Security Cam Catches Dog Returning at 5:30 a.m. With an Unexpected Visitor

Many pet owners will relate to their dog waking them at an ungodly hour to go outside, but not many return with a friend in tow.

But that’s exactly what happened to Tracy, 46, from Washington—and it’s been a very regular occurrence.

The mother of two is the proud owner of two cats, and dog Nelson, but also has a regular visitor to her home in the form of her neighbor’s dog, Dozer, who has amassed a huge online following for simply showing up and making himself at home.

For the past three years, Dozer has walked about a third of a mile through the rural countryside to visit Tracy’s home, often appearing 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,” she told Newsweek.

The routine has “stuck,” and while sometimes he will only visit for 10 minutes, other times he decides to spend the night or take a long nap in one of her kids’ rooms.

“I let him decide when he wants to stay or go because he is not my dog,” she said, adding that every visit is a “surprise,” and he can show up at any time of day or night and in any weather.

One surprise visit was caught on camera, and went viral as Tracy shared it to her dedicated Dozer TikTok account, @dozers.world1. Posted on September 7, the video has already racked up close to 60,000 likes.

It first shows Tracy’s dog, Nelson, caught on a doorbell camera outside, as words on the screen announce: “Nelson woke me up at 5:30 a.m. to go potty and guess who followed him home…”

As Tracy opens the door and lets Nelson inside, she then lets out a shocked cry, and declares “Dozer, you scared me!”, as he wanders up the front steps and follows Nelson into the house.

“He scares me a lot and I love him so much,” she wrote. “Dozer got his treat, a cuddle and we went back to bed.”

The doorbell footage then changes to regular phone camera footage of a few hours later, when the house has properly woken up. And after feeding both dogs a “healthy breakfast,” Dozer asks to be let outside—and heads off home, as Tracy wishes him farewell.

Governmental budget consultant Tracy, who gave her first name only, said Nelson and Dozer have been “best friends” since they met three years ago, and have “have same calm temperament and size.”

Guessing the “part-time” family member is a bloodhound and Redbone coonhound mix of around 10 years old, she said his owners are aware of his regular visits and TikTok page. And while they don’t often communicate, Tracy is aware that Dozer became part of his owners’ family when he roamed onto their property some years ago.

“They love Dozer and paid for lifesaving tumor surgery last winter, despite me offering to help,” she explained. “Dozer 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).”

Redbone coonhounds are known to be very affectionate with family and good with young children, and described as even-tempered and mellow, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Bloodhounds, meanwhile, enjoy the company of other dogs and children, and while docile-natured, can be relentless when on the trail of a scent.

TikTok users fell head-over-heels for Dozer, with one commenter joking: “I wonder how many houses Dozer ‘owns’ in the neighborhood.”

“I like how animals just come to you and then go about their business. All at their own pace,” another said.

And as one suggested: “Dozer needs a go-pro on him to see his adventures!”

Tracy told Newsweek she is “floored” by the huge following on her TikTok account for Dozer, admitting “it’s 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.”

But, at the same time, “Dozer has such a fun personality and extraordinary life that I enjoy sharing him with the TikTok community.”

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.