GAYLE KING:
00:00:28
He knows a thing or two.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:00:28
He does know a thing or two, and you know that he does, because he's got 10 million followers--
NATE BURLESON:
00:00:33
Wow.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:00:34
--and has photographed over 50,000 dogs. He's a judge for the contest, along with Gayle, Nate, and myself. Elias, let's reveal the finalists. Take it away. All right. The top three finalists are Bean, Champ, and Tiberius.
GAYLE KING:
00:00:49
Let's start with Bean. Bean is six years old, and adores all animals and humans. Earlier this year, Bean was attacked by another dog-- oh, no-- but just days later, he was already trying to play with the other pups again, being very forgiving person. Eight-year-old Tiberius was found as a stray. He was completely blind.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:01:06
Oh, Tiberius!
GAYLE KING:
00:01:07
He still bumps into things, but is an expert at commands like careful and wait. And Champ, just look at these ears. Look at those ears. Champ is a 10-year-old therapy dog with only three legs. His visits inspire people to persevere and put their best foot forward, you could say. So our votes are confidential, but what do you think of the finalists, Elias? It's really hard to pick. They're all winners, right?
GAYLE KING:
00:01:31
Yes. But I think, to me, Tiberius stands out, personally. He's missing both of his eyes, and yet, he's still like, loving life. And it just shows how resilient dogs are. One of them has three legs.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:01:43
I love that. Yeah.
GAYLE KING:
00:01:45
That's Champ. Champ got me--
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:01:46
Champ is so cute.
GAYLE KING:
00:01:47
--got me with the ears.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:01:48
So what do you-- I mean, you have a rescue dog.
ELIAS WEISS FREIDMAN:
00:01:51
Yes, Elsa. Elsa?
GAYLE KING:
00:01:53
Elsa and Elias.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:01:54
And Elias. Talk to us about how Elsa has changed your life. I mean, in countless ways. Before I had a dog, I had all the dogs. And dogs improve our lives in so many ways. They give us unconditional love. They give us company. They make us laugh all the time. And Elsa did all those things for me. And she helped me rekindle my relationship with my now, wife. She made me feel like-- How so? Yeah, how did she-- we want to know that story. She made me realize that I deserved to have more love in my life. And so when I rescued Elsa, she came up from Texas. And very shortly thereafter, I was basically, proposing to my wife.
GAYLE KING:
00:02:33
Oh, that's so nice. That's beautiful. I love that story. You have photographed over 50,000 dogs. Why did you start doing it? And you couldn't possibly have thought it would be this. Why did you start? Well, I grew up loving dogs and photographing my own dog. But growing up, it wasn't like on the list of jobs, you know, in kindergarten, like dog photographer.
GAYLE KING:
00:02:52
Right.
ELIAS WEISS FREIDMAN:
00:02:53
But 14 years ago, I was let go from my job, and I was inspired by other street photographers, like Humans of New York and the Sartorialist. And I thought, no one's doing that for dogs. And dogs bring joy to the world, and I want to make the world a better place. And so I was the crazy guy who was making weird noises, strapping on knee pads, going around photographing dogs, and telling their story. And 50,000 dogs later, I--
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:03:18
Look at that one.
GAYLE KING:
00:03:19
You always seem to capture a moment. How do you know when you get-- because number one, I think, it's hard to get them to stand still, to get the picture. A, how do you do that, and how do you know when you have the perfect shot?
ELIAS WEISS FREIDMAN:
00:03:29
Well, I'm looking for that direct eye contact.
GAYLE KING:
00:03:31
Yeah. And I have--
GAYLE KING:
00:03:32
They do look at you. Yes.
GAYLE KING:
00:03:33
Yes, yes. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I have treats, sometimes, but I also make weird noises. One of them's like a puppy noise like [WHIMPERING SOUNDS]. And I'm just hoping the dog--
GAYLE KING:
00:03:45
That kind of sounds like a fart, though. Yeah. Well, it works-- it works for people and like, babies, too.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:03:50
That's when the dogs are like--
ELIAS WEISS FREIDMAN:
00:03:52
Yeah, exactly.
GAYLE KING:
00:03:53
A dog head. Yeah.
ELIAS WEISS FREIDMAN:
00:03:54
I get a lot of head tilts. What was that? And that's when I'm taking pictures.
GAYLE KING:
00:03:58
Yes. And when a dog looks at you, you get this dose of oxytocin, like they're connecting with you.
GAYLE KING:
00:04:03
Yes. Yeah. So when I take that picture and you see it on your screen, you have that moment where you're like, everything's OK in the world.
GAYLE KING:
00:04:08
Yes.
NATE BURLESON:
00:04:09
All right. So your dog helped you rekindle with your now wife. I'm trying to get my wife to allow me to have a dog.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:04:17
A 10-year thing. Give me some--
GAYLE KING:
00:04:18
How many years have you been, Nate? It's been about six years. Yeah.
NATE BURLESON:
00:04:21
So what can I say? What can I do? Should I just come home with the dog? That works.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:04:27
Does it, though? Don't have me sleeping on the couch
ELIAS WEISS FREIDMAN:
00:04:30
Might be in the dog house.
GAYLE KING:
00:04:31
Yes.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:04:32
At least, you have a friend. Yeah. I would say, go visit a shelter. Go visit. And when you meet your dog, it's all different. And anyone can fall in love with a dog, even if they don't know that they're a dog person. You can be.
VLAD DUTHIERS:
00:04:43
But when you meet your dog. Exactly. You'll know it. Everyone's looking for their dog. Yeah. Yeah, that's what-- my boy George died a couple of years ago. He was a Jack Russell. 18 years I had him, but I actually went to talk to the breeder, and he came to me. And I had my eye on a different dog, and George came right over to me and bit his brother on the tail. And I'm like, that one. Yeah, he's your spirit dog. Yeah, he is. He is. I miss him so much. Elias Weiss Friedman, thank you very much. You can read more about the finalists in the World's Cutest Rescue Dog Contest at people.com. We will announce the winner right here on CBS Morningson October 19.
