This requires a bit of backstory. My Aussie-Houla mix, Gambit, was an only pet for several years. We then adopted a senior jack russell mix, Spot, that is mostly deaf, mostly blind from cataracts. Gambit really struggled with only-child syndrome and Spot is the grumpiest old man. They do not get along and barely tolerate each other.
At first, Spot was pretty energetic for an old man but had a couple falls going down the stairs but no issues going up. He would always just shake off any falls or slips and continue on his way like nothing happened. After a year, his age began to show and he would tire out quickly.
One day, Spot just stops halfway on the stairs and gets stuck. He can’t figure out how he can resume going up and is struggling. I’m not at the stairs yet and have all this shit I’m carrying. I’m panicking and don’t want to startle Spot into a fall. Gambit sees and immediately runs down to the step below to block Spot from falling and waits til I get there to scoop Little Man up. Gambit has done this a few times since, not just on the stairs but also if Spot gets into a potentially dangerous situation and us humans aren’t close enough by yet. We carry Spot up and down now.
Before his cataract surgeries, and after when Spot was having complications in healing, he was still partially blind and would get lost in the backyard, especially if it was a rainy night. If Spot didn’t come back inside a couple minutes after Gambit already came it, Gambit would run back out even though he hates the rain and wet paws, and boop Spots ear so that Spot will follow him back in the house.
Gambit loves the dog park and wrestling with other dogs. Spot loses his shit at the dog park if a strange dog comes within a 5ft radius so we keep him in the less busy area. Gambit will be clear on the other side of a large dog park, if he sees another dog get close to Spot, Gambit will sprint the entire way and stand in front of Spot, usually before Spot even realizes the strange dog is there. It’s not aggressive or possessive. It almost seems like “I’m going to block your view so you don’t embarrass me or have a heart attack.”
I know a lot of it is probably the herding instinct but I like to think there’s some love there even if it is one-sided.