My blond-haired, blue-eyed, four-year-old daughter, J, climbed on the white plastic swing seat out back of our home. I pushed her while she clutched the metal chain loops and repeated “again.”
It was about 6 p.m., and time to prepare dinner. The swing set was below my kitchen window, and I left planning to watch J from inside. If she needed me, I could run to her quickly, but I didn’t know that I wouldn’t be quick enough.
For reasons unknown, I guided my chocolate Labrador retriever, Boh, by his chain collar to the swings telling him to sit and stay knowing that he wouldn’t leave.
I prepared dinner, and as I spoke to J, I watched a cream, pointed-eared chow, that I didn’t recognize trot towards her. I had seen a chow growl at J during dog training class and I also watched one attack another dog.
I flew out the great room’s white French doors, onto the wooden fortress-like deck, and scrambled down the sturdy steps jumping from the second to last one. I turned the corner as the chow bared his white, upper and lower teeth and lunged for J’s face.
Boh charged the chow and blocked J, who jumped off the swing and leapt into my arms. We screamed while both dogs stood on hind legs, fangs to fangs and ripped jaws, heads and throats while dog screeches and loud, guttural growls pierced the neighborhood.
I put J down on the ground and grabbed sticks and rocks and hurled them at the chow hoping to end the fight. The chow finally backed off but stayed in my yard.
Hearing screams, the chow’s owner sprinted to my yard holding a leash. When I explained what happened, she apologized repeatedly and said that she recently adopted the dog from the pound and knew nothing about its history.
Then she fastened the leash to the chow’s collar and left. I learned later that she returned the dog.
To this day, I question why I left Boh with J, because I had never done it before. It makes me wonder if someone was watching over her.
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Definitely more of a co-incidence than I’d care to question too closely. I’d say so. And thank goodness she was okay!
We were lucky, thanks for reading.
As a fellow mother, this totally gave me the chills. Thanks goodness for Boh! This is part of the reason I bought purebred Portuguese Water Dogs, to know what I was getting (much to the dismay of my dog-rescuing friends). I think it’s totally possible that you had a subconscious idea that something bad might happen. I think we sense more than we can process.
I agree, it is important to know the background of your dog. Good luck with your Potuguese Water dogs, I saw some this summer and they are very cute. Thank goodness I had a subconscious thought to place the dog next to my daughter, one never knows..
Your mother’s intuition was working overtime that day. Glad that she was okay, and hooray for Boh!
He was a good dog and worth every penny that we paid for dog food and vet bills. Thanks for reading my post.
So scary. Good dog, Boh! It’s amazing how loyal and protective dogs are of their humans. Thank goodness you left him with your little girl and that she was unharmed.
It was scary, but Boh did his job thank goodness. Thanks for reading
My son’s friend was mauled by a neighbor’s Rottweiler just last week. Believe me when I say, THANK GOODNESS all that happened was a scary experience. Give Boh extra hugs.
It sounds like your son’s friend is okay thank goodness. All animals are unpredictable but some dog breeds have aggressive tendencies. I don’t understand why someone would take a chance owning one of those breeds.
So glad that Boh stepped in. Give him a scratch behind the ears from me.
He did his job.
holy crap how scary!! so glad you left Boh with her. so glad J is okay. wow.
It was frightening knowing that she could have been killed. Thank goodness for Boh.
Until last year, I had two chocolate labs. Sadly, we only have our young one now. God love Boh! And thank God J was safe!
He was a great dog, when he died I switched breeds because I knew that I couldn’t replace him. Thanks for reading.
It’s stories like that that make me want a dog. It really is amazing how loyal and protective they are.
I have grown up with dogs and I wouldn’t be without one. Training them is time consuming though.
Oh my gosh! So scary! I have to say it’s good to hear that the owner was apologetic. All too often I feel like I hear that owners do not take responsibility. We are in charge of our pets. I’m glad your Boh was there to protect J. I hope he wasn’t hurt.
I can’t imagine an owner not apologizing after a dog attack.
Crap you must have been so scared! Thank god for that dog!
It was sudden and unbelievable. Thank God is right.
wow..what a hero dog!
He definitely was, thanks for reading
Bless your brave Chocolate lab. We have one too called Dudley, though I have not had to write about anything so stressful. Yet! What a hero. Glad he was there for you.
Thanks for reading my post. I am amazed to this day that something made me place the dog with her, otherwise she could have been scarred for life.