Pittsburgh Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster used to be afraid of dogs. Then he met Boujee.
Redeem now - When JuJu Smith-Schuster moved to Pittsburgh to play for the Steelers in 2017, he decided to buy a French bulldog. Now they're inseparable.
- Smith-Schuster told ESPN that he used to be afraid of dogs, but his French bulldog, Boujee, has changed his life.
- Boujee, named after the Migos' song "Bad and Boujee," is a service dog and provides emotional support for Schuster-Smith.
- The pooch has his own Instagram account, where he has more than 230,000 followers.
- Boujee is a very good dog.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was afraid of dogs for years.
It all started when he had a bad experience with a Chihuahua when he was 10 or 11. Smith-Schuster, now 22, was walking into a summer school class in his hometown of Long Beach, California, when a Chihuahua chased him "all the way into the classroom," according a profile for ESPN published ahead of Thursday's game against the Cleveland Browns, which Smith-Schuster exited early due to a concussion.
His anxiety around dogs faded over time, and when he moved to Pittsburgh to play for the Steelers in 2017, he decided to get one for himself: a $6,000 blue French bulldog he named Boujee. Two years later, Smith-Schuster says that Boujee has changed his life.
"Getting a dog was a new step to my life," Smith-Schuster told ESPN, adding that Boujee added another level of responsibility into his life. He now has to make sure Boujee is healthy, fed, and exercised every day.
Boujee, named after the Migos' song "Bad and Boujee," is now Smith-Schuster's best friend.
Good Luck Dad! Itβs gonna be a Litty year π₯π€πΎ
Selfie Game Strong πͺπΎπ€³πΎ
Boujee even has his own Instagram account, where he has more than 230,000 followers. Photos show Boujee's daily adventures, including playing in the park, going to In-N-Out with Smith-Schuster, and celebrating birthdays.
@portia_from_pittsburgh with bae π#happynationaldogday
Birthday Party was so Litty π₯π
πΏπππππ π±πππππ + πΉππΉπ = π πΆ
"With [Boujee's] page, I kind of put it in his perspective, like, OK, I'm Boujee," Smith-Schuster said. "I talk as Boujee. A lot of dogs will hit up Boujee to hang out and play. ... Frenchies have their own personalities. Moreso, on his Instagram, Boujee is Boujee."
Because of his busy NFL schedule, Smith-Schuster gets help caring for Boujee from a friend who owns another French bulldog often featured on Boujee's account, a dog trainer, and the doggy daycare company Dogtopia.
"He's considered a service dog," Smith-Schuster said of Boujee. "I don't know what kind of service he does for me. I guess emotional support. That's what I say."
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