Ranger 2

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Update: 2/01/04: 

Ranger has been adopted by a family that will truly love him.

Update: 11/20/03
No matter how hard we try to ensure that each of the homes whom we are considering for adoption are going to provide loving and safe homes, homes that will love our MAESSR dogs just as we do, just as we love our own, no system is fail proof, because after all we are only human. We took Ranger into foster care after finding him in a shelter when he was dumped there by his previous owners because they had two dogs and small kids, and Ranger was too much for their house. Ranger excelled in his foster home. He was crate trained, brought UTD and neutered, and started learning basic commands. He was adopted out to people who then reported he wouldn’t go in his crate anymore and was barking when they left him alone. In reality, he had trained them and decided not to go in his crate anymore by going away from it and lying down somewhere else. They returned him to MAESSR and his previous foster mom went to get him. The next day she said, “in you go Ranger” and he laid down where he was, she squatted and said “come on Ranger” in her happy voice and he raced right in for his treat. What a good boy!

Ranger was adopted again in September and this time everything seemed perfect. Ranger met his new parents who were filled with excitement. They e-mailed and said things were going well. Ranger would wait at home for them when they had to leave him behind on the bed or couch quiet as a mouse. Two weeks ago, we got a message from one of his new parents that something awful had happened. Ranger was being held by animal control, because the new father was in jail for animal cruelty. Ranger’s foster mom contacted animal control and off she went to go get him and bring him home. He is with her now. Safe and very loved, but a bit nervous and somewhat insecure. He has coccidia and is being treated and will be available for adoption in 5 days as soon as it is all cleared up.

Ranger is as sweet and loving as any dog could be. He shows no signs of aggression and only demonstrates his fear by “getting out of dodge” if something just seems scary to him. He craves affection, reinforcement and security. His favorite spot in his foster home is sitting on the couch with his nose tucked in almost behind his foster mom. That is where he is most calm and feels safe. Ranger is scared of brooms, mops or any type of tool. He does not ever respond negatively to any of these things and he wants to be close to his human so he will stay relatively close, but will keep “skirting” around the threatening item. His foster mom is working on his issues with these things by doing something new everyday and making lots of noise while talking to Ranger in a very upbeat, silly voice. He seems to be improving. Ranger is also scared of things being thrown anywhere in his vicinity. If you toss a pillow onto the couch or a piece of paper into the trash he will fly across the room immediately and only then will he turn around to see what it was. In terms of fight or flight, Ranger will most definitely fly. For this reason, we do not recommend Ranger to go to a home with young children. Their unpredictable nature when it comes to playing and toys, would be very stressful Ranger and we feel that he was definitely abused by flying (thrown) “things” somewhere in his past.

Ranger doesn’t like it when the resident dogs play growl at each other and then he will try to stand on his foster mom’s lap. If they play growl in the yard he runs around them in circles barking at them trying to get them to stop. He doesn’t like confrontation of any kind within his pack. Ranger is protective of his pack though and will bark protectively at the dogs next door on the other side of the fence when they bark at his foster mom or one of the resident dogs. He has met lots of other dogs at the vet and out and about with his foster mom and has met all of them with a submissive posture. Because of his submissive nature and nervousness around “play arguing” dogs Ranger can be adopted to a home as a playmate for one dog, but we do not think it will be good for him to be with more than one dog if they like to rough house like the resident dogs in his foster home.

Ranger does not chew, trash pick or counter surf as far as we have seen. He will tear up stuffed toys immediately upon receipt. He will give them up to you, but my tackle you to get them back if you are sitting. He does know sit and will drop very fast into a sit for a toy or treat! He LOVES his toys! Ranger also likes to play fetch and will bound around the yard with gusto. He almost always brings the toy back near you and gives it up easily if he thinks you might throw it again for him. He does pull some on a leash, but settles down and walks nicely after some time. He does know sit, get down and come, but when you use a stern voice with Ranger he will likely stop and go the other direction and if you approach he will flatten his head and then his body to the ground in extreme submission. If you squat and say, “come here, Ranger” in a happy voice he will come right to you, wiggling like crazy. he will do this off lead as well, however given the chance to run off after some little critter he likely would then stop and realize his error and come racing back just so close until you squat and don’t seem threatening. We believe that the “Come” and/or “Come here” commands have not always been received in a positive light for this boy.

