Im always curious as to what our labs would do in an emergency. I’ve seen several simulations where dogs were put to the test and only one stepped up to help their owner. Some of the videos were owners fainting and the dogs ran away happily and others were attacks and the dogs ran away scared. So what would your lab do? Save a drowning child? Defend you to an attacker? Has anyone a heroic story where their lab has saved someone from certain harm. I always wonder if Duggan would rescue one of our children from drowning. We have a pond and live on the river and we are boaters. I hope I never find out but I’d love to know if he’d save them. One of the explanations for the runners in the fainting experiment was that the dogs could sense there was no real trouble so took the opportunity for an unsolicited amble lol. Tell us of your dogs heroic action’s.
Not my dog, but my friend’s old Lab would hate it if she got near an electric fence. I remember on one walk, we had to cross one; there was a section you could open up with an isolator handle. Buster started bouncing and barking at her, then grabbed her arm and started pulling her away while she was desperately trying to reattach it W&S hate it if I go swimming and try to bring me back to “safety”. Of course, they’re actually more likely to drown me in the process but I think they mean we’ll
Xena would be the worst. The. Worst. Last year OH and I were watching tv one evening, after 8pm, must have been winter because it was dark. All of a sudden we hear the back door open and OH's brother appears in the room. Xena, bless her, was sprawled out on the carpet and didn't move a muscle. She honestly didn't wake up despite the fact that he made a massive racket coming in. Useless bloody dog. She eventually woke up when he opened the sliding door on the other side of the room and then she gave him a rousing full body wag welcome (he hates dogs, ha, serves him right).
On the few occasions our house alarm has gone off in the middle of the night and I’ve leapt out of bed, Snowie slept through it all! I guess he hasn't associated the alarm with anything scary. (They we’re all false alarms; maybe he knew something... but doubt it!)
A man tried to rob me on new year's day a few years ago. I was pottering round the small local park with Doug and Moo. He got very close and tried your money or your phone crap. I told him to go away,. He came closer I wasn't happy neither was Doug he came between us and when the man raised his arms and got shouty he launched at the man then started to bark. He stood between me and the man doing his fiercest bark. It was all moving forward motion he looked enormous and very angry. Then the stupid bloke tried to aim a kick at Doug well that was it I launched at him screaming and shouting . Spineless sh*t then ran off, I shut up so did Doug. And we went home. Throughout the whole thing Moo watched quietly. Doug also alerted if there were people in the bushes watching us,. He would do a fierce bark and strut,. I always felt very safe with him he always let me know what and who was around. Moo protected the house I always listened when she said enemy at the gates. Doug protected me for years I learned to trust his opinion. He was always calm polite and kind to everyone but did not like certain people,. I learned to trust this if he didn't like someone he was usually right. Rory stood and defended me and Moo from an attacking boxer he did not fight just got in its way and firmly told it no more go away. This dog was loose in the street and a known local menace. I keep out of dangerous situations and don't put myself in harm's way but I know my dogs are with me and think of us as a team.
Our old spaniel Max (many years gone) was always very protective. If any strangers came in the house or garden, he would sit in front of me so was always between me and them. If either moved, so would Max so he was always there. Thing is, Max was a dominant dog, to the point where he thought he was 'boss' and could be stubborn when asked to move or do something he didn't want to - I think he thought he was pack leader so perhaps that was what his behaviour was all about. Molly and Sam? I'm not sure about them, Molls has a tendency to be a bit fearful so I suspect she'd run from a scary situation.
Cooper and Tilly are good "Watch Dogs". They let us know when anyone comes up to the house and they sound pretty ferocious, until the door is opened. Many years ago when I lived in Chicago, I had a Malamute. We had the house all packed up ready for the van and our move to Oregon, and went out for a final dinner with some friends. When we came home Sundance was sitting on the front porch. Turns out someone had forced the back door, and must have met Sundance. Nothing was taken, and we assumed that they had met the dog and decided to leave. He just wanted out, and would not have cared what they took, as long as it wasn't his bone, but he looked intimidating.
