Pictured: Dynamic duo Archie (left) and Teddy. Courtesy Johnathan Lower. Courtesy: Johnathan Lower.
By Sunni Battin
Wagging tail, zoomies, yipping excitedly: Dogs have an uncanny ability to refresh and restore those around them. Teddy, a golden retriever, and Archie, a mixed breed which consists of poodle, pitbull, shi tzu, and a treeing walker coonhound, take it a step further. Their end game is spreading delight to millions through social media, often mischievously and comically, but always joyfully.
“It’s amazing the amount of people we have reached and that our videos bring smiles to millions of faces. This world has become a sad and sometimes scary place and we feel our job is to continue to be a light in the darkness,” said Johnathan Lower, Teddy’s owner.
But the fame and enormous following was not deliberate. It all started during the pandemic’s early days when Johnathan, a Piedmont, SC native posted a video of turning a storage space in his home into a custom-built doghouse that only canines can dream of. Some of its amenities include a fireplace and TV. With that post, Teddy and Johnathan instantly became a success story with a constantly growing following. The videos usually involve antics of some sort with Teddy being on the verge of arrest, trying online dating, or running up Jonathan’s credit card.
The amusing behavior continued to be a big hit and not long after, Katelyn, Johnathan’s then-girlfriend and her dog Archie, adopted as a puppy, entered the picture adding a new dynamic. Teddy was adopted by Johnathan in 2019. The foursome officially became a blended family in April when Katelyn and Jonathan married after about a year of dating.
Over time, occasional guest appearances by Archie in Teddy’s videos only increased the demand for more. Soon enough, Archie and Teddy were either teaming up against Johnathan or finding ways to outsmart each other. Their off-the-charts chemistry became must-see magic for their followers. Offscreen, the dynamic duo are buds. Archie is a bit older and is a snuggler and more affectionate while Teddy wants to be closer and “at your feet.”
“Teddy loves to play. All the time he has a toy in his mouth and he's kind of nudging Archie with his nose trying to get Archie to play. They've never fought and they've never had any ill will towards each other. They snuggle up together sometimes and they coexist very peacefully. They're both good dogs,” Johnathan said.
Some of their most popular sketches range from Teddy and Archie competing for Johnathan’s affection to using the printer to produce counterfeit money. Oftentimes, Teddy is the mastermind as he schools pups on using a laptop, destroying toys, pranking parents, and throwing a party as well as teaching Archie how to DoorDash an insane number of hotdogs.
“Archie has helped Teddy have a sidekick now but also adds a layer of being able to make typical brother content," Johnathan said. "They love each other then they hate each other. I implemented some of the same personality into the perception of Archie that I did with Teddy so it works great and fans love the dynamic."
All good humor aside, with their 4 million Instagram and 8 million TikTok followers, Johnathan and Katelyn also want to raise awareness about pet adoption. Every other week, they take a dog staying at a shelter out for the day, called Shelter Dog Saturday, video it, and post it on social media. So far, all the dogs have been adopted shortly after the videos post.
“Shelter Dog Saturday means the world to me, as it not only saves lives but also helps break negative perceptions of shelter pets, a mission I've been dedicated to since childhood,” Katelyn said. Johnathan adds that “we do everything a dog would love to do” including eating a chicken taco, a walk through the park, and getting toys and leashes.
“We take them to a dog bakery and we get them dog treats and we pamper them for the day and let their personality come out," he said. "We've been able to get some attention to these shelters that are overcrowded and don't have any space left. It’s a good feeling for us to know that some of our platform is being used to help dogs."
Teddy and Archie are also making a difference, according to Johnathan. He says they get messages from kids that have cancer or other illnesses nearly every day. Teddy’s videos help them laugh amid their pain. One mother who had lost her son even shared how Teddy was a major highlight in his life.
“Her son died after a long battle with a disease,” Johnathan explained “but she said Teddy’s videos were a bright spot in a hard life.”
Additionally, Johnathan notes that Teddy’s videos have also helped people process the grief of a loved one or a beloved pet. Adding that daily dose of comfort and positivity to millions worldwide and helping other dogs find homes has been rewarding, fun, and thrilling. In the end, Johnathan says it’s all about the golden rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
“Every like, every view, every comment is a person and a soul," Johnathan said. "It’s a person who is possibly struggling with sadness, loss, sickness, or even putting food on the table for their family. If our videos can bring a smile, even for a few seconds, then we have made a difference in someone’s life and that’s what we will continue to do."
For more of Teddy and Archie:
Instagram: Aguyandagoldenn
TikTok: Aguyandagolden
Add comment
Comments