The handsome Ranger is the fourth hound Kim and Larry have shared their home with. And while his path to his forever home wasn’t straightforward, he is now exactly where he was meant to be.
Ranger had lived as a pet for three years but arrived back in Greyhound Rescue’s care due to unforseen circumstances. Greyhound Rescue immediately started to look for a new home for Ranger, however his reactivity meant he needed a specific home and family who were able to meet his needs.
Kim and Larry had sadly lost their greyhound and staffy in recent years, and with no other dogs at the time decided to take Ranger into their home.
“When we picked Ranger up from Greysland he was hyperactive and full of energy. We did wonder if we had made the right decision to foster him. But over the next couple months with some quiet decompression time and enrichment training, plus the help from a dog behaviourist, Ranger settled into his new life with us,” says Kim.
“He became part of the family and we knew a foster fail was on the cards. It was at that stage after two months that we decided we could not let him move again and go through settling into another household so we decided to adopt him.”
Ranger quickly settled in with Kim and Larry
Kim and Larry say Ranger is a very happy and affectionate hound who loves being around people.
“He loves back rubs and soaks up pats and cuddles,” says Kim.
“Although nine years old, he is often very bouncy as though he still thinks he is a pup.”
Like most hounds, Ranger’s favourite pastime is sleeping. However, he does also love his walks. Weather is no barrier, allthough in winter Ranger doesn’t mind starting these a little bit later. He’s also a huge fan of car rides.
“The slightest rattling of the car keys and he is bounding through the house full of excitement in anticipation of a car ride,” says Kim. “He just loves being around people.”
Helping Ranger with his reactivity
Knowing about Ranger’s reactivity up front meant Kim and Larry felt prepared when adopting Ranger.
“When we agreed to foster Ranger, Greyhound Rescue were up front about him being very reactive and the issues we may have with being able to walk him. By being upfront there were no hidden surprises.”
Kim and Larry avoid close contact with other dogs when on walks; crossing the street is usually enough to give Ranger the space to feel comfortable.
“Walking Ranger just requires being alert to your surroundings and utilising various strategies to avoid close contact with other dogs. Although he can react to other dogs at times, he loves his fellow hounds. Ranger has been on a number of greyhound pack walks and enjoys the company of other hounds.”
Kim says sessions with a dog behaviourist were also extremely helpful in providing them with the skills to assist Ranger with his reactivity.
A scary complication for Ranger, Kim and Larry
There was a scary time period when Ranger became seriously ill, with Kim and Larry thinking they might lose him.
“On the day we adopted Ranger he underwent a couple of medical procedures. One procedure resulted in him having a massive haematoma on his side. As a result, Ranger became extremely ill. We did think we were going to lose him.”
Thankfully, after a number of vet visits in the months following, Ranger recovered. Kim says he “went back to being the adorable, affectionate hound we had known prior to his medical procedures”.
Do Kim and Larry recommend adopting a greyhound?
“Ranger is our fourth hound and I suppose that shows how strongly we feel about adopting greyhounds,” says Kim.
“They are all different, but generally they are low maintenance and a very easy dog to care for and live with despite their size. Once settled into pet life they are extremely affectionate and love being part of the family.”
Are you interested in fostering a Kennel Kid? You can find more information here.