Guardian angel dogs (and cats)
Our pets are smarter than we give them credit for, especially when it comes to children.
I’ll never forget a co-worker telling me about her dog that would “herd” her young children back up the driveway if they got too close to the street. The dog had adopted this behavior on her own. Recently a new mom told me that her baby-sitter’s small dog “protects” her infant daughter from her sitter’s other dog.
My own fearful, skittish dog lets my young niece lead her around the yard on a leash, walking slowly and carefully at her side. My dog trusts few folks enough to let her guard down like that.
How about you folks? Do you have a dog or cat that has displayed unusual sensitivity around young children?
(Photo above taken by J. Stanford Fisher in 1979 shows baby son Jamie with the family’s patient, gentle, 100-pound German shepherd Attila.)
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Years ago when our first son was born our then 3 year old German Shepherd adopted” him as her own - she slept under his crib and as he grew up, in his room. He learned to walk hanging onto her back and until she died when he was 10, she always made sure she was between him and anyone who came into our home that she did not know well. She didn’t growl or bark, just stayed between him and the person until she was sure we accepted the person.
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My husband and I have a 12-year old German shepherd mix. He has grown up around our nephew who is autistic and has some other developmental issues. Our nephew loves dogs and would pull on Cooper and want to be right next to him petting him constantly. Cooper would always let him do whatever he wanted to him for as long as he could stand it and then he would get up and go hide under a table where he couldn’t be reached. He never growled or barked at the child.
We also had a cat who passed away last year at the age of 15. He had cancer at the end and would spend a lot of time just sitting on my lap, letting our then 10- month old son pet him. When my son got too rough or Mao had had enough, he would bite me on the back of the hand. He never once scratched or bit the baby.
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My little brother Mark was Down’s Syndrone and passed away after a struggle with Leukemia when he was only 5 years 8 months & 8 days old. My parents had this Siamese cat who would always get between Mark & a retaining wall in the back yard that had a steep drop on one side. Even though someone was always close by Mark usually holding his dear sweet little hand, that Siamese cat ALWAYS walked on top of the wall like she was guarding against Mark falling. Talk about cat karma…that Siamese Cat lived to be 18 years old!
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I had a collie that was my daughter’s self appointed baby sitter for a number of years.He would allow her to walk about half way across the lawn toward the road,then he would stand in her way.If she tried to walk around him,he would push her down with his nose.They were constant companions during her early years.
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The Siamese cat our family had when I was young used to let my toddler sister drag him around by the tail. She never hurt him, and he was remarkably patient and understanding with her. When she got older, she tried to brush his teeth, with my father’s toothbrush.
I remember seeing our cat bolt from the bathroom, foaming at the mouth. She and Koko loved each other.
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My yellow lab came to me as an Angel. I had been grieving the loss of my 20 year old, constant companion, my kitty. I went to the Animal shelter for another cat. None were available. And I’m NOT a dog person, been around cats my entire life.
Low and behold, while walking around the Animal Shelter in tears because I couldn’t get another cat that day (I wasn’t leaving without an animal), I suddenly found myself in front of a cage with this dog in it. A handler appeared out of no where (I had not seen ONE helper anywhere near where I was standing), and asked if I wanted to take this dog outside. I said, “Sure”, thinking it might cheer me up. I squatted down to see the dog’s face, and she layed her head on my thigh and looked up at me with those sad brown eyes.
Fast foward 9 years later, and that yellow lab, Aspen, has been our dog, a true love. We recently added a puppy as a companion for her.
I swear my (deceased) cat steered me towards Aspen at the Animal Shelter that day. Aspen is my Angel and eased the grief over loosing my cat.
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My Boxer mix stays with my daughter at night. When she was younger he slept in her doorway and kept her from leaving the room if she was sleep walking
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Years ago I had a Springer Spaniel named Beau. He was the sweetest, most gentle animal in the world but one night I awoke to a sound I had never heard before, he was growling and barking in the most terrifying way. A man had broken into my townhouse and Beau put himself between the man and my bed.
My family and I often wonder what would have happened if Beau had not been with me that night. My parents called him their hero from that day forth and he was loved and cherished every day of his life. We had always loved him but when I saw that he was willing to put himself in harm’s way to protect me, I knew how much my sweet, gentle little guy loved me.
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My great-aunt used to baby-sit me when I was an infant and her German Shepherd, Daisy, would watch me rock in my cradle when I was sleeping. Because of her, I’ve always loved German Shepherds and couldn’t wait to get one of my own earlier this year.
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When my oldest was born, I was suddenly a single Mom, with a new born, and a beautiful 4 year old Keeshound dog.
