About Ranger

Rehoming Sweet 6-Year-Old Mixed Breed to Adult-Only Home. It is with a heavy heart that I'm looking to rehome my dog, Ranger, due to behavioral issues that make it unsafe for him to live in a home with children. We have sadly experienced two incidents in which our toddler startled Ranger by unexpectedly falling on top of him and stomping on his tail. This resulted in a bite. Prior to this, there were also two incidents in which Ranger felt unsafe and therefore bit. In most scenarios over the last six years, he has been a wonderful part of our family, but we can no longer risk the safety of our small children. Ranger was evaluated by a Veterinary Behaviorist in 2023 and diagnosed with fearful aggression and possessive aggression. This basically means that he exhibits aggressive behaviors out of fear or when a person or animal approaches his food or favorite toy. These behaviors have improved over the years with medication and management tactics, but have not completely resolved. We believe there is hope for Ranger and managing his behaviors with an experienced dog owner who understands dog behavior, and can continue to work with him and give him the secure, loving environment he deserves. In fairness to him, we just do not have the time and attention that he requires in this phase of our lives, but know that he will thrive in a calm environment with structure, patience, and love. Additionally, we have a comprehensive document from the veterinary behaviorist detailing his assessment, management, enrichment, body language, behavior modification, cognitive and coping skills, and additional resources that can be used as a management guide for his new owner. This will be provided upon interest. Now, onto the good stuff! Ranger is a 6-year-old mixed breed (mostly Rottweiler and German Shepherd) with a big personality and an even bigger heart. He is just shy of 70 pounds and has the most soft, copper fur. Ranger lives for adventure and your presence - he enjoys chasing critters, splashing in the water, playing in the snow, and being your constant shadow. He loves to run hard when chasing his beloved Chuck-it ball, but he also knows how to relax and lounge around the house. He's house-trained, up-to-date on vaccinations, and deeply loyal once he bonds with you. He also makes a great guard dog and will be sure to keep you safe. Ranger does not have any health issues or special dietary needs. He does take Sertraline daily to help decrease potential for aggressive behaviors, and also has clonidine for anxiety if a known stressor is about to occur. For him, these situations include thunderstorms and new visitors to the home. In terms of exercise, he is certainly calmer after a fetch session with his Chuck-It ball, but does not require daily strenuous exercise. He can be walked on a leash, but tends to pull and be unpredictably reactive on leash toward certain people and select dogs. If walking him on leash in an area that you know you will encounter other people or animals, I would recommend having him wear a muzzle to ensure safety. If there is a secluded area in which he could go on a walk or run free, he would thrive! He also does very well off leash if you know that you will not encounter other people or pets. Ideal environments would be a fenced yard or an expanse of land that he could roam and run like a farm. Historically, he has done well with smaller dogs and is unpredictable with larger dogs. He would likely do best in a home without another dog, or initial separation and slow introduction to another dog while integrating into his new home. He does not do well with cats. He would also do best in a home without frequent visitors. As I sit here with tears in my eyes, please know that we did not make this decision lightly. Ranger has been family for the last six years and we never dreamed that he would be anywhere other than with us. However, we know this is the best decision for our family and for Ranger's happiness and well-being moving forward. We are open to a foster-to-adopt situation if it so arises as we are committed to helping Ranger find his unicorn home. If you think you might be the right match for this special pup, please reach out. Finding the right fit is our family's top priority.

DeKalb County
Atlanta, Georgia 30338