Not even 101 Dalmatians could compare to the cuteness of this one Dalmatian named Wiley who wears his heart on his nose, literally!
The adorable puppy, who recently celebrated his first birthday, is an Insta celebrity (@hi.wiley) with over 130,000 followers. It seems that no one can get enough of his adorable face with the most perfectly placed heart on his nose.
His owner is 26-year-old Lexi Smith, known as @yosoylexi on Instagram. Both live in Colorado, where they go on all types of adventures exploring the beautiful mountains and wide-open spaces that surround.
Wiley, from Oklahoma, was one of eleven puppies in his litter – eight of which were boys. While his heart-shaped nose made him stand out, that’s not the reason Lexi chose him. Instead, it was all matters of the heart, her heart that is.
“I had a tough choice in choosing him,” she said. “The heart was there, but not fully formed to the point where I believed it would stay since Dalmatian spots change so much as they grow.”
“I chose him because the breeder told me that all he did was sleep, snuggle, and eat, so we already had a lot in common,” she jokes.
As much as Wiley enjoys a good meal, he also loves going out for hikes and playing at their local dog parks.
“We are so lucky to live in Colorado and have the biggest most beautiful places to play in and explore. He loves hiking or going to one of the many massive dog parks here.”
Wiley is also passionate about car rides – what dog isn’t!? He likes sitting in the front passenger seat where he can see everything. Lexi calls him her “true copilot.”
If you tire him out enough, he becomes very sleepy and very very cuddly. Okay, who else is dying for a chance to cuddle this cutie?!
As adorable as these pictures are, “No amount of pictures could ever fully capture all that he is and all that he means to me, he’s my best friend.”
At 54 pounds and growing, Wiley is “goofy, clumsy, sassy, hungry, cuddle, curious, wild, crazy, silly, happy…”
Lexi is no stranger to owning and loving dogs, but she claims Wiley has a bigger personality than any other dog she’s ever met.
But it’s not all giggles, barks, and “good boys.” Like most Dalmatians, Wiley has a stubborn side.
“Wiley’s truest Dalmatian traits are constantly making me laugh. Usually, it’s a giggle paired with shaking my head, laughing off total frustration from his stubbornness, but that’s part of owning the breed,” Lexi was quoted saying on Bored Panda.
“If you can’t laugh it off and be creative in finding a solution and training the naughty traits out of them, life with a Dalmatian would be such a challenge.”
The stubbornness doesn’t get Lexi down, in fact, she says she wouldn’t trade it for the world. Overall, she feels incredibly blessed to have him because he is a good dog, most of the time.
“He has the best heart, and I’m not talking about the one on his nose,” she shares. “He loves everyone he meets and is always so excited to make new friends.”
Despite some frustrating moments here and there, Wiley has been relatively easy to train and makes the “best little adventure partner.”
Wiley wants all the attention – and he gets it more than from Lexi and her family. In fact, the barking Instagram celebrity has amassed such a following that people now recognize him out on the street.
Even people who do not know the famous heart-shaped spot on his nose will stop Lexi to comment on how adorable he is. Many people are surprised to see a Dalmatian.
“’I haven’t seen a Dalmatian in so long,’ or ‘I’ve never seen a Dalmatian in person,’ are the most repeated comments I hear when I am out and about with Wiley.”
“He requires so much attention and he’s basically attached to my hip, but that’s what I love about him.”
Lexi has always been a fan of photography and Wiley makes the perfect model. She started his Instagram account as a way to document his life, never expecting to gain so many new friends and followers along the way.
“When the account first started growing I remember thinking ‘Wow, what if he hits 5,000 followers!’ I never in a million years could have imagined it would be what it is now. And it’s STILL GROWING. I am constantly amazed, shocked, but mostly so grateful. It has been a fun little adventure, that’s for sure.”