How Dexter the Dog walked — on 2 legs — into social media stardom

Social media platforms — the places where some go to become famous simply for being famous — don’t always bring out the best in people.

It took a dog to do that.

Meet social media sensation Dexter the Dog, who has amassed over 1.7 million followers across Instagram, Facebook, Tik-Tok and YouTube.

Six years ago, when the “extremely exuberant” Brittany Spaniel Dexter was still a puppy, he escaped his yard in the idyllic mountain town of Ouray, Colorado, and tragedy struck.

“He ran right in front of a moving van,” according to his owner Trentee Pasek, speaking at an appearance at The Super Pet Expo in Edison.

The accident wasn’t fatal, but Dexter lost one front leg and had little use of the other. The calamity couldn’t take away Dexter’s spirit, though. He remained active and engaged.

One day, when Pasek and Dexter were hanging out on the front porch steps, Pasek went inside for a moment and when she came back out, she noticed Dexter was now laying at the top of the steps, not the bottom where she had left him.

Using her phone to record video, it became apparent that Dexter had zoomed up the stairs on two legs.

The whole internet phenomenon happened during the pandemic, which left Pasek out of work.

“I had nothing else to do, so we started doing Tik-Toks” she said, pointing to help from her daughter.

Dexter, now 7, has over 1.7 million followers across Instagram, Facebook, Tik-Tok and YouTube.

In an online space where storms and clouds of negativity get clicks, Dexter’s world has no room for shade — because he’s only spreading sunshine, and people are responding.

“I think his story is so important to all of us,’” says Pasek. “It really shows us that we can do anything that we really want to do.”

Dexter has an agent and a book is in the works, although they haven’t yet found a publisher.

And when she’s not busy in her new role as a social media influencer in the pet world, shooting, editing and posting pictures and video, Pasek also travels around with her mom, Pam Larson, and Dexter to tell his story in person.

“We have these expectations that life is so full of ‘we should’, ‘we could’” Pasek said. “Yet here’s Dexter doing what he absolutely loves. He’s living his best life.

“I think we really should, too. We need to start taking the time that we have here and really do something great with it.”

The Super Pet Expo continues through Sunday, January 8 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison with a stated mission of education, shopping and entertainment, and reappears in Chantilly, VA on March 17-19, 2023.

The show features, dogs, cats and exotic pets.

One-day tickets are $15 per adult, $10 for children 4-11 and “friendly and leashed pets” admitted free. Retractable leashes are not permitted.

There are 132 vendors on this year’s exhibitor’s list and scheduled events include The Doggie Derby, for Dachshund, Corgi & Small Dog, Demos by Bone-A-Fied Talent Group, Dog Agility Shows, even Dog Comedy Shows.

Cat lovers will enjoy Meeting the TICA Breeds, hosted by United Cat Club The International Cat Association (TICA) and for feline fashionistas, there’s a Celebrity Cat Walk.

It’s not all cats and dogs, either. There are six Repticon exhibitors bringing lizards, snakes and exotic pets from the top breeders and educators to cities throughout the country.

And for pet owners who may think they may have the next Dexter the Dog on their hands, there’s a presentation called How To Get Your Pet Into Show Business, by Dawn Wolfe, who has made a name in the Hollywood industry as the “trainer of the pet stars.”

See more photos of Dexter and the Super Pet Expo by clicking the gallery below:

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Michael Mancuso may be reached at [email protected]