Why We Love an Internet Dog

Published: Oct. 29, 2021, 11:55 a.m.

When sled-dog musher Blair Braverman first started posting about her team on Twitter, it was just for fun\u2014a distraction from her work as a journalist. But soon she had legions of devoted followers, who couldn\u2019t get enough of her high-energy pups\u2019 and their training routines in Wisconsin. Then there\u2019s ultrarunner Jen Golbeck, who found an enormous fan base for the aging and sickly golden retrievers that she and her husband care for in the Florida Keys. So what is it about looking at other people\u2019s best friends online that makes us feel so good? Is it simply the happy-go-lucky nature of dogs? Or the way that cheering them on brings us together?\n\n\n\n\nThis episode is brought to you by Toyota, a company that wants to help you find joy by exploring America\u2019s scenic byways. No matter what kind of adventure you\u2019re after, there\u2019s a Toyota designed to get you there. Learn more at toyota.com.