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10.07.2013

Huck, the Superhero

Have you ever wondered if you were attacked whether or not you'd be able to scream out for help or if you'd be paralyzed with fear?  (Or am I just a crazy person because I even wonder about that sort of thing?) Well, I discovered the answer to that question this weekend. No surprise to me, I'm the too-scared-to-scream-and-fight type.

This past Saturday I decided to take a trail I've never taken before while walking Huck. One that Steven had told me about and sounded easy enough to navigate. Bad idea. After an hour of walking, by which time I should have been close to home again, I realized I was completely and utterly lost...

After another hour of walking, I was beginning to panic... 
Feeling tired and anxious, I came to another "Y" in the trail I decided to take a right.  But Huckleberry, who walks off lease, took a left. I keep walking, knowing that Huck would end up running past me any minute, but instead he started barking at me. I told him to come along but he refused to move and continued to bark. "What the heck," I thought. If Huck wants to go left, left it is. I didn't care at this point. I was too exhausted to think! 

Little did I know Huck was having a Lassie moment. Within 15 minutes I broke out onto a trail I was very familiar with and realized I was about 2 miles away from home. I think Huck was getting pretty tried too and was ready to head back home. I'm not sure if he knew I was lost, but he definitely knew what direction home was in and how to get me back on the right trail. 
While heading home there is a sharp bend in this trail where you can't see what's ahead of you. When I came around the bend I saw a massive black dog staring me down. Huck was about 20 feet ahead of me and off the trail busily investigating something in the woods. I froze as the black dog barred his teeth, raised the hair on his back, and charged at me. 

I was literally paralyzed. Could not move a muscle, couldn't scream, couldn't prepare my legs to give that dog a good, swift kick. I simply froze. All of a sudden, Huck charged out of the woods and sideswiped that dog right before it reached me, crashing down in a mix of teeth, growls, and fur onto the ground. Unfortunately, the dog was quite large and had Huck underneath him. It was all over in a few seconds I'm sure, although to me it felt like minutes had passed, as the black dog's owner ran up and pulled his dog off Huck. He began apologizing to me but I didn't say a word as I hooked Huck onto his leash and began walking away. When the man and his rabid beast were out of sight, I sat down on the trail and cried. I was exhausted and emotionally drained from the distance I'd walked and the scary encounter with that dog. All I wanted to do was hold on to Huck. 

We finally made it home where we both crashed and took a much needed nap. A 3 hour, 6+ mile walk is no easy feat when you're 5 months pregnant, but I feel quiet certain that I probably wouldn't have made it home without Huck. I think Steven would have had to send out a search party for me (where they would have found my remains next to a rabid black dog..)! 
Not only did Huck lead me home, but he attacked that other dog to protect me. Never in my life have I seen Huck even growl at another dog! He definitely read him as a threat and took action to protect his momma. And here I thought the only thing this golden pup was good for was kisses and picking up the crumbs from under the table..

Man, I love my dog. 

So thanks, Hucklebutt! You're my new superhero and the very best four legged companion a girl could have. 

20 comments:

Sarah said...

Oh my goodness! I am so glad you are okay! GO Huck!!

Kait said...

I have those exact thoughts all the time and OMG! I am so happy you are okay. I'm also a new reader My good friend Sarah sent this to me...Huck is a superhero!

Cara said...

Oh my gosh I'm glad you are OK! That is so scary! I always wonder if dogs would protect you (especially Goldens, we all know they would probably lick someone to death first). Crazy story! People need to control their mean dogs. I would have been screaming at that person with the black dog.

Unknown said...

OMG thank GOD you had Huck there with you to protect you and glad he came out okay. That owner should not have had his dog off the leash!!

From Foothills to Fog said...

Oh my gosh, that gave me chills! I am so glad you're ok. What a stressful day that must have been! Thank goodness Huck saved the day!

Anonymous said...

i think about this all the time. i am so glad you are okay! how is huck? i think he deserves extra hot dogs and cuddle time.

Alexa said...

What a terrifying day for both of you!! I'm so glad you're OK, and way to go, Huck, for protecting mama! He's such a good boy and you're lucky to have him. I think he gets extra treats and snuggles for as long as he wants to milk it. ;)

Jess Bourne said...

Because I'm 'that person' I had tears in my eyes reading this story. It's amazing how wonderful dogs are! So glad you're ok and Huck is so wonderful!

Health, Love & Fire said...

That must have been so scary! I can't even imagine! I'm so glad Huck was there to protect you. I was just talking to my husband about this last night. I'm so thankful that I have my dog around to protect me and keep me company when my hubby works 24hr shifts!

Kenzie Smith said...

Thank goodness you had Huck with you! How scary! I've always wondered what I would do in a situation like that..
When we take the dogs on walks we keep them on the leash because our dogs are pretty aggressive and don't like new people/animals.

Sara E. said...

I have ALWAYS wondered how I would react in a situation like that -- if I would be able to scream and take action or if I would be paralyzed with fear.

Thank goodness for Huck!

Lifeonephoto said...

Holy cow!!! Being lost in the woods is scary enough, but facing a mad dog.....oh my word!!! So thankful yours has a happy ending. Isn't it amazing dogs have such great instinct?! And you thought your dog was a big ole teddy bear. Awesome story! Thanks for sharing!

Vicki said...

How scary!! Thank goodness for Huck!!

This N That said...

You are his person...he will protect you forever no matter the breed. You are his person.....

Erica said...

Oh my goodness, how scary! I'm glad you BOTH are ok. Good job Huck!

Anonymous said...

ugh! Drives me CRAZY when people take their aggressive dogs to public places and LET THEM OFF LEASH. I have had a scary moment like this where I had to kick two dogs off my dog that RAN UP TO HER and latched onto her. Glad Huck saved the day!

Danielle said...

a. congrats on the baby on the way! such exciting news.
b. glad you and huck made it out of the woods okay. i hike with our pups all the time and i can't stand when people with aggressive dogs let them off leash. so irresponsible. i'm sure he got a few extra, well deserved treats that night. :)

lauren said...

i bawled like a baby while reading your post. i am so glad that huck was with you that day. it is amazing what our furry friends/children will do for us. :) *

k8te said...

oh my gosh, glad you are okay! huck is such a hero!

LWLH said...

GO HUCK!!
It's amazing what dogs are capable of. So glad you both are okay.