Was I saved by a dog today?!

[longdiling]

OK, saved may be a bit of an exaggeration but my ankles were saved at least. I don't know much about dogs and their behaviour so I'm just wondering whether I stumbled across a lassie style hero dog.

I was out for a run and a little dog came hurtling out of a garden and started snapping at my ankles and snarling at me. I stopped dead and another bigger dog ran up to join it. Just as I was thinking 'oh shit' the bigger dog put himself between me and the little one and seemed to be herding it away from me towards the garden. I slowly stated sidling away and little dog tried to dart out at me but big dog blocked him again.

I escaped unscathed and slightly bemused. Could the big dog have really come to my rescue?!

[PhilPhilConnors]

My Labrador does this if another dog runs up to me. She's also done it to protect me from a scarecrow :o
I think it was protecting you :)

[longdiling]

It certainly felt like it was protecting me, even though it ran out of the same place as little dog. Maybe it was more of a 'leave it mate, she's not worth it' thing to stop his little pal getting into trouble.

[BadDoGooder]

Sounds like he was protecting you!
My lurcher (which are definitely not natural herders!) will put herself between DS and other dogs/cats/birds/people riding past on bikes

I think it's lovely she is so protective of him, we've only had her a year, (though she was my mum's before) and she adores DS and follows him round the house, lying about 3 feet away from where he's playing though the constant dropping of food might have something to do with it

[MissBeaHaving]

My Labrador also does this,he ran at the other dog right in front of me & bashed the other dog away,he is the least confrontational dog you'd ever meet & goes belly up with most dogs but he guarded me on instinct.

[longdiling]

You have sweet dogs Bad and Phil! I'm a bit nervous of dogs normally but this has left me feeling quite warm and fuzzy towards them. Aw

[longdiling]

It must be unusual for them to protect a complete stranger like that though right? I feel I should go back with a bone for it or something!

[MissBeaHaving]

I don't know long,labs & lurchers are very intelligent dogs so I personally think they instinctively act if they sense something wrong.
It certainly sounds like that dog protected you.

[BlackMarigold]

The bigger dog might have been looking after the little one, not wanting it to go near strangers.
My GSD rescue does this with my lab. Lab runs towards other people and dogs wanting to play and GSD puts himself between person/dogs, and tries to herd him away.
He doesn't usually succeed, lab is as big as him, so ends up just watching and barking.

[TheFlyingFauxPas]

Love the thought of dogs/cats/birds riding past on their bikes 😊