Everyone loves cute, fluffy animals, right? There’s something about those tiny, clumsy pups that melts our hearts. But what if we told you there’s a dog who still looks like a puppy at 4 years old? Meet Ranger, the adorable German Shepherd who never quite grew up, and his story is one you’ll want to hear!
Ranger is no ordinary dog. At just a third of the typical size for his breed, this little guy is living proof that even the most majestic animals can come in smaller packages. You see, Ranger has pituitary dwarfism, a condition that stopped him from growing as big as his fellow German Shepherds.
So, what caused this? According to vet Lynn Janes, pituitary dwarfism is a genetic disorder passed down when both parents carry the defective gene. This lack of growth hormone slows the dog’s development from about two months old. The result? A dog that stays small, with soft, fluffy fur instead of the coarser coat of an adult dog. Sounds adorable, right?
Despite his small size, Ranger is living his best life thanks to his dedicated owner, Shelby Mayo. While most dogs with dwarfism don’t live past three years, Shelby has made sure Ranger is happy and healthy. She’s even gone the extra mile to raise awareness about inbreeding in dogs by creating an Instagram page for him. Today, she has over 139,000 followers who are just as in love with Ranger as she is.
But there’s a darker side to Ranger’s story. Shelby is often approached by people wanting to breed dwarf German Shepherds, but she’s firm in her stance: she doesn’t support it. Inbreeding, which causes dwarfism, drastically shortens the life of dogs like Ranger, and she wants to make sure no other pup suffers the way some of these dogs do.
Ranger may be small, but his impact is huge. Will you help spread the word about the dangers of inbreeding in dogs? Share Ranger’s story with your friends and help raise awareness!
