Have you ever thought, “My dog is such a character, I should create a TikTok account for her/him.”?
Did you do it?
Well, I had the thought for each of my dogs and I’ve not (yet) created a social media account for them.
But this week’s guest, Jonathan Graziano, did when he first adopted a senior pug, Noodle.
He didn’t think much about it, just thought Noodle’s quirks might give people a laugh, the way they brightened up his days and those of his colleagues in the office Noodle was allowed to accompany him to.
It took off. It inspired children’s books.
And then, Noodle crossed the bridge …
After spending some time fostering dogs, he brought home Milton who’ll have his own book coming out in a matter of days ..
There’s something about a dog who knows exactly who they are.
Jonathan Graziano’s pug Noodle was that kind of dog. At 13 years old, during Covid, Noodle became a phenomenon …
… because he showed millions of people that it was okay to have a “no bones day.” To rest, to choose comfort. To let the world bend around you instead of the other way around.
This week’s conversation is about what happens when a dog becomes part of the culture. It’s also about grief, fostering, starting again, and finding ways to honor a bond that doesn’t end when a life does.
Jonathan talks about losing Noodle, meeting Milton, and how he’s used children’s books to give both dogs a story that outlasts social media.
There’s a tenderness here that you’ll recognize if you’ve ever loved an older dog. And a reminder that sometimes the smallest, grumpiest souls leave the biggest mark.
Jonathan didn’t set out to make Noodle famous. He just saw something in this 7.5-year-old dog, so unapologetically himself, that he couldn’t help but share. He started posting and people connected. And then the Bones or No Bones videos took off. They weren’t flash or polished, just real life: Noodle either had the energy to stand up in the morning, or he didn’t. That was it.
But people ran with it. Nurses taped pictures of Noodle to their stations. Teachers started class by checking in on what kind of day it was. The language traveled beyond the internet and into real life. As Jonathan puts it: “People were using it in actual language, not just in captions.”
When Noodle passed, Jonathan had to tell millions of strangers. It was surreal, and it was heartbreaking. And somehow, it was also exactly right. Because Noodle had always been larger than life, even when all he wanted was to nap on the back of the couch.
A few months later, Jonathan started fostering. Not to replace Noodle - you don’t replace a dog like that - but because the part of him that wanted to care for something hadn’t gone away. Milton was his fifth foster. A pug from Korea. Anxious at first, he settled in after a while. Different from Noodle in almost every way, except for the part where he fit perfectly.
Now there are three children’s books. The first two about Noodle. The third, Milton Makes a Move, about the bravery it takes to start over - for both the dog and the person welcoming him in.
Jonathan writes these books not as nostalgia, but as something kids who’ve never heard of Noodle can still love. Something that teaches without lecturing. Something that lets both dogs live on in a way that matters.
The best way to honor a dog isn’t to freeze them in time. It’s to let them teach you something, and then pass it on.
Jonathan Graziano: Viral Pugs, Children's Books, and Life After Noodle
You can watch the full conversation here:
Jonathan Graziano is a #1 New York Times bestselling children's book author and the human behind some of the internet's most beloved pugs. His first dog, Noodle, became a cultural phenomenon during lockdown with the Bones or No Bones series. Now Jonathan lives in Rochester, New York, with his adopted pug Milton and continues to write books that help kids navigate big feelings with warmth and humor. His latest, Milton Makes a Move, comes out August 4th and is available for preorder:
To find out about Soul Touched by Dogs episodes the moment they drop, subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SoulTouchedbyDogs 🙏
It’s on Apple podcasts and everywhere else, so you can access it from your favourite podcast app.
If you enjoy listening, please consider leaving a rating and review so other dog lovers can find the show and join the doggie fun.
If you’re not using Apple podcasts, GoodPods is a great app that makes that easy.
If you’re on Instagram, have a look and give us a follow 🙏
https://www.instagram.com/soultouchedbydogs/
If you’re looking for an all-natural way to take the edge off for your dog, to handle stressful situations with more calm and less anxiety, check out Fetch Happy Store’s Completely Calm calming treats:
Found at https://www.facebook.com/dogsdisclosed
A trainer, coach, behaviorist, nutritionist, holistic vet, or other canine expert with a holistic, kindness-first approach?
Would you like to be a guest on the podcast? Do you know someone you think would make a great guest?
Are you looking for ways to get your work in front of more people online?
Go (or send them) to https://soultouchedbydogs.com/pros
And as always ..
If you know another Soul Touched by Dogs, please send them to
🙏🙏🐾🐾
Until next week,
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.