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Home Dozer

Dozer turns 13!

By:Nagi
Published:16 May '25Updated:16 May '25
765 Comments
Dozer v

Celebrating 13 years of Dozer – that’s 79 human years! Join me for a little trip down memory lane to see what my big, dopey, loveable fur ball has been up to this past year. If I’m still this active, adored and obsessed with snacks at his age, I’ll consider myself lucky!

Ahhh Dozer! What a year you’ve had. I want to say it was unlike any other – but honestly, I feel like every year is extraordinary! Not exactly heroic-dog extraordinary (eg. sniffing out survivors or tracking missing people in forests), but your talents lie in……shall we say, other areas we’ve come to value?😂

Let’s take a look at Dozer’s Best Of from the past 12 months!

Life of Dozer

Dozer’s comeback!

I didn’t do a birthday post for Dozer’s 12th birthday because he was recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with bi-lateral laryngeal paralysis which was inhibiting his ability to breath. He had a rough recovery, and I can’t lie, there was a time when I wasn’t sure he’d pull through. But he did!! Back on the beach with his friends, with a smile and even a few leaps and bounds! ☺️

Dozer in ICU at SASH
Early March 2024
3 months later

I’ll always treasure that photo above, the first day I took him back to the beach 3 months after his operation, bundled up in a heavy duty life jacket for safety. He was so happy!

plAYSCHOOL!

This one’s going straight to the top of the highlights list because – PLAYSCHOOL!!! Truly, no greater honour.

His brief?

✅ Waddle on set and look cute – nailed it.
❌ Look at camera. Fail! His eyes were laser-locked on the food the entire time. 😂

Dozer Play School 2024

PHOTOSHOOTS, PHOTOSHOOTS!

With Dozer featured so heavily in my second cookbook Tonight, there were so many photo shoots, and so many locations! At the office, home, photography studio, at the dog beach. I wanted to capture him at all the places he frequents in his life. What a natural he is in front of the camera these days!

Dozer on cookbook photo shoots-1
Photographer: Rob Palmer, Dozer’s favourite
Dozer-Bayview-Rob-Palmer-shoot-May-2025-2
Rob also happens to be an award winning photographer 🙂

And of course, the common theme – so much food. So, so much food! What torture it must be for him, as we take shot after shot after shot. 😂

And my favourite photo:

Which ended up on the cover of my favourite magazine……

COVER BOY!

The Big Issue is a social enterprise magazine that is sold by disadvantaged people in CBD areas of Australia, providing them with a means to earn an income and rebuild their lives. Of all the interviews that we did in the 12 months (and by “we”, I refer to my whole team as well as Dozer and I!), this is the one that won our hearts. (OK FINE! Dozer splashed on the cover may have helped 😂).

BOOK LAUNCH AND TOUR!

Launching a book is fun. Launching it with Dozer by my side is even MORE fun!!

Nagi and Dozer Dymocks book release day

Who wants to talk to me when they can pat Dozer??🥰

And when the book tour went interstate so I couldn’t take the real thing with me, we took the 2D version instead!

Nagi Dozer cutout Adelaide

READER EVENTS

One of the most wonderful parts of making a cookbook is that you get to meet in real life. Something I never imagined having the opportunity to do 4 years ago before I made my first book.

These days, meeting readers is something that we try to make a regular thing – because both my team and I enjoy it so much!! And of course, for Sydney events, Dozer is the biggest drawcard. Here he is, stealing all the attention at two of the reader events we held last year – a dinner at Boronia Kitchen (my local!):

Boronia Kitchen Reader dinner Dozer
Reader dinner at Boronia Kitchen (my local!)

And more recently at a stunning long lunch at the Roundhouse Restaurant in the Crystalbrook Kingsley Hotel as part of the annual Newcastle Good Food Month celebrations.