If I fainted Tatze would lick me and nudge as that’s what she does when I lie on the ground anyway. I don’t think she’d be able to think things through if I needed saving. Zaba has to show her the way if she gets stuck behind a fence - she can’t work it out herself lol
A few months ago in the snow I was walking in the woods with my neighbor and their huge Old English lookalike when he leapt sideways as they do when playing, and completely floored me! So there I was flat on my back in the snow, my friend so worried as she thought I'd hurt myself. Cassie was beside herself, kept running up to get next to me, not jumping on me, sort of crouching/bouncing/licking but looked oh so worried, my friend was trying to keep her away. I was laughing so much, but I had to say to my friend it's fine let Cassie come to me, she just wants reassurance.So once I'd done that I was able to get to my feet but Cass didn't venture far from me for the rest of the walk. I'm not sure what emotions she was experiencing but she sure didn't run away.
Poor Brogan thought every human was wonderful and if he was uncertain about any situation would plant himself firmly behind me. My brave little toaster. The only thing he protected me from was walking off the sidewalk (pavement). He had a real obsession with making sure we stayed on the sidewalk for some reason...even if the 'sidewalk' was only a foot wide! He also didn't appreciate if I got into the ocean over my knees. Despite me being the one who could swim while he couldn't. He'd run up to the water and get a very stern look on his face as if to say, "You come out of there NOW!" But actually get in the water to 'save' me? No way! He was a good alerter, though, and would give a low growl if he heard something outside the house. I could also have a safe snooze in the car while traveling for the same reason. Then again, that's the plus side of having a breed of dog with a 'bad rep'. They don't really need to do anything, they are a visual deterrent. My first Rottie, Duncan, didn't do anything dramatic like saving a child in an emergency. But after my accident where (among other things) I broke my back, he became an integral part of my physio team and learning to walk again. And once out of the hospital, if I would fall, he would calmly sit next to me until I was ready to try to get up again, and help me get my balance again by doing a solid 'brace' position, which he learned by himself. We spent a lot of time sitting in my neighbours' front gardens after I'd fallen on daily walks that first year. He was an amazing boy.
I was rather disturbed by the results when I tried the fainting thing down the trail. Oban came and lay by my side but the neighbours who saw me did nothing. They were at a distance. Of all things, they mentionned it to other neighbours but never checked with me or came by or phoned or anything. Good to know who I can count on. Yes, @Johnny Walker I have read with the fainting thing that the reason so few dogs stayed with their owner is that dogs can tell when we're faking. Good thread, love these stories.
My first Lab was very protective of my mother. On several occasions she positioned herself between mum and strangers and growled. She even did it to a visitor which was quite amusing. Imagine sitting on the settee and not being allowed to stand up without a dog growling at you! OH has tried to teach Holly to help her up if she falls on a walk. Holly sometimes responds but more often she'll look at OH then carry on with whatever she was doing. Our other dogs have all been rather useless in an emergency. Holly gives an impressive bark if someone comes to the door, but I suspect she'd be rather useless if they forced their way in. She's more of an official greeter than a guard dog.
I can imagine sitting on the settee and not being allowed up because I have a Labrador (or more than one) sitting on me...
Harley has sat or led next to me when I have fallen over or my legs have collapsed. She will keep giving me gentle licks. She also stands in front of me if someone she doesn’t know comes over to help me until I say ‘it’s ok’, she then let’s them near me. She also helps me get up and stays close for the rest of the walk. She seems to know when I’m having a bad day (physically) and will stay very close to me, follows me upstairs and gives me lots of cuddles. I’m hoping to go swimming with her this summer. It will be interesting to see what she will do!
When I was walking Moo she lurched and I got pulled over. I broke my collar I lay on the floor collecting myself and she got her ball and bounced it in my chest and barked at me to throw it. I asked a passing dog walker to hand the ball so I could hide it in hopes she would stop barking at me. Its all about Moo always when it gets cold the bones hurt.
I have no great expectations of Pongo. When we had the deep snow this winter, I threw myself down in a snowdrift as though hurt and in need of rescue. Pongo leapt into the drift next to me....and snaffled the treat bag. He's a sort of St Bernard in reverse.
When I slipped in mud Amber came and jumped on me, Poppy was more worried and Bear just pulled on his lead. I struggled to my feet, Amber jumped up and knocked me into the edge of the lake, Poppy followed me in, Bear pulled on his lead.
I’ve fallen over a few times (never hurt, just shaken) and each time Molly jumped all over me, madly wagging!
