It’s amazing how placid, laid-back dogs can become frighteningly ferocious if they think their pack is in any form of danger. The dogs were snoozing peacefully when a poor man came to our door trying to do his bit for charity. I fear he may need his hearing fixed!

Bear has been on protection duty since he joined our family, but is particularly protective of Bubba. He sleeps by her door while she’s resting (that’s if he’s not in the room beside her cot) and whenever anyone new comes to visit, he has to check them out (which he does at very close range) and doesn’t leave their side until I tell him it’s okay. And that deep voice of his – he could wake people in the next suburb!

Bella has proven to me twice in her young life how tough she is – and how protective. Before Beary and Bubba came along, Bella rescued me a couple of times.

I’d been on a not-so-fabulous date with a guy who insisted on dropping me home, then got a little heavy handed. Bella was a slip of a thing and only about six months old, but she got in between he and I, bared her teeth at him and started to growl a very low (very scary!) growl. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and she leaned in very close to him. He got the hint that the date was over – and there wouldn’t be another one – and left without further ado. Another time she saved me from an intruder. Way to go girl!

I’m so grateful for my gorgeous furry guardians, even if they occasionally scare well-meaning people.