Despite all of the ups and downs in his life, Ranger is an extremely sweet, loving, affectionate dog. Ranger, at 50 pounds, thinks he is a lap dog and loves to give kisses and play. Are you the family that can provide this boy with the love, affection and security he so deserves?

Update: 7/20/03
Ranger is doing great! After a few incidences of barking in his crate when left alone, he is doing wonderfully. He doesn’t bark at all until he heard his foster mom pull up and shut my door. Obviously, the canine companions do the trick.

Ranger knows down and as you can see in this picture he is staring at a treat but isn’t taking it because his foster mom didn’t say Ok yet. He learned that on the second try! Ranger is also back to his old run-in-my-crate-so-I-get-my-treat-faster self and does so as soon as his foster mom say “In you go, Ranger”.

Ranger would do best in a home where either someone is home most of the time or preferably someone with another dog to keep him company when his humans go out.

Ranger does not need to be crated, but he will likely jump on the furniture if no one’s looking. Sometimes he does that in his foster home when his foster mom is looking right at him. He then tries to hide up there (which is ridiculous because he’s 54 pounds). He just wants to be loved and get cuddles and hugs and will give lots of licks back. He would also prefer to sleep on the human bed but sleeps at in his foster home on a dog bed near the floor. He usually puts his front paws up and pants in his foster mom’s face to wake her up in the morning.

Update: 7/14/03

Through no fault of his own, Ranger is back in his foster home.  He was happy as can be to hop in his foster mom’s car and come back home with her and settled right back into the routine at her house. 

Ranger is a good boy in his foster home.  He knows his name, come here and sit, eat, outside and he knows to go to the back door and wait to go outside.  He knows what get down means too, but when told to do it, he usually gives you his “rear in the air, head on the ground, but look how good I’m being, can I please stay on the couch” act.  He will stay down eventually, but definitely likes to worm and wiggle his way on to your lap. 

He loves to give kisses especially when his foster mom uses her stern voice.  This is a submissive response and you can’t help but love him. 

He is crate trained, but we were told that in his last home they were allowing free range in the house without any incidents.  When he was left completely alone, however, he barked for a lot longer than he does in his foster home.  Here, he is with the resident dogs in the house and the neighbors say they don’t here him barking except when his foster mom’s car pulls up.  So, we aren’t clear whether the crating stopped the barking problem or the other dogs in foster care.  With that in mind, we will try to place Ranger in a home where he will have a canine companion.  It probably will be best for Ranger to be crated when alone in his new adoptive home.  His foster mom thinks the barking is something that can be improved if it happens in his new home with proper training and once he is more confident and content there.

Ranger needs a home that will be committed to him and provide him a secure and loving family and home.  He would like nothing more than to have a family of his very own on whom he can depend.  In exchange he will be a wonderfully loving, sweet and loyal companion. 

Update: 4/30/03

Ranger continues to do well in foster care.  He has opened up with the other dogs and loves to run and play with them in the yard.  His incision is healing wonderfully and the swelling is all gone.  He even let his foster mom do compresses on it with no complaint. Ranger thinks everything his foster mom does is just great.  It can be as simple as taking out the garbage and will bounce around as if it was his best adventure yet.  He loves to cuddle and will climb in your lap for hugs, belly rubs, ear scratches, back rubs, you name it, he’ll take it!  He can be a little pushy with this but who can blame him for wanting to catch up on all those missed hugs!  With a little training he will learn some more manners.  Ranger is much more comfortable in his foster home now and on occasion will jump up sort of at you, but almost never jumps on you when you are standing.  He sort of bounces straight up.  His foster mom thinks it’s very cute! Ranger is an incorrigible bed sleeper.  He will not be left in a crate all night without crying.  He is crated during the day though with no problem.  He starts to bark when he hears her car pull in the driveway though.  His foster mom has been able to get him to sleep on a dog bed in the bedroom, but he will try to jump up multiple times before settling down.  He has also clearly been allowed on the furniture in his previous homes. 

