Living the Dream—With Fur and Four Paws
Toco, as he is known online, has gone to impressive lengths (and considerable expense) to truly “live his dream.” He commissioned a custom-made collie dog costume, all to fulfill his lifelong wish of becoming, well, a dog. Instead of keeping this unusual hobby to himself, he decided to share it with the world—posting videos where he struts through the street in his furry ensemble, interacting with curious passersby and their even more inquisitive dogs.
Within just ten days, one of his YouTube videos—where he takes to the streets as a dog for the very first time—garnered more than 3.8 million views. The video captures both the delight and the skepticism of those he encounters. While the human passersby are amused, the real dogs seem a bit wary, clearly sniffing out that something’s not quite dog-standard.
Who Is Toco? A Man, a Collie, a Viral Phenomenon
Toco is the name he uses on Twitter—and that’s all anyone knows about his true identity. The “man-dog,” as he might be called, is so devoted to his passion that he has dedicated an entire YouTube channel to documenting his escapades. His channel name leaves little room for confusion: “I want to be an animal.” In the description of his videos, he introduces himself:
“My name is Toco, I wanted to be an animal and I became a collie. This time, I can finally fulfill a dream I’ve had since I was a small child: to transform into a dog and go outside for a walk!”
His commitment has earned him more than 38,000 subscribers.
In the very first video he posted, Toco shares,
“I remember writing in my elementary school graduation book that I wanted to be a dog and go outside for walks.”
He chose a collie specifically because the size difference between that breed and the average adult human, he explains, is “negligible”—making it a realistic choice for his transformative ambitions.
The High Price of Pursuing an Unusual Dream
Of course, no dream comes without its price tag. For Toco, his custom collie suit took forty days to produce and cost a substantial 2 million yen—about €12,700 (just over $14,000). The costume was crafted by Zeppet, a Japanese company more accustomed to making costumes for television productions. As a company spokesperson told news.com.au,
“Modeled after a collie, it replicates the appearance of a real dog walking on all fours.”
The Man Behind the Fur: Guarding His Secret
Despite his internet fame (or perhaps because of it), Toco is determined to keep his real identity under wraps. As he told the Daily Mail:
“I don’t want my hobbies to be known—especially by my colleagues at work.”
It’s an unusual pastime, to say the least, and he knows it.
“People think it’s weird to want to be a dog. That’s why I can’t show my face,”
he continued. He rarely mentions his hobby to friends, as he worries they’d find him odd. But word eventually gets out:
“My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn that I had become an animal,”
he admits.
From viral curiosity to dedicated lifestyle, Toco’s story is proof that living your dream sometimes means daring to do what nobody else would even imagine—especially if it involves becoming the world’s most famous collie on YouTube.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
