[Telepathic Intruder]

I absolutely believe it, or at least that it's possible. On another one of my apparently frequent brushes with death, a horse came to my defense against a black bear, who came wandering into my vicinity looking very angry that I was too near to its bear cub (through no fault of mine own I guarantee it). Long story short, the horse acted deliberately on my behalf. Animals can do amazing things that you don't think they are capable of.

[Altariel]

Indeed. A donkey once protected her master from an angel. Animals are more aware that we suppose, I think.

It sounds like you were blessed with a wonderful horse.

[Sacajaweau]

The problem is the dog has to "understand" she is choking AND "understand" that a whack on the back will stop the choking. There is no instinct here.

[Twinkie]

A while back, we got an e-mail with photos of a mule kicking the fool out of a mountain lion that had stalked his riders. The mule killed the mountain lion. Makes one want a mule.

[ottbmare]

...a horse came to my defense against a black bear, who came wandering into my vicinity looking very angry that I was too near to its bear cub (through no fault of mine own I guarantee it). Long story short, the horse acted deliberately on my behalf.

I believe you. I've seen horses do similar things with humans they love.

I doubt this dog thought, "If I hit my mistress on her back the chicken will be dislodged from her trachea." But he certainly realized she was in danger, and his big heavy paw might just have hit her in a fortuitous way in his excitement.

[Salamander]

My first Ibizan Hound, Minny, saved me when the wood stove back drafted, filling the whole house with smoke.

I was completely unconscious and I awoke to her jumping on my chest with her front paws and barking into my face.

I got the dogs out, shut down the wood stove and we all sat huddled in the dark sub-zero cold until the smoke cleared.

I got smoke inhalation double pneumonia but I was alive.

I saved her from death row -literally- minutes before she was to be put to death.

That dog repaid me many times over, including jumping on the ex who was ‘sleeper holding’ me to kill me.

Dogs are more than we think.