Ranger is housebroken, but doesn’t know how to tell you he wants out yet.  He will go to the door but if you don’t see him, he will likely urinate inside.  This has only happened twice and not in a few days so we’re getting the system down.  His foster mom also thinks this is because he was drinking a ton of water when he first came home with her because he was nervous (and had whipworm and had surgery and had his teeth cleaned).  He is now drinking normal amounts of water and has not had any accidents since. 

Ranger is still doing excellently with the other dogs in his foster home.  He has opened up with them and will chase them around the yard and play.  His foster mom thinks he would do well as an only dog too though because he really prefers to be with his people.  Even if the other dogs are in the yard playing he is more than likely on the deck with his foster mom. 

Original:

Ranger is no stranger to abandonment for sure.  He’s been let down by both of his previous families who cast him aside.  However, Ranger is not bothered by it at all.  He’s the sweetest, happiest boy ever!  He was as filthy and stinky as can be with big mats on his ears, but as you can see in his pictures, he cleaned up beautifully.  He spent a few days at the vet and they gave him the spa treatment.  He got a bath and his nails clipped and a good brushing, clipped his mats out and even cleaned his teeth when the neutered him.  He now has wonderfully soft feathering and clean and healthy ears. He came into his foster home for the first time last evening and his entire back end was wiggling so much he knocked himself over!  He knew he was getting to sleep in the house and on a soft dog bed to boot not at the shelter anymore!  He loves belly rubs and has the funny little habit of putting his head on the ground and leaving his butt in the air.  A sure sign of a submissive dog.  It’s funny how he also does this when he jumps on the couch and you tell him to get down.  This boy can suck you right in with his soulful expression and his favorite “don’t you want to pet my bum look”.  He knows sit, down (sometimes) and go lay down and I think come, but it is too soon to tell as he is still getting used to his new home and very excited (it’s tough to focus with three other dogs wanting you to play all the time). He’s on restricted exercise, because of his surgery, but this it is tough to keep him quiet because he loves to be out with the other dogs.  He’s OK hanging back with mom though, following her from room to room to figure out what she’s doing and in the hopes of getting extra pets while the other dogs aren’t around. 

Ranger was neutered yesterday (4/24/2003) and got his teeth cleaned.  He got a glowing report from the all of his fans at the vet’s office.  They were sad to see him go and just couldn’t help fawning over him.  Not one of them could understand why anyone would let this boy go.  The dental technician said he has wonderful teeth and the x-rays showed no deterioration.  Ranger loves soft toys, running in the yard, and TREATS (especially peanut butter ones).  He was a little nervous meeting the 2 resident dogs and the other foster dog last night, but his foster mom introduced them one at a time on leashes so that they could get used to each other.  The other dogs must know what a sweetie he is because he quickly fell in place at the bottom of the pack structure without a single growl or bark from any of them.  The other foster dog in all her exuberance bounces around him and Ranger just gives her the occasional kiss and scampers off.  He wants to play and by the weekend I’m sure they will all be racing around the yard together as soon as he’s had more time to heal.

Ranger is 4 years old and 53 pounds.  He could stand to gain a couple pounds, but is not too bad off. He does not jump up on people, does jump on the furniture and would like to sleep on the human bed in his foster home.  He is not crate trained, but we are working on that and he will go in voluntarily (especially if you throw a treat in first) he just doesn’t like being left in there.  He is not mouthy and is excellent while being brushed, combed and groomed.  He is strong and does pull on the leash, but I think he will quickly improve with proper training.  He will sit for treats and this is a difficult task for him because he has to slow down that wiggle butt.  Sometimes he just can’t sit still and it looks as if he’s bouncing while sitting!

Ranger doesn’t understand why he keeps moving, but he’s very adaptable and pleasant and must look at every new places as an adventure because he explores each with incomparable delight.  He would love to have a forever home and finally, someone whom he can rely on for comfort and love because he is so willing to give it first.  Are you the one who will be his forever companion?