Bringing a new dog home is always an adventure, filled with excitement and anticipation. But what happens when your new furry friend doesn’t fit into the family as smoothly as you hoped? I experienced this first-hand with our most recent adopted dog, Dozer. On paper, he was perfect—a friendly, easily handleable, and well-mannered dog without any major behavioral issues. But as we quickly learned, sometimes it takes more than good manners to make a new dog feel truly “at home.”
The Challenge of Fitting In
When we first brought Dozer home, he was everything we expected: friendly, affectionate, and eager to please. But, despite his great qualities, he struggled to fit into our family’s unique dynamics. My son didn’t warm to him right away, and it didn’t help that our son’s cat despised him! Dozer, being the lively, 130-pound dog that he is, was as enthusiastic about life as he was unaware of his size. He’d bulldoze his way through the house, sometimes literally bumping into us, and if you gave him attention, he’d insist on keeping it coming with nudges and pawing. For all his good traits, Dozer was still a lot to handle, and his energy was sometimes overwhelming.
Now, these may not sound like serious problems, but when you have household members (human and animal alike) who don’t get along, even small challenges can become draining. We worked on manners, we practiced training—everything you’d expect. But the strain of trying to make everything “click” was still there. So, we decided to try something a little different.
Turning to Gratitude
Instead of focusing solely on Dozer’s training and behaviors, we took a step back and decided to focus on gratitude. Together, we started a simple daily practice that made a big difference. My son and I began writing down small things we appreciated about Dozer each day. We kept gratitude journals, where we’d write down what Dozer was teaching us, the joy he brought, and the unique qualities that made him, well, Dozer.
Some days, it was as simple as writing, “I’m grateful for Dozer’s enthusiasm for life,” or “I love that he’s always so excited to see us.” Other days, we wrote about how his presence had brought a new level of patience to our family. Over time, this practice of gratitude began to shift how we saw him. My son stopped viewing Dozer as a nuisance and began seeing him as a joyful, essential part of our family.
The Power of Shifting Perspectives
This daily gratitude practice helped us all see Dozer in a new light. Instead of focusing on the things that weren’t going perfectly, we began to celebrate his quirks, his excitement, and his unwavering affection. My son stopped complaining about Dozer’s enthusiasm and started to laugh at it, recognizing it as part of Dozer’s charm. We all began to feel a deeper connection with him that no amount of training alone had been able to foster.
Of course, we continued working on Dozer’s manners and reinforcing training, but we realized that sometimes, it takes a little extra effort to connect. For us, that “extra” was gratitude, and it brought an incredible change in how we experienced life with Dozer.
Finding Your Own “Extra” in Dog Training
Training, manners, and structure are essential for any dog, especially when acclimating a new dog to your family. But sometimes, building a strong bond requires a new perspective or a simple shift in mindset. Whether it’s a gratitude journal or simply taking a few minutes each day to appreciate your dog’s quirks and joys, a gratitude practice can strengthen the bond you share and create a more positive experience for everyone involved.
Looking back, I’m so thankful we welcomed Dozer into our family. While it took some time for him to fit in, that journey taught us all something valuable about patience, perspective, and gratitude. If you’re finding that your new dog isn’t fitting in as smoothly as you hoped, try adding a little gratitude to your daily routine. It may just be the “extra” you need to create a truly happy, harmonious family.
And to Dozer—thank you for reminding us every day to be grateful for the simple joys, the big personalities, and the endless enthusiasm that dogs bring to our lives.