At the beautiful Roundhouse Restaurant in Newcastle
Reader lunch at Roundhouse restaurant in Newcastle

fundraiser for sophie’s legacy

Of all the events we did though, the most special would have to be a fundraiser we did for Sophie’s Legacy. This is a charity set up by the parents of a young vet who took her own life, which has a goal of reducing the suicide rates in the profession. A horrifying statistic: suicide rates among veterinarians is 4x the national average.

Dozer-SASH-Sophie's-Legacy-photos-7

Dozer and I hosted a fundraiser at our local Small Animal Special Hospital (in Ryde) where we raised money for Sophie’s Legacy. It was a small gesture to give back to the people who saved Dozer’s life a year ago.

It also made me aware that every time I go to the vet, it’s usually because Dozer is not well. So I’m worried and upset, and do I really remember to thank the vets and staff properly? Take a moment to drop a note of thanks to your veterinarian – drop an email, letter or card – for looking after our pets so well. You can’t begin to imagine how much it will mean to them. ❤️

plastered all over rtm!

And a big moment for Dozer in the past year – when we plastered a life size sticker of him on the window of RecipeTin Meals!! A nice reminder in case there was any uncertainty of who’s REALLY the boss around here…..😂

Nagi Dozer RTM signage

Dozer will be our poster boy for RTM, always. Forever. As long as RTM is associated with me, I will never let that change.

Taste testing duties

From the moment I started my website 11 years ago, Dozer proudly appointed himself Chief Taste Tester – and what a stellar job he’s done in that important role! Crowned Employee of the Month nearly every month, he’s praised for his unwavering commitment, enthusiasm with which he undertakes his duties and lightning-fast response time whenever anything edible emerges from the fridge, oven, or pantry (the garden, however, remains suspiciously beneath him 🤔).

Dozer-employee-of-the-month

These days, due to his medical condition, he is unable to eat flaky and crumbly things like croissants, biscuits and cakes (due to the risk of inhaling into his lungs). But, ever the dedicated professional, he still insists on doing his part. If he can’t taste the cake, he’ll happily sample the custard. Just dip cabanossi in it! Mmmm, meat and custard….

DOZER’S 13TH BIRTHDAY!

And here he is, on his 13th birthday at his second favourite place on earth – Bayview dog beach!

Looking through Dozer’s birthday photos, I realised it’s less a celebration for him and more for me – because let’s be honest, does he look thrilled in his party get-up this year? Absolutely not. 😂 He spent much of the time howling in protest!

Dozer 13th birthday at Bayview 2025-5

Everybody knows I did it for myself, not him – a bit of celebration, but mostly for amusement. Watching him swim around Bayview with shiny foil trailing behind him and his little party hat bobbing around on this back… priceless! 🤣

Though actually, when I took his lifejacket off and saw how much water the foil was holding, I felt a bit bad, thinking of the drag it must’ve created as he was swimming!

In a nutshell…

Life for Dozer is as great as I could hope for it to be. I feel fortunate that he is still with me and most importantly, happy, comfortable and an appetite as ferocious as ever.

Honestly, the most stressful part of his life is still toy laundry day. I reckon that’s a pretty great position to be!

Dozer-toy-washing-day-August-2024-1

Happy birthday Dozer!

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY DOZER! Thank you for all the happiness and laughter you bring into my life. I feel so fortunate that you are still with me, and still in good form despite some bumps along the way and some creaky hinges.

I love you with all my heart, and I will treasure every day I have left with you, and look after you as best I can to make you as happy as you make me. ~ Nagi x

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765 Comments

  1. Jana Gale Connell says

    June 1, 2025 at 7:19 am

    I’m not sure I won’t make a ton of typos because tears are pouring down my face as read this entire post. Happy Birthday Handsome Dozer!! 🥳🎂🐕🦮🎉🎁.
    He’s still there with you due to your excellent nursing skills Nagi, and your undying devotion and love. Those three make miracles happen. Biggest hugs to you both.
    Woohoo 13!!! 🥰🌹🌸🌺🪻🌻

