to dogs in costumes.

Have your dogs made their holiday wish lists yet? Order a copy of my new book online or meet me in LA & San Diego, CA this weekend for a signed copy. Details at thedogist.com/book, link in bio. #thedogistbook

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Dec 3, 2015 at 1:30pm PSTDec 3, 2015 at 1:30pm PST

You can buy "The Dogist: Photographic Encounters with 1,000 Dogs" here

On his The Dogist Instagram, he's taken nearly 3,500 portraits of dogs and will use a tennis ball or squeaky toy to keep their attention. This little Scottish Terrirer's name is Roosevelt.

Roosevelt, Scottish Terrier (3 y/o), Madison Square Park, New York, NY • "Since he discovered he likes to swim, he'll make any excuse to jump in the water, including the most disgusting of ponds."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Dec 11, 2015 at 8:19am PSTDec 11, 2015 at 8:19am PST

Friedman has said he can imitate three different dog barks, too. Below is Oscar the five-year-old Chow Chow. His owners says he loves cats, "but the feeling is not mutual."

Oscar, Chow Chow (5 y/o), 12th & University Pl., New York, NY • "He loves cats, but the feeling is not mutual. It's unrequited love." @oscarthechowchow

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Dec 9, 2015 at 5:13pm PSTDec 9, 2015 at 5:13pm PST

Source: The Guardian

Friedman also believes in raising awareness with his platform. He'll profile Canine Companion or assistance dogs like Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever mix Kandy.

Kandy, Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever mix (9 m/o), Washington Square Park, New York, NY • "Kandy is one of Canine Companions’ puppies in training. In late 2016, she will matriculate into professional training, where she will learn nearly 50 commands that will help her to assist a person with a disability. This professional training is rigorous – a little less than half of Canine Companions’ puppies graduate to become a full assistance dog." @ccicanine

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Dec 1, 2015 at 6:15am PSTDec 1, 2015 at 6:15am PST

And on his website, he has a section where you can donate bones to dogs in shelters. Friedman says that it "greatly increas[es] the chances of a dog getting adopted."

Luigi, Pit Bull mix (1 y/o) – Available for adoption from @nycacc (adoptions@nycacc.org). Bone given by Carrie Gero • thedogist.com/giveadogabone

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Oct 8, 2015 at 1:20pm PDTOct 8, 2015 at 1:20pm PDT

You can donate to Give A Dog A Bone here

Friendman has knee pads to make sure he gets the perfect angle. This is Charlie, a Siberian Husky who loves hotdogs.

Charlie, Siberian Husky (10 y/o), Tompkins Square Park, New York, NY • "Give him a hot dog and he'll love you forever."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Nov 29, 2015 at 4:41pm PSTNov 29, 2015 at 4:41pm PST

Source: The Huffington Post

His pictures appear posed, but they're often snapped off the cuff. "She's a healer – everyone she meets feels better afterwards," the owner of Great Pyrenees Chloe said. "She can also walk backwards."

Chloe, Great Pyrenees (8 y/o), Hudson River Greenway – TriBeCa, New York, NY • "She's a healer – everyone she meets feels better afterwards. She can also walk backwards."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Nov 24, 2015 at 9:50am PSTNov 24, 2015 at 9:50am PST

Source: The Huffington Post

Connor is an 11-year-old Weimaraner and former Champion show dog. His owner drove for three hours to meet Friedman. "Getting his picture taken by you was on his bucket list," his owner said. "He's getting older and I didn't know if we'd get another chance."

Connor, Weimaraner (11 y/o), Gordon Park, La Grange, IL • "He's a retired Champion show dog. He's the smartest and best dog I've ever known. He likes to take my laundry to the laundry room and sometimes he howls in his sleep. Getting his picture taken by you was on his bucket list – we drove three hours to meet you. He's getting older and I didn't know if we'd get another chance." @conman_theman

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Oct 27, 2015 at 7:12am PDTOct 27, 2015 at 7:12am PDT

Friedman photographs all kinds of dogs. Combo is a stubborn and sweet Bloodhound Friedman met in Kansas City, Missouri.

