As he does on many an early morning Sam the wonder black Lab lumbered into the bathroom while I was shaving today to sprawl out behind my feet.

Just as Sam snorted softly and prepared to go back to sleep the radio blared news of a black Lab mix who had protected his master Tuesday by jumping in front of a mountain lion on a California hiking trail.

"My dog saved our lives," said William Morse who was hiking with his wife in a national forest when the 120-pound mountain lion attacked. Five-year-old Hoagie was injured fighting off the cat but underwent surgery and is recovering.

"Sam, did you hear that?" I asked. "Their black Lab mix is a hero. What do you think of that?"

Woof, woof, ruff, arf?

"I don't know what their Lab was mixed with."

Arf, arf, ruff, ruff, woof.

"So you think it must have been a Doberman or a Rottweiler, huh? True, you Labs are pretty easy-going, and you're pure Lab. Still, I'd like to think you'd step in if I were threatened. You would, wouldn't you?"

Ruff, arf, arf, woof?

"No, we're not planning to do any hiking in the California mountains. That's not the point. In a situation like that, you'd be as brave as Hoagie, wouldn't you?

Wooof, ruff, wooooof.

"What do you mean it depends on the size of the mountain lion?"

Arf, ruff, arf, woof.

OK, so you're not looking to be a hero. And I wouldn't want you to get hurt. But remember, if anything were to happen to me who would fix your dinner?"

Sam raised his head, cocked his ears and practiced a fierce look. Grrrrrr, grrrrrr.

"That's more like it. You can go back to sleep now."