“Brodie That Dood” – The Adventures of the Internet’s Favorite, Funniest Dog

Goldendoodles are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States today. And arguably the most popular of all goldendoodles is Brodie That Dood, who has become a viral social media star. Let us introduce you to the many adventures of the internet’s favorite, funniest dog!

Why Are Goldendoodles So Adorable?

Goldendoodles are a designer dog breed that results from crossing a golden retriever with a poodle. Because poodles have such a wide variation in sizes, colors, and characteristics, goldendoodles don’t all look alike. In recent years, they have ranked as one of the top three most popular breeds in the United States. Like poodles, they are near-hypoallergenic, intelligent, and fun-loving, while also being loyal, friendly, and affectionate like their lovey-dovey golden retriever parents. Most of all, they’re just plain cute with their soulful eyes, soft curls, and gangly legs that make them look for all the world like a person wearing a dog suit. And with their buoyant, silly personalities, they’re the kind of dog that is quite happy dressing like a human, wearing sunglasses, and doing all sorts of other adorable and unexpected things.

Brodie: A Service Dog That Goes Above and Beyond

The story of Brodie That Dood started with his human, Cliff Brush, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 33-year-old Brush was diagnosed in his 20s with lichen planus, an autoimmune dermatological disorder. Because stress is a contributing factor to flareups, Brush raised Brodie from a puppy as an emotional support animal. Brush says he hasn’t had flareups since Brodie came into his life. In fact, Brodie brings so much comfort, he promotes himself as “Your local serotonin dealer” on his social media sites!

Your Dog or Your Job?

Brodie is now 4 years old and 80 lbs of pure floof. He started making social media content on TikTok and YouTube from puppyhood, but his career really took off in 2021. That’s when his owner, who was working as a budget analyst for $70,000 a year got in trouble with his boss for spending more time making dog videos than doing his job. Faced with a choice of 9-to-5 office work or making silly dog videos, Brush made the obvious choice of ditching his career for his dog! Brush now says, “It was the best decision of my life.”

A Dog Who Brings Home the Bacon

Brush’s decision paid off not only in a more enjoyable lifestyle for him and his dog, but in hard cold cash as well. As full-time content creators, Brush and Brodie have amassed a fan base over a million Instagram followers, 5.3 million YouTube subscribers, and 6.7 million followers on TikTok. All of this brings the duo about $400,000 a year in income plus well over a million dollars annually in brand partnerships.

What do people come to see? A fluffy dog that wears goggles, rides everything from jet skis to motorcycles to backpack child carriers with his owner, attends sporting events, music festivals, and walks the red carpet with the stars and to all appearances is living his absolute best life. But it’s not all life in the fast lane. Brodie also volunteers time to visit hospitalized children and spread his special brand of joy to those who need it most.

Is Brody Being Exploited?

Brush has his haters, though, for the lifestyle he’s created on the back of his pup. One critic posted on Instagram “Dude using his dog to promote himself & make money off him through social media. You need major help, little guy.”

The creators’ network LeaLi.io addressed some of the ethical concerns with influencers using pets as social media stars. A key question is whether the animal is healthy, well-cared for, and enjoys the lifestyle the influencer is creating for it. Is the animal being put into dangerous or highly stressful situations, as extreme as skydiving or as mundane as being forced to wear uncomfortable clothes and sit under hot lights for photo shoots and media appearances? And then there’s the copycat effect. Even if a pet influencer takes every precaution to keep their friend safe and happy, will those who watch these videos try to copy them, with less care and harsher training methods?

Brodie’s Social Contribution

Brodie That Dood really exploded on the scene during the COVID-19 pandemic, a frightening and depressing time for millions of people. The negative health effects of prolonged stress on human psychology and the physical body are well-documented. It’s not hard to see that bringing joy literally to millions of people at a time when they most needed it has been a significant contribution to the social good, even if the videos seem frivolous. In that respect, Brush’s choice to shift from being an accountant to a content creator was to give up a valuable and worthwhile job that nonetheless, thousands of people could do, for a valuable and worthwhile job that he and Brodie were uniquely able to do. And millions of clicks and smiles later, we’re glad he did.