Combo, Bloodhound (1 y/o), Penn Valley Park, Kansas City, MO • "He's very stubborn (and sweet)."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Oct 27, 2015 at 1:31pm PDTOct 27, 2015 at 1:31pm PDT

Druk "The Slobber Monster" is a Great Dane in New York City.

Druk, Great Dane (19 m/o), Spring & Greene St., New York, NY • "We call him 'The Slobber Monster'. We would make millions if I could bottle his slobber and make a shampoo."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Oct 14, 2015 at 5:36pm PDTOct 14, 2015 at 5:36pm PDT

Kiko is a two-year-old Labradoodle. "He's wearing that so he doesn't lick his medicine off," his owner said.

Kiko, Labradoodle (2 y/o), Washington Square Park, New York, NY • "He's wearing that so he doesn't lick his medicine off."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Jun 11, 2015 at 10:04am PDTJun 11, 2015 at 10:04am PDT

Kicsi and Shoki are two Pulik dogs. "Shoki is a nutcase," his owner told Friendman. "He barks at everything. Kicsi is telling him to 'shut up.'"

Kicsi & Shoki, Pulik (4 & 6 y/o), Stuyvesant Square, New York, NY • "Shoki is a nutcase. He barks at everything. Kicsi is telling him to 'shut up'."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Jun 9, 2015 at 5:49pm PDTJun 9, 2015 at 5:49pm PDT

This is Millie the shih tzu's "signature look," according to her owner.

Millie, Shih Tzu (8 y/o), South Cove Park, New York, NY • "This is her signature look."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Apr 5, 2015 at 7:11am PDTApr 5, 2015 at 7:11am PDT

"She came to us from a shelter down south," dachschund Annabelle's owner said. "During a X-ray we discovered she still had some buckshot lodged in her."

Annabelle, Dachshund (9 y/o), Stuyvesant Square, New York, NY • "She came to us from a shelter down south. During a X-ray we discovered she still had some buckshot lodged in her."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on Nov 27, 2014 at 8:02am PSTNov 27, 2014 at 8:02am PST

Jasmine the German Shepherd is "a world class Frisbee catcher."

Jasmine, German Shepherd (2 y/o), Hudson River Greenway, New York, NY • "She's a world class Frisbee catcher."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on May 21, 2015 at 7:20am PDTMay 21, 2015 at 7:20am PDT

Shimi is a Rottweiler/Leonberger mix who's an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). He's 11 years old and retiring soon.

Shimi, Rottweiler/Leonberger mix (11 y/o), Bleecker & Carmine St, New York, NY • "Shimi has osteosarcoma and actually lives in Chicago. I have a place here as well, so I decided to bring him here for a week so we could do some bucket list stuff, like take some pics in Prospect Park. He's an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) and is retiring soon."

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on May 26, 2015 at 5:34pm PDTMay 26, 2015 at 5:34pm PDT

Bonus: Friedman doesn't just take pictures of dogs — he's also on Instagram as The Catist.

Joey, mix - Available for adoption from @animalhaven , NY

A photo posted by The Catist (@thecatist) on Apr 10, 2014 at 1:49pm PDTApr 10, 2014 at 1:49pm PDT

You can follow The Catist on Instagram here

For more amazing dog pictures, follow The Dogist on social media.

Today is the final day to vote for the photos you want to see in #TheDogistBook. The 10 most-liked photos from May will earn a spot in the book.

A photo posted by The Dogist (@thedogist) on May 31, 2015 at 3:11pm PDTMay 31, 2015 at 3:11pm PDT

You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and his website.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonylu8aiqq1lmaPAta3Gq5imZZOqwaZ5w6ierGViZX52eZBr