We had been told Keeshounds were instinctively protective of women and children. If my baby was in her crib, the dog was under her crib. If she was in her playpen, the dog was right there with her. If I was holding her, he was at my feet. If I walked anywhere in that house with her, he was on my heels. If we were outside, he layed down beside her. He never let her out of his sight.
Unfortunately, due to my divorce, I was unable to keep that dog. It broke my heart to give him away. I had to move out of the house, and into an apartment in VA Highlands and did not have the time to devote to him. But, I gave him to a wonderful man, who lived in Chandler park, had a fenced back yard, and was a writer for the AJC!!!. That was back in 1991. I still miss that beautiful Keeshound. I am sure he isn’t around anymore, but I often wonder about him.
Giving that dog away was harder than my divorce.
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JM, that cat was something special. All the posts here about dogs melt my heart, but I’m sure don’t surprise dog lovers. A cat that will tolerate a toddler’s antics is a different story!
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I had a Australian Shepard that was our version of “Nana” from Peter Pan. She herded us, that is for sure. Two stories come to mind. One night, I was sleep walking when I was about 11. And my dad woke up to her barking. She had put herself between me and the stairs and called for my Dad. A few years later, I was outside in the backyard doing homework, and my sisters were at the next door neighbors. All of the sudden, they came running home crying… the pit bull from the house 2 doors down had gotten loose. He was MEAN. Mandy (our Aussie) took one look at my sisters tear-stained faces, and took off running over there, where she attacked the pit bull. Luckily, the pit bull didn’t hurt her when he clamped down on her neck, and the owner heard us screaming and came and got the dog. I will never forget that as long as I live. She was the most amazing dog ever, and so protective. It was a sad day in the family when we found out her liver was failing and we had to put her down. Now, we have a border collie who will run from room to room and find her “sheep”. You can see her tallying us up before she will lay down for a nap. My sisters are off at college now, and I haven’t been at home full time in years, she looks for us a lot, especially if we have all been home recently.
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I’ve always heard the story about how my Dad’s dog turned into my guardian. My parents owned a full blooded Doberman Pincher and his name was Satan. Satan didn’t live up to his name when it came to me. I remember several stories about how I would be out on the porch and when I tried to walk down the stairs Satan would raise all sorts of cain. He would always let my parents know if I was venturing too far from the house. No matter who pulled in the driveway and I was outside they were greeted with a Doberman barking his head off trying to protect me. I do remember him letting me ride on his back like a horse. He was such a sweet dog from what I remember and I will always miss that dog that I thought was a horse. Now I’ve got my dog Grady who is half German Shepard and half Golden Retriever who is my second shadow. He has been my guardian angel just because he listens when I have nobody to listen. He is my companion and loves me unconditionally. He was a free puppy that was wormy and in need of a home. I couldn’t resist bringing him home and 9 1/2 years later giving him the best life any dog would want. I know it sounds weird, but sometimes Grady saves my sanity. When things are just to overwhelming he is there to lick my hand or nudge my leg, he just wants me to know that things are going to be okay and he distracts me from the present problem. He is my Grady and he is the best dog in the whole wide world, and yes I’m a bit biased.
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We had a cat named Scratch for 11 years. He was like a family member. Every morning when it was time to get up for work, he would not let us sleep. He jumped on our heads, then nipped at our toes then started knocking things off the end tables. We never overslept to be late for work. Scratch saw to that! He passed away and we waited to get another animal. One morning, my home phone was ringing when I was still in bed. It was my car-pool members calling to tell me they would be a little late. I cried and cried because I realized my Scratch was not there to wake me up & I had overslept! We got two more cats soon after that! “A cat is the soul of a house.”
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When my daughter was born 30 years ago, we had a beautiful black lab named Onyx. Onyx would stay under her bed while she slept, and under her swing while she was in it. As she got older, and got a new little brother, and the played in our fenced in backyard, she would stay close to them, and bark like crazy if anyone even walked NEAR our yard. I felt safe to let them play outside alone when Onyx was around. She is sorely missed! Now I have a Jack Russell Terrier, and he did the same thing with my granddaughter, and he adores her, and will not let anyone even PLAY like they are going to hurt her. He gets very protective, sleeping with her, and keeping strangers away. I’ve been lucky with my dogs.
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My daddy got me an old yellow cur dog to keep me and my mama company while he was away on business. That dog was very protective of me and my little brother. He rescued me from some wild hogs after I fell down a hill. Then a rabid wolf came by the house one day. Ole yeller saved us again. But he got bit by the wolf and Daddy made me go shoot him. I cried and cried
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My kitty used to have what I thought was an annoying habit. She would stand by my pillow when I was asleep and try to put her paw into my mouth and it drove me nuts. Later, after I learned I had sleep apnea and began sleeping with a breathing machine, the “paw in the mouth” stopped. I think she realized that I had stopped breathing in my sleep and she was trying to wake me up. She is one smart girl.
