Short Answer
Atlas and Kaia are Alex Mayer’s Alaskan Malamutes, and in Rochester MN they’re local celebrities in their own right, recognized from billboards, buses, bar coasters, and radio ads before people ever meet Alex himself. None of it started as a marketing plan. It started with a dog named Ayla, and the story of how Rochester got “the realtor with the dogs” begins with her.
Where It Started: Ayla
A Rescue at Nine Weeks Old
Alex rescued Ayla at nine weeks old, a year before he started his real estate career. Alaskan Malamutes are often mistaken for huskies, but they run larger, are more dependent on their owners, and tend to have a calmer temperament.
From Dog Fur to the Business Card
Malamutes shed constantly, and Alex used to joke that showing up to listing appointments covered in dog fur was part of working with him. Clients started asking to meet her, then she began coming to closings, and eventually Alex put her on his business card and in his videos. “You could take everything, but if you left me the dog and gave me six weeks, I would figure it out,” he says.
The Diagnosis and the Road West
In 2021, Ayla was diagnosed with an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma, with a prognosis that could have been as short as two months. Alex arranged coverage for his business, packed the Jeep, and drove west with no real plan, a trip that eventually reached the Pacific Coast.
Recovery, and Fifteen More Months
When they returned home, the decision was made to amputate Ayla’s front right leg. She recovered and lived another fifteen months, long enough to be part of a local celebrity charity dance event choreographed around her life, and to see Alex win Best Real Estate Agent in Rochester MN for the first time.
Losing Ayla
Ayla passed in November 2022, not quite eight years old, after the cancer returned and spread to her lungs. Alex still wears her dog tag as a necklace, and says people bring her up to him nearly every week.
Atlas, “The Little Titan”
Atlas came into the picture about a year before Ayla passed, picked up as a 16-pound puppy on a road trip east, only weeks before her amputation. Today he weighs 131 pounds, and Alex says he grew into his name.
Black, Lazy, and Fully Dependent on Dad
Atlas is black, famously lazy, and thoroughly dependent on Alex for everything, which is a big part of how he earned the nickname “The Little Titan.” He grew up alongside Ayla for a year before she passed.
Grieving Alongside Alex
When Ayla passed, Atlas stopped eating and lost about fifteen pounds over five weeks. The next month, Alex took him on the same westward road trip he’d taken with Ayla the year before, retracing the route to spread her ashes at the Pacific Coast.
Kaia, the One Who Came Home From That Trip
Kaia came home with Alex on the return leg of that memorial road trip west. At around 80 pounds, she’s smaller than Atlas, but Alex describes her as the smartest dog he’s ever owned.
The Wheels Are Always Turning
“The wheels are always turning with Kaia,” Alex says, and it shows in her eyes as much as her behavior. That intelligence comes with its own set of problems, which Alex says with real affection, not complaint.
Not Only Dogs at Home
Alex’s household includes two cats as well, Rylo and Vee. Vee is an F3 Savannah, a breed known for the bold, exotic-looking markings that come from a wild ancestor a few generations back.
Two Different Worlds Under One Roof
The cats keep a lower profile than Atlas and Kaia in Alex’s public marketing, but they’re part of daily life at home all the same.
The Realtor With the Dogs
Local Celebrities Before They Ever Meet Him
Atlas and Kaia now appear on billboards, city buses, bar coasters, gym screens, his car, and three local radio stations, where each dog has a voice actor. Alex says sellers frequently recognize the dogs before they recognize him, having already seen them around town.
Not an Engineered Brand
None of it started as a marketing plan, it grew out of Ayla being a real, constant part of his life and work long before anyone thought to put her on a billboard. Some sellers now request that Atlas and Kaia attend listing appointments, and Alex brings them to Rochester Fest, Thursdays on First, and other local events throughout the year.
What Dogs Taught Him About Real Estate
Alex draws a direct line between owning dogs and handling a real estate transaction. “Dog owners understand that things will go wrong and the only option is to handle it and move forward. Real estate works the same way. Things don’t always go perfectly. Problems come up. Sometimes the dog pukes on the carpet. The important thing is you take action and handle it. You don’t freeze.”
Rochester’s Celebrity Dogs Today
Atlas and Kaia are the face of the brand today, and Alex sometimes jokes that they’re the heads of his marketing department. But he’s clear about where it all started. “Atlas and Kaia are the face of the brand today, but Ayla was my soul dog and was the start of it all,” he says.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Breed Are Alex Mayer’s Dogs?
Atlas and Kaia are Alaskan Malamutes, a breed often mistaken for huskies but typically larger, more owner-dependent, and calmer in temperament.
How Big Is Atlas?
Atlas currently weighs around 131 pounds, up from the 16-pound puppy Alex picked up on a road trip east in 2021.
Who Is Ayla?
Ayla was Alex Mayer’s first Alaskan Malamute and the original inspiration behind his dog-focused brand. She passed away in November 2022 after a battle with cancer, and Alex still wears her dog tag as a necklace.
Will I Meet Atlas and Kaia if I Work With Alex Mayer?
It’s possible, especially at listing appointments, closings, or local events like Rochester Fest and Thursdays on First. Some sellers specifically request that the dogs attend their listing appointment.
About Alex Mayer
Alex Mayer is a full-time Rochester MN real estate agent, a 4X winner of Best Real Estate Agent in Rochester MN with 350+ five-star reviews. His core values are Education, Communication, and Responsiveness, which guide every part of his business. He has a “Direct Representation Model,” meaning his clients work directly with him, not a large team with junior agent handoffs. His promise: you’ll know what to expect, how to operate, and what needs to be done to be successful in the Rochester MN real estate market. He specializes in first-time homebuyers, Mayo Clinic and other relocating buyers, and Rochester MN sellers, including move-up, downsizing, and estate sales. Alex is also known for his Alaskan Malamute dogs, Atlas and Kaia, who are featured in much of his local branding.