    Reply
  2. Sonia says

    May 26, 2025 at 10:02 am

    Happy Birthday Dozer!!!! Your mum loves you so much and so do we! Sending you hugs. Xx

    Reply
  3. Nick says

    May 23, 2025 at 7:18 pm

    Happy Belated Birthday Wishes Dozer! Yep us Tauruses are a stubborn bunch…we just keep going hahaha! And it gladdens my heart so to see you going strong on your 13th birthday! 😊🥰🥰🥰

    Reply
  4. Charlene says

    May 23, 2025 at 3:51 pm

    Happy birthday Dozer!
    Angels have 4 legs 🐕

    Reply
  5. Debra-Lynne Jensen says

    May 23, 2025 at 4:03 am

    Love how you Love him Nagi ❤️🥰
    Happy BeLated Dozer 🎉 🎂 🥳💕❣️

    Reply
  6. Maria says

    May 22, 2025 at 9:01 pm

    Congratulations Dozer, you luckiest boy. Take care of you and your dog-mon. Hugs

    Reply
  7. Paul Perkins says

    May 22, 2025 at 7:33 pm

    Happy Birthday Dozer, have great day, love from Paul & Diane,

    St Athan, South Wales, UK

    Reply
  8. Susan Morris says

    May 22, 2025 at 4:14 pm

    What a wonderful read. Dozer is amazing ,he’s got amazing life. Happy 13th birthday Dozer 🎂.

    Reply
  9. Wendy says

    May 21, 2025 at 10:25 pm

    Happy Birthday, sweet boy!!! Love and many Hugs!!! 🤗❣️🤗❣️🤗❣️

    Reply
  10. Judd says

    May 21, 2025 at 8:14 pm

    I knew this would tug my heartstrings (especially since Dozer is the splitting image of my boofhead I grew up with) but I didn’t expect it to make my eyes so wet with happy!
    HBD Dozer, you and your Nagi are BEAUTIFUL.

    Reply
  11. Wesley Bielinski says

    May 21, 2025 at 2:33 pm

    HEAR! HEAR! We don’t deserve dogs!

    Reply
  12. Veronique says

    May 21, 2025 at 10:14 am

    Dozer is such a wonderful sidekick to your gorgeousness.
    May he stay healthy and hungry for a long time to come xx

    Reply
  13. Nadia McIlveen says

    May 21, 2025 at 8:49 am

    Hope your birthday was the awesomest ever !!
    Cheers Nads

    Reply
  14. Fran says

    May 21, 2025 at 7:41 am

    Dozer!!! Happy belated birthday!!! My cat Molly just turned 16 years old on May 19th.

    Reply
  15. Lucy says

    May 21, 2025 at 7:34 am

    Happy Birthday to beautiful Dozer, you looked after him well Nagi, you are a beautiful human ❤️

    Reply
  16. Gina Watt says

    May 21, 2025 at 6:19 am

    Happy Birthday Dozer. And I hope you have many more.
    Thanks Nagi for sharing all his trials, tribulations and good times with us. Always read Dozer first then the recipe. Sorry not sorry!

    Reply
  17. redonia moore says

    May 21, 2025 at 6:06 am

    Happy Birthday Dozer, and many more! i must say he is blessed to have a mom who loves him dearly. Thank you for sharing him with us.

    Reply
  18. Robin says

    May 21, 2025 at 5:34 am

    Happy Birthday, Dozer! I hope you have many more! 🙂

    Thank you, Nagi for sharing your wonderful doggie with us!

    Reply
  19. Cathy says

    May 21, 2025 at 3:59 am

    Happy 13th Birthday Dozer! Wishing you and your amazing mom another year of fun, treats and happy memories! Thank you Nagi for these, happy Dozer posts! We all need something to smile about!

    Reply
  20. Naomi says

    May 21, 2025 at 3:41 am

    Happy Birthday Dozer and to the best mom ever! I had tears and smiles reading this post! To many many more years of togetherness!

    Reply
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