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Back in 1988 I was living away from my hometown and workplace and commuting 40 miles each way to work daily. One day I had stopped by to visit with my parents and then headed on my way home. I had only traveled about 2.5 miles when I saw a puppy on the roadside. She could not have been more than 8-9 weeks old. I picked her up and went back to my parents’ house and asked if I could leave her overnight til I got the ok from my roommate to bring her “home” to join our other 2 dogs and 3 cats.
The next day when I returned to collect her she’d already been named “Precious” had her own food and water dishes and a warm bed on the back porch! My father had fallen for her. So she stayed and became their pet. She grew up to be his faithful companion and riding buddy. Hers was the window seat.. even my mother knew that.
In late October of 1989 an electrical fire broke out in the bathroom. Precious barked and barked til my parents were awakened, literally saving their lives.
Precious dissappeared about 10 months later. We are almost certain someone stopped and picked her up. My father rode the highways and posted bulletins on telephone poles as well as putting an ad on the local access cable. She was never located and until the day my father passed in April of 1995 he held out hope that she would come home.
By now, I know they are surely reunited.
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Great post, Stan!
This also goes to confirm my long-held thought that animals are far better judges of character than are most human species. LOL
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Connor knows all of our family and friends, but if someone comes in that he doesn’t know, he will sit in front of me and sniffs the air very cautiously. Of course my husband also has to plead with him to go outside if Connor is sitting with me on the couch or lying with me on the bed. It may not be so much protectiveness as attachment to me, since he was my dog before my husband and I ever started dating, and I rescued him from the shelter.
Dogs do have a sense about much more than we give them credit for. When my childhood dog, Raggs, died nearly 8 years ago, I was lying on the kitchen floor with him when he passed. Rex, who was my parents’ dog but whom I had actually gone and got at the shelter and who never let me had a moment alone, stayed away. Normally Rex would have been in my face if I was on the floor, especially if I was paying attention to Raggs, but I think he sensed something was up and let me spend those last few moments alone with Raggs.
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When my brother and I were young, our family had a Bouvier des Flanders who took it upon himself to protect us. If we ventured too close to the road, he would circle and herd us back, despite our frustrations. When we would go camping, he would circle us and as people approached, the circle would get smaller and smaller until they had passed. What a great dog.
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Growing up near Augusta, GA, we had a white German Shepherd named Felix. He followed my brother and me everywhere. He would walk us to school in the morning, go home and at 3 o’clock every day, he would be sitting by the flagpole at school, waiting to walk us home. yes, he could tell time. One time, when I was about 9 years old, I was swimming with another girl about the same age at Clark Hill lake, our families were up at the cabin grilling and playing. Felix kept coming out in the water and circling us several times and going back to shore. He did this several times. I called me dad to come watch Felix swim in circles because I thought it was funny. Well, my dad came down to the water, stood there, looked at the dog, the dog looked at him, then at us, and walked back up the hill. It was like he said,”well, your here now, I don’t have to go out there to make sure they’re okay.”He was a great dog. My parents still keep shepherds today.
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doglove, I think you are right– pets can definitely “tell time.” My dogs go out at roughly the same time every day, and if we are doing something and don’t notice the time, they start bugging us and dancing around. (Thankfully in the morning they are content to sleep in with us.) But if you do something regularly enough, they have sort of an internal clock that tells them it’s time to do something, for example, go “pick you up” at school
Reading your story, though, I thought you were going to say that there was something dangerous in the water, and Felix was trying to tell you to get out. That wouldn’t have surprised me, but I like your version better.
German Shepherds are great dogs, though, some of the most loyal dogs I’ve ever known. I have great respect for them.
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My grandson’s yellow lab mix (seen with him here in my tag) Mumbo is very protective. They live in the country and there is a river that runs through the back of the property. They have a lot of copperheads come up in their yard and my daughter has to be vigilant when the children play outside. One day she learned that Mumbo was even more vigilant than she. While the boys were playing in the front yard she had to run inside for a minute. Suddenly she heard Mumbo barking and growling fiercely, she went running back outside to see what was going on. There was a copperhead near the house and Mumbo was between the snake and Jonah. She told the boys to go inside and actually had to grab Mumbos collar and drag him inside because he was in danger of getting bitten as the snake was trapped between the house and the dog with no escape route. The boys are a little older now and know to watch out for the snakes, but I feel better knowing they have Mumbo keeping watch over them.
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