He knew I was the one.
I am not sure what it was about me,
but he put on his best prance and
checked his crazy behavior at the door
and wooed me in an instant.
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When we moved from our townhouse to our house, the first thing on my agenda was to get a dog. My husband is not an animal kind of guy. I have always had dogs. Our dogs have always been mutts, so I could not imagine spending cold hard cash on some type of expensive breed. I headed down to the shelter. I looked around, but not too hard..I did not want to look the dogs in the eyes when I knew I could not take them all home.
I saw this one dog...cute little black thing with white "socks." It said he was Lab and Border Collie mix, and 1 year old...doable for sure! As the other dogs flipped out and barked, this dog just sat and looked at me with a head-cocked pleading, "I promise-to-do-what-you-say" look. We did a little get acquainted thing and I was in love. I did not take him home that night however. I had to go break the news to hubby that I had found "the dog."
"Whatever," he said. I went back on Monday and did the paper work. Two days later I picked him up (all neutered and everything!). Hubby came home to a crazy animal running around the backyard and and was not sure what to think...other than the usual..."I was crazy!"
Ranger had been abused, neglected, and was skittish beyond belief. We loved him and cared for him and tried to build trust. And he did come to trust us and a few select people. He was not a cuddly dog, but that was OK with me, I did not buy a lap dog.
For 3 years Ranger was the only child...and it was easy to walk and entertain him. He did have a little streak of "something" in him that was unpredictable, and everyone thought we would have to find him a new home when the baby came home...and we almost did. He began jumping over fences, growling at people and just being ornery. As a new mom, I could not take it, I had PPD and a new baby and was losing it. It continued on this way for 2 years, until he jumped the fence and was almost was hit by a car...and then picked up by the Dog Police. This situation was not safe for Ranger or for anyone else.
I finally told hubby he was going to have to find Ranger a home...I knew that probably meant the shelter again...and then, well, I do not want to think of what would have probably happened. Who was going to take a now-4-year-old dog with behavior problems? Much to my surprise my hardcore hubby said find a trainer and let's see if this is fixable. HUH?! YEAH!
I emailed a famous {11 years ago famous} trainer in the L.A. area. He called me right away and told me to go put the dog down. All I could do was cry...According to this man's commercials he was a sweet uncle who could handle any dog. In actuality he was the mean uncle who eats candy in front of you and asks you to throw away the wrapper.
I did find a trainer. She was awesome. We dedicated 6 weekends to her and to Ranger. She told us what we were doing wrong...what he needed...how we could make this all right. She beat the pants off that mean uncle and am pretty sure she could have taken on the "dude who whispers."
In a nutshell, we had to provide him a safe place to call his own - a crate, reassure him that he was not responsible for protecting the entire family, rebuild trust with visitors, consistently praise him, teach him, and play with and love him.
Ranger apparently got the picture...shape up or be shipped out. Be loves his crate, he loves his kids. I am, as I think all dog owners should be, still cautious with him...I make sure in uncomfortable situations he is crated and safe. I make sure to introduce him to visitors the right way. I teach the kids to respect Ranger and his space, and they do.
Eleven years later Ranger is still with us. I know somewhere deep down hubby likes him, mainly because hubby is cheap and allowed me to pay some serious cash for a private trainer to come to our house for 6 weeks! He has become an inside dog - he despises the tall trees, birds, nature in general...I find this hilarious because the jets at LAX {where we used to live} did not bother him at all...but watch out for woodpeckers and squirrels!
I love the underdog...I always root for him. I find great joy in watching someone pick themselves up and make a new start, begin a new life, or join the game again. Ranger is an underdog. No one expected us to keep him...no one expected he would become a loving trusting dog {he does like to give a few men grief}...no one...but me...and hubby!
This weeks theme...
Things You Have Done For Your Pets
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