Well Bandit just proved her worth.....she has been in the proverbial dog house since she ate the little Red Hen and I have been ignoring her and paying her no attention, afraid I was just to ANGRY to interact fairly with her. She knows I have been mad though.
Well today I'm directing the new foster, Murphy, in his crate where he stays when he first comes in from outside and needs to dry off and chill out. It is a wire crate and the door was standing open. Somehow his big puppy foot caught a toe in the door as he gallumped in, and any movement of the door either way only pinched his toe tighter! I ran over to help him and in his fear, he bit me on the hand! I tried to dodge and get his paw out, but he nailed me on the arm, a second bite! I'm at this point retreating and Bandit is suddenly at my side, barking her head off at him, in his face, barking something to him in dog, snarling don't you dare bite her, and backing him into the crate and the backward momentum released his foot, freeing him, when I managed to get my hand in there and pop his toe loose without it getting bit off. Bandit like understood the dilemma and translated and directed for me. Amazingly smart dog! I realized about five minutes later that Bandit was crated when that started, but opened the door for herself somehow when I needed help. The door isn't secure but normally she stays inside that same crate just fine.
The bites are not bad but the arm one smarts like heck. I don't blame the dog, he was in panic mode. I don't think I'll allow this guy to go with small children however, his bite instinct is too strong in reaction to pain. Ouch! As dog bites go I've had worse, but it is no fun having two.
Bandit is happily snoozing at my feet now, basking in love in adoration and loving every minute. She knows she was a hero. The puppy respects her lead and is curled up next to her sleeping as well, poor guy. I can't even find where his toe was pinched.