Craig Campbell will never forget the moment his 10-year-old Doberman, Night, proved exactly why dogs are called man’s best friend.
On a familiar trail in Cochrane, near Calgary, Campbell was walking with Night when the peaceful routine turned into a heart-pounding encounter. Hidden in the bushes was a grizzly sow with her two cubs.
“I managed two thoughts,” Campbell told CTV News. “First of all, I said to myself, ‘This can’t be happening.’ And then I realized I wasn’t going to get the bear spray out (in time) and I said to myself, ‘I’m about to die.’”
Before he could react, Night darted forward, placing himself squarely between Campbell and the bear. The animal rose on its hind legs, towering seven feet above the barking dog. It was enough to make the bear reconsider. After a tense moment, she huffed and turned back to her cubs, disappearing into the woods.
“He is a very brave dog,” Campbell said. “To have an animal that literally stood between me and death, there’s no better friend than that.”
The courageous act earned Night a place in Purina’s Animal Hall of Fame for 2025, Canada’s longest-running pet recognition award. Inductees receive a medallion, recognition at a ceremony in Toronto, and a year’s worth of free pet food.
An experienced trainer, Campbell believes Night’s courage comes from years of practice in Schutzhund, a German sport often used to train police dogs.
Still, when he’s not showing off his bravery, Night enjoys the simple things, like splashing in streams and watching minnows swim through his paws.
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