My niece fell down and our dog instantly ran towards her and barked

I'm babysitting a puppy at the moment and he's underfoot all the time. I accidentally ran over his little paw last night with my chair and he cried and both my little dog and my cat, came running to see if he was okay and my little dog sort of barked. I guess it's a natural thing with animals in one family to care about each other and for some to have a strong protective instinct.

That's so sweet of Max!! hehe At least he knows how to care his care and concern at the right moments instead of playing all the time.. haha That's why dogs are our best friends and i'm sure if Max sees u sobbing in one corner, he will come sit by your side, lick your tears right? Dogs somehow have this instinct to care for humans and i'm amazed by them as well.. haha ^^

It is a good expression of dogs are men's best friends. Mas showed its love and care on your little niece. Sometimes i think it is really good to have a dog as pet, because it can let the kids know love and responsibility of taking care of others.

Hi secretbear, your dog is amazing! i am thinking of my cousin's dog Happy. My cousin's college is in another city, the day he left for college, little Happy behaved sad. no matter who called him, he just lifted his head up and gave you a sad look, kept staying at the balcony looking at the sky all day long... It seems that little Happy aware that his friend would leave home for a long time. Dog is such an intelligential animal. =)

hi secretbear oh Max was wanting to solace her as he wished he could have protected her from the fall. When I had the flu back whem we had our own home, mydog would get up and sit beside me an push his' nuzzle into my arm. He did not whimper, he just looked at me as if to say you are going to get better. I am here. I think dogs and cats sense when we humans are hurt or ill and try in their own ways to comfort us. they really do awe me too, they are so much smarter than we give them credit for. .lol.

Yes, I agree to you. Dog is our faithful and intelligent companion. I do not understand why certain area as Vietnam where the people has a special festival to eat the dog. But some fierce and large size dogs are not encouraged to approach to our babies and it is very dangerous to do so. This was the advice after few unhappy incidents happened earlier. In your case, your dog has become part of your family members and it is concerning it's young master very much.

With the three dogs we have, we only have two that will come running if something happens to one of my kids. Shiloh, our lab mix will actually go into a fit, if one of my kids are being hurt by someone. She's really protective over the family. Chloe our basset hound, will come running when she hears a person crying when they are hurt. She won't leave their side until they are done crying. She will even try to give you kisses, it's like her way of trying to help. It's really cute to watch. Now my beagle, Ladybug will run away the moment she hears crying or any loud noises. She's my scaredy cat.

Dogs like to live in families, because in the wild that is the way they live - in packs. All the dogs that we have had seem to learn how we are feeling and respond accordingly. If a member of the family would cry, they would whimper and seem to try and make them better. It was as if the dog was saying, "don't be sad". Most of our dogs, big and small ones, would growl if they perceived a threat, not only to themselves but to a family member. And the last dog we had when I lived at home with my parents was really funny. She knew her place which was next to my Dad, and she would move out of a chair in an instance, if he wanted to sit in it. But if any other member of our family wanted to sit in the chair, she would not budge, but growl and "threaten" us to leave her be.. I don't know if she would have bitten us, but nobody was willing to go that far and find out, and sit somewhere else. I did move the chair complete with the dog in it on one occasion, because it was the chair in line with the TV. She growled all the time I was moving her complete with the chair, but was quite happy to be in a different position. The problem was my mother came in and told me off for moving here furniture around! _Derek

When I was a little kid my dog was like that. Once I fell out of my swing and was knocked out. When I came to, the dog was standing over me whimpering. When I opened my eyes and reached up and touched his neck he got all wiggly happy. Some dogs are as you say really smart.

That is totally awesome, your dog sounds like he is a caring dog and will alert you when there is trouble or danger. I know my Penny would also bark when my son cries, and Ciara, she would be the one to lie down with my son to comfort him until help arrived. Dogs are amazing..:)

Yes, some pets are like that. I had a dog once that used to lick my daughters tears away. It was so cute.

My dogs display similar behaviour. whenever someone is crying they come over and put their head in your lap and just look at you. I sometimes think people underestimate what dogs can understand. Birdie -

It is so hard to understand animals trying to communicate. However, I think for that instance, the dog was asking if it can do something to help. Maybe it was even asking how the kid was doing. Dogs are more clever than we think they are. they can be honest, candid, or even scheming. It is not an imagination. This is why I never under estimate animals. At least I know animals are more clever than human criminals.

There is a reason why dogs are called " Man's best friend".. sometimes brings you to tears don't they...

Some dogs are like that. They are very protective over the people around them. I am glad for you that you have a dog that is sensitive and protective like that.

Isn't that great to know the dogs protect their "masters"? My son has a large black Labrador Retriever he got as a puppy. His little girl was I think 3 at the time. Now she is 5. But just last summer...the dog had never seen me and I went out back to play with the kids and the dog saw me but didn't come to me. Then as I started to walk to ward my grand daughter, that dog marched into action and stood between me and her..closer to her than me! I backed off and so did he! IT was like he didn't know me, and didn't know I wouldn't hurt her, so he went to protect his master. Once he saw I wasn't going to hurt her, be backed off. But he was watching out for her and no one even noticed! To this day, she will relate that story to people when she talks about her dog...which is almost big as she is! But she loves that dog and now knows he loves her! That is just terrific that the littles ones know they have a protector!

They know, they can seriously feel a change in the situation and the emotion that we present outwardly. Heck even the most untamed of dogs will surprise you by being quiet and well tamed when you really need that moment. kind of like how they snuggle under your arm when you have the worst day. Or in the middle of sleeping wake you up when somethings going on. :-)

I am sure your dog wants to help your niece. That is their way of showing care (bark- or to drive strangers) Yes,sometimes our pets shows care that we do not understand,somehow we can feel it.

It really nice to see him try to help to calm your niece. Such an adorable dog!(^^)

I'm not surprised dogs are part of our family and try to care for us just like we do for them. Not everybody dog will do that, about your niece, but I knew some people who also will not. Its strange for me, but not everybody like children (or pets) :( ?