I first laid eyes on Hamilton two years ago when he was a wobbly, four-week-old puppy. He was my friend’s foster at the time, covered in chocolate cow spots with baby blue eyes. I was not looking to adopt a dog, but something told me, "He's supposed to be yours." So I filled out the paperwork through Austin Pets Alive!, the rescue that saved his life. A month later, Ham came home.

Our first year together was as exhausting as it was fun. It was full of boundless energy, puppy playdates, zoomies, training, and social events. Hamilton soon surpassed his predicted adult weight of thirty-five pounds, and ended up at a whopping seventy-five pounds. Our DNA results told us he was mostly Catahoula and hound, and he embodies both of those breeds quite well—stubborn but sweet, with a need and love for mental work.

For that first year, Hamilton never met a stranger. I had "therapy dog" in mind for his future, and I couldn't wait to share the sweet boy I knew and loved with the world. But sometimes, life has other ideas. Shortly after his first birthday, Hamilton started to fear things he'd never feared. New people scared him, and sudden noises made him tuck his tail. Not knowing how to handle his fear, instead of cowering, he lashed out and growled.

I was devastated. Where had I gone wrong? What had happened to my sweet boy? We began our journey into dealing with his fear-based aggression after a few close calls. It was an emotional roller coaster to say the least. From training day and night to starting medication to finding an amazing support system, the following year was full of ups and downs.

I also came to terms with the fact that I wasn't to blame. His early life trauma, including being orphaned at two weeks old, and his genetics had set him up for these fears. But I wouldn't give up on him. I knew then for certain that he was supposed to be mine.

Now, Hamilton and I are finding our footing again. He recently turned two, and while his issues aren't gone, we've come a long way in understanding each other. I'm no longer mourning the dog I thought I'd lost. Now, I'm loving the dog I have. We're back in group classes, we recently competed in an AKC scent competition (and took home some ribbons!), and he just earned his Advanced Trick Dog title. No one can say Hamilton isn't living a full life.

Every day, Hamilton gives me love, joy, and happiness. In return, I aim to advocate for him and dogs like him, while giving him the best life possible. Instead of hiding him from the world, we have documented his struggles and successes on his Instagram. That includes trying to reduce the stigma of muzzles and muzzle training! While I still have moments of insecurity or sadness, they always pass. I look forward to many more years of growing together, getting more confident together, and loving each other.