Not all heroes wear capes; some have pretty paws, like Oprah Winfrey‘s dogs!

The iconic host gave an insider look into her cordial relationships with her dogs and how they helped her navigate loneliness, find balance, and cherish every moment in life.

Oprah Winfrey has become quite open with so many aspects of her life, including managing her weight with the help of GLP-1s, which also contributed to her sobriety.

Oprah Winfrey’s First Dog Experience Revealed In New Mini Series

The iconic TV host teamed up with The Farmer’s Dog, a dog food company, for a new project, “Life is Better with Dogs,” which is streaming on her podcast YouTube channel.

Winfrey, whose love story with dogs began with a black cockapoo named Simone, recalled saving 25 cents every week to purchase him for $7.25.

Winfrey recalled fighting tooth and nail to bring Simone home while living with a single mother on welfare in an apartment in Milwaukee.

Noting that she was going through a rough patch at the time, Winfrey stated, “He was my refuge. Dogs have always been my friend in my life when everything else around me was falling apart. It was the dog that allowed me to hold on.”

Simone and Winfrey’s relationship ended when she went to live with her dad at the age of 14, and although the dog followed her, he had to sleep under the house. As noted by PEOPLE, she revealed that she would sit every night to spend time with the dog till he eventually died of mange a year later.

The Billionaire Shared Crucial Life Lessons Her Puppies Taught Her

Winfrey has opened her doors to 21 different puppies of various colors, sizes, and breeds over the past five decades. Throughout her journey with these furry friends, Winfrey has learned valuable lessons from each one.

She recalled when she lost her golden retriever in 2018, which deepened her spirituality and left her with the assurance that he would be there to greet her in the afterlife. Winfrey further gave kudos to her dog for helping her live well, be fully present, and live in the moment.

However, the experience has not all been smooth sailing, especially after she came close to losing her 17-year-old cocker spaniel, Sadie, late last year, but things turned around.

While the spaniel still struggles with kidney troubles and receives fluid injections, Winfrey stated that she has learned to embrace the aging process.

Oprah Winfrey Previously Opened Up About Losing Sophie 

In 2014, Huff Post shared that Winfrey reflected on the deep bond she shared with her dogs, affirming that their love remains the purest form of unconditional affection she had ever experienced.

She noted that the devotion she received from her furry friends felt closest to what she imagined God’s love would be like.

However, there is a special one cocker spaniel among her brood named Sophie, with whom she shared a very sentimental bond.

The media host stressed that Sophie was by her side constantly for 13 years, accompanying her to work every day, sitting backstage at major award shows, and even waiting nearby during personal appointments. 

As time continued, Sophie became a constant companion and usually struggled with separation anxiety whenever the media host stepped away.

Unfortunately, Sophie passed away in March 2008, leaving Winfrey heartbroken and, most importantly, aware of how much connection she had built with the pet. 

Winfrey consoled herself by admitting that while Sophie may be a little soul, she left a gigantic impact on her life, and it would take a while to experience such an unwavering devotion from any figure in her life.

Losing Gracie Left The 72-Year-Old With An Important Lesson About Slowing Down

Winfrey shared a painful experience in 2007 when she discovered she had lost her 2-year-old golden retriever named Gracie.

According to Today, Gracie choked to death on a plastic ball that belonged to Sophie, Winfrey’s 12-year-old cocker spaniel, while out with her dog walker and two other golden retrievers.

She recalled panicking and running out of the house to see her security guy and dog walker giving Gracie CPR, which unfortunately did little to bring her back to life. Gracie’s lifeless body was carted away on a golf cart, and from that experience, she learned a valuable lesson.

She revealed that she understood that life does not need to be relished at a fast pace, and insisted on slowing down to soak in every moment as if it were the only way to see the beauty in life.

In her words, “She never stopped moving. Was energy in motion. I have never seen a being, human or animal, always so full of joy. This dog lived every moment as though it were her last.”

Oprah Winfrey’s New Lease On Life Credited To Her Weight Loss Drug Usage

As 2025 wrapped up, The Blast shared that Winfrey embraced sobriety as one of the effects of getting on GLP-1s to help her lose a few pounds. The media queen confessed that prior to her encounter with the drug, she could outdrink everyone at her table.

She noticed that when she started using the drug, she needed to take more water to help control the side effect, and subsequently craved for less alcohol until she completely lost her appetite for it.

Winfrey revealed that she could go as far as down 17 shots of tequila in one night, but these days, she has not had a drink in a long time.

Weight loss also gave Winfrey’s relationship with food a Midas touch, alongside the realization that exercise has never been the enemy. These days, the TV star is exercising six days a week, doing two hours of hiking, cardio, or resistance training.

What will Oprah Winfrey reveal about her pups next?