All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter

A couple of years ago, I was Blessed with the opportunity to temporarily foster a dog that had been in formal training to become a service dog. Ranger was 18 months old at the time and had the most unique and beautiful markings. God had given him many unique qualities, and the markings were a personal signature from The Creator Himself.

How I came about as his temporary steward was pure coincidence, if you believe in coincidence. I was on the campus of the training grounds for these amazing dogs. They are carefully raised and under watchful eyes and protocol in order to graduate and partner with their handler.

Ranger was singled out to train as a service dog for one of our incredibly worthy veterans. He was smart, strong and eager. But just as each of us is unique in our strengths, qualities and characteristics, he had his own learning style and yes, personality “quirks”.

After a short season in training, he developed high anxiety, and just as it occurs in bi-peds (our own species, including yours truly), anxiety at times may surface due to environmental exposures or physiological hormonal, chemical imbalance. Anyone who has experienced it beyond the occasional provoked circumstance can relate to the havoc it causes on one’s focus and sense of calm. This in turn affects one’s ability to learn and productively manage tasks.

Ranger suffered from severe anxiety and although he was incredibly smart and eager to learn and work, his anxiety interfered with his progress. Hence late one Friday afternoon, I found myself speaking with one of the school staff who had Ranger at her side. I admired him, and he and I had an instant connection. She had a look of urgency and told me that Ranger needed a break from the rigor of the training school. She asked me if I would be willing to take him home for the weekend in order to help ease his anxious soul.

Ranger and I looked deep into each other’s eyes and I saw him, and not an anxious dog struggling. I instantly and eagerly told her I would, but that I did not have any supplies. She told me that they would provide them. I had already been vetted by the school, so I could see instant relief, as she didn’t want to leave him at the kennel for the weekend.

The afternoon got busy, and now the main office was closing for the weekend. I was there with Ranger, anticipating supplies, however as many Friday’s at the busy school go, the staff member was nowhere to be found. So I grabbed all of the needed supplies for the weekend. I will never forget that first day, Ranger and I in the now dimly lit lobby looking calmly and deeply at each other. Feeling satisfied that I had all that I needed, I looked at Ranger and said “Well, let’s go buddy.” And we sauntered out to my car.

At first Ranger was nervous as he entered my place, he checked everything out with his amazing nose and when I tried to introduce him to his crate, where I assumed he would sleep at night, he wanted nothing to do with it. I knew that he had anxiety issues, so I crawled into the crate and beckoned him. He looked at me doubtfully, and gradually stepped into the crate with me ( yes, he was a big dog, and it was a big crate). But as quickly as he assessed the crate, even with me in it, he turned and walked out of it and then stood next to it. Now that was a picture, me in the crate and Ranger looking as though he was the master.

That weekend Ranger and I got to know each other, I took him on lots of long walks to help with his anxious energy. I fed him and worked on a few of the commands I knew that he had learned, but mostly my goal was to give him a safe, calm, fun and engaging environment. Ranger and I had this inherent understanding of each other. I cannot explain it, but I knew how smart and capable he was, and he knew that I believed in him and we developed an incredible chemistry.

So 3.5 months later, ( yes, the original plan was that he would spend Friday evening through Monday morning with me), Ranger was under my care. He came to work with me daily and loved interacting with all of the different people that came to my work station. He had his own fan club, everyone, and I mean everyone, that worked there , including visitors fell in love with Ranger. He was finding his own confidence and calm and although he had unbelievable strength and energy, he was learning to channel it in a more productive manner.

With all of his progress and increasing fan club, Ranger was finally ready to be considered for job placement. He had missed some of the refined training required for a full service dog certification, but it was determined that he had great intelligence and skills to become a companion dog for the appropriately matched veteran. And that is where Ranger taught me a great lesson.

Ranger was matched with an incredible Navy Seal and his beautiful young family. I will never forget the day that I handed the leash over to the Seal and his family. I felt an immense sense of grief over losing my very unique and special friend, and at the same time a sense of great pride and gratitude. When I first met Ranger, his future was so unclear. He was not progressing in his training, his anxiety was extraordinarily high and impacting his health and his ability to interact with other people and dogs.

Ranger came into his own, in his own time and terms. He needed to have someone to believe in his strengths, to help guide him around, over and through his weaknesses as well as opportunity to express himself as God uniquely designed him. I am so glad that the staff member believed in him enough to ask me to help him. I am so grateful that the Leader of the organization had the vision and foresight to see the development, growth and transformation that occurred in Ranger.

My heart ached for months after Ranger had gone home, but I knew that he was where God intended him to be. Many times I wanted to reach out to the Navy Seal and his family to find out how Ranger was doing, but I waited and upon the one year anniversary, which happened to be Memorial Day, I reached out to inquire as to how Ranger was. The Navy Seal’s wife responded, he lives on a 12 acre ranch, has two children who love him and two other step dog siblings. “Ranger”, she said ” Is living the life!” The Navy Seal takes long walks with Ranger on the ranch every day and he said, “Ranger makes me laugh every day.”

Keep an eye out for my next post….. “Lessons From Ranger”….