[alaskayorkie]

We've all heard tales of true hero dogs, the ones who save their owners' lives by alerting them to a fire or warding off an intruder. There are stories of dogs chasing off or fighting an attacking animal. And I even read where a large Lab dragged its injured owner to safety on a hiking trip.

How about Yorkies? Do they have the hero gene? Has your Yorkie done anything heroic? If the opportunity presented itself, do you think he or she would rise to the occasion? I'm making this a poll, but I'd prefer some discussion and examples. Here are mine:

Eddie: He's good at alerting me to moose in the area. Up here, moose can walk right in your backyard, and they can be dangerous if you surprise them. Eddie knows the scent, and he'll bark long before I realize there's a moose around. I have no doubt he could save my life by alerting me to one's presense.

Jillie: She's a busybody, and she knows where everyone is at every time. There have been a couple of occasions when I've let Eddie out in the backyard and forgotten about him. But good ol' Jillie-on-the-spot doesn't allow that to happen. The second Eddie returns to the door, she lets me know.

Rusty: I know, I know, I said YORKIES, but we might as well open it to all our dogs. Rusty is a Lab, a pretty docile one at that. He prefers being left alone and never, ever fights. But there have been at least four occasions when he's stepped in between the Yorkies and a dog he perceived to be a potential threat. No fight ever ensued, but I have no doubt he could save their lives if the worst were to happen.

How about your dogs?