‘Magraw got behind me and magee in front, they both growled louder, and all of a sudden I got the impression I was being herded.’: High school student saved from a mountain lion by his heroic German Shepherds while out for a nighttime run in the woods

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Sep 12, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

To say that we do not deserve doggos is an understatement. They are literally willing to put their lives on the line whenever they are needed to, just so that we can remain safe and sound in the face of danger. And that is what our story entails today as we delve into the life of a student athlete who while on an exercise expedition found himself in a situation which was so devious, so cunning, that he could not even see it with his very eyes. But his doggos most certainly could, and without hesitation they leapt into action and made sure that their hooman buddy was safe from the threat that loomed beyond the trees.

And while this story does not help anyone who might have a fear of the woods, it most certainly does go a long way to proving that the company of cute canines, is far more beneficial than just an emotional connection, it could literally save your life one day. 
 

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  • 01
    Around my 11th birthday, my family moved from a suburban neighborhood to a more rural setup.
    via Dananddog
  • 02
    Not too long before moving up here (same area I live now), our german shepherd had a litter of puppies. They were shepherd rot mixes, and the two
    via Dananddog
  • 03
    that we kept ended up growing to 110- 120lbs. There names were Magee and Magraw (In case you're wondering, yes, he was named after Quick draw Magraw).
    via Dananddog
  • 04
    Magee and Magraw were my dogs, by all accounts. As I started playing sports in High school, I would take them for a run
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  • 05
    through the woods every day to go from my house to the lake nearby, and come back around dusk.
    via Dananddog
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10551596544
    via Happy monkey via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • And now we know where those wholesome storylines we have become used to seeing in television and movies of young people bonding with their doggos and living lives of freedom amongst the American wilderness. It is rather dang inspiring, it is hard to deny that. Maybe these out of town folks are on to something…

  • 07
    The usual way this went was as follows: I call them, we take off at my jogging pace. Magraw hangs fairly close to me, Magee runs around chasing everything.
    via Dananddog
  • 08
    A few different times, he jumped deer into the trail a bit too close for my comfort. but those are other stories.
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  • 09
    This story is still my favorite from them.
    via Dananddog
  • 10
    I was on the typical run with them after school and practice. It was september- ish, so it was starting to get darker earlier, and on this
    via Dananddog

  • And so the scene is set, we will not fill you with spoilers but a gentle reminder to take the rest of this story with a pinch of salt considering just how infrequent and unlikely an event like this is to happen. Of course, it likely really did happen to this young man, but do not let that ruin your dream of buying an old colonial house and living out your prairie dreams.

  • 11
    particular night, I was sluggish, so we were still making our way home as dark approached. The trail is about two miles, and it's an
    via Dananddog
  • 12
    overgrown access road to a fishery pond for the lake. at this point, I'm about half way back, and in the thicker brush parts of the trail.
    via Dananddog
  • 13
    Something weird happens. Normally, the previously described attitudes would be present until we got home. On this night, the boys got very spooked, very fast.
    via Dananddog
  • 14
    While Magraw would normally be out in front, just relatively close (he always had the "protector" personality), tonight, at this point on the
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  • 15
    trail, his hair stood on end, and he started growling. not loud, just enough. Next, Magee came out of the bushes as fast as I've ever seen
    via Dananddog
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10551597056
    via otsphoto via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 17
    him move, growling the same and hair on end. Magraw got behind me and magee in front, they both growled louder, and all of a sudden I got the impression I was being herded.
    via Dananddog
  • 18
    We made it back fairly quick (I trusted these dogs immensely, so when they acted like that, we made time back).
    via Dananddog
  • 19
    I still can't say for sure that this was the case, as I never saw what spooked them, but it was no more than a week later that our neighbor's dog went missing, another
    via Dananddog
  • 20
    neighbor's chicken coop was raided, and finally a few weeks later, only about a mile from the incident, a female mountain lion was shot while ! trying to a neighbor's goat.
    via Dananddog
  • 21
    I am certain that night I was being stalked by a Mountain Lion, and I'm certain those two dogs protected me.
    via Dananddog

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woods mountain lion german shepherd student nighttime run reddit story saved louder heroic growl high school dog story
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