Many pet owners are familiar with the early morning wake-up call from their dog needing to go outside, but few can say they return with a furry friend in tow. For Tracy, 46, from Washington, this has become a delightful routine, thanks to her neighbor’s dog, Dozer. report from Newsweek.
Tracy, a mother of two, owns two cats and a dog named Nelson. However, her household also frequently hosts Dozer, who has made it a habit to visit her home over the past three years. Dozer, who belongs to a neighbor, often walks about a third of a mile through the rural countryside to Tracy’s home, making himself comfortable once or twice a week.
“At first, he would just play outside with my kids and dog. Then he started sitting outside our door wanting to come in. So I started letting him in and giving him one treat,” Tracy told Newsweek.
The visits have now become a regular occurrence, with Dozer sometimes staying for just 10 minutes or choosing to spend the night, often taking a nap in one of her kids’ rooms. Tracy lets Dozer decide when he wants to stay or go, acknowledging that every visit is a surprise, as he shows up at any time of day or night, in all kinds of weather. told by Shafaqna.
One such surprise visit was captured on camera and went viral after Tracy shared it on Dozer’s dedicated TikTok account, @dozers.world1. The video, posted on September 7, shows Tracy’s dog Nelson caught on a doorbell camera as words on the screen read, “Nelson woke me up at 5:30 a.m. to go potty and guess who followed him home…”
@dozers.world1 Everyone was on farmers hours today 😴. #dozer #notmydog #visitor #hounddog #catdistributionsystem ♬ Bloody Mary Morning – Willie Nelson
As Tracy opens the door for Nelson, she is startled by Dozer, exclaiming, “Dozer, you scared me!” as he casually follows Nelson inside. Tracy later shared, “He scares me a lot and I love him so much. Dozer got his treat, a cuddle, and we went back to bed.”
Footage later shows Tracy’s home bustling with activity as Dozer enjoys breakfast with Nelson before heading back home, with Tracy bidding him farewell.
Tracy, who works as a governmental budget consultant, mentioned that Nelson and Dozer have been best friends since meeting three years ago. Both dogs share a calm temperament and similar size. Tracy believes Dozer is a mix of bloodhound and Redbone coonhound, approximately 10 years old. Dozer’s owners are aware of his frequent visits and TikTok fame. They don’t often communicate with Tracy but are supportive of Dozer’s lifestyle. They even covered the costs of life-saving tumor surgery for him last winter, despite Tracy offering to help.
“They love Dozer and he always goes back to their house. Even if I adopted Dozer, he wouldn’t stay. Roaming is in his blood, and he chooses his home(s),” she explained.
Redbone coonhounds are known for their affectionate nature and compatibility with families and young children, while bloodhounds are known to be docile yet determined when following a scent, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Dozer has captured the hearts of TikTok users, with comments pouring in like, “I wonder how many houses Dozer ‘owns’ in the neighborhood,” and “Dozer needs a GoPro on him to see his adventures!” Tracy admits she is “floored” by the enthusiastic following, calling it “a lot of pressure.”
“I often get messages asking when Dozer will be back to visit, and I never know the answer! There is an entire community out there waiting for his next surprise,” she said. Nonetheless, Tracy enjoys sharing Dozer’s fun personality and extraordinary life with the TikTok community.
