Doug the Pug
If Jiffpom is the aspirational glamour dog, Doug the Pug is the relatable one — a pug with a genius for looking simultaneously thrilled and completely worn out. That single expressive range, photographed with props and pop-culture references, built one of the most durable dog brands on the internet.
Who Doug is
Doug was born on May 20, 2012, and lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with owner Leslie Mosier, who created his Instagram account in 2014 and later quit her job to manage him full time. Pugs are an ancient companion breed with a flat face and a talent for comedic timing they didn’t ask for — Doug simply monetized it better than any pug before him.
How he got famous
Doug’s rise ran through celebrity cameos and pop-culture parody: recreating famous album covers, posing with musicians, and turning up at festivals and premieres. Forbes named him one of the most influential pets of 2018. He appeared in Katy Perry’s “Swish Swish” video and a Fall Out Boy video, and voiced the dog Monchi in the animated film “The Mitchells vs. the Machines.”
By the numbers
Doug’s following runs to more than 18 million across platforms — the largest of any pug on the internet. The brand has extended into a 2016 New York Times bestselling book, a children’s book with Scholastic, merchandise at major retailers, Skechers shoes, and greeting cards. He has won two People’s Choice Awards for Animal Star (2019 and 2020) and a Shorty Award for Instagrammer of the Year. In 2019 the mayor of Nashville declared May 20 “Doug the Pug Day.”
The part that matters most
In 2022 the Doug the Pug Foundation launched to help children fighting cancer. It’s the detail that separates a pet brand from a pet celebrity: Doug’s fame got pointed at something beyond merchandise. Every petfluencer manager studies the Doug playbook for the marketing; the foundation is the part worth copying.
Doug anchors our famous Instagram dogs guide and appears in the internet’s most famous dogs. Compare his approach with the record-setting Jiffpom.
Frequently asked questions
How many followers does Doug the Pug have?
Doug the Pug has more than 18 million collective followers across his social platforms, making him the most-followed pug on the internet.
Who owns Doug the Pug?
Doug is owned and managed by Leslie Mosier, who created his Instagram account in 2014 and later left her job to run the brand full time from Nashville, Tennessee.
Has Doug the Pug won any awards?
Yes — Doug won People’s Choice Awards for Animal Star in 2019 and 2020, a Shorty Award for Instagrammer of the Year, and was named by Forbes as one of the most influential pets of 2018.
