Him a good boy

[cmh6476 1,025]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/missing-arizona-toddler-found-7-182410115.html

Missing Arizona toddler found 7 miles from home with rancher’s dog: 'He wouldn’t leave him'

Julia Gomez and Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY

Wed, April 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM CDT

2 min read

 

A rancher's dog is being credited with helping protect a toddler who went missing in Arizona this week after he wandered away from his home and was found several miles away.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call April 14 reporting a missing 2-year-old boy, the sheriff’s office said in a post on Facebook. The toddler had wandered away from his home in Seligman, Arizona, about 180 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and into rough terrain.

A search and rescue party consisting of 40 members was put together to look for the toddler, according to police. After 16 hours of searching, the boy was found in a rancher's driveway, almost 7 miles away from his home.

But the boy wasn't found alone: he was with the rancher's dog named Buford, a 5-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix.

 

'I can't believe that kid made it that far'

In a video posted by the sheriff's office, the rancher, Scotty Dunton, said he had heard about the missing toddler and was headed to town when he spotted him.

"When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," said Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman. "I look up and the little kid's standing there with my dog."

"I can't believe that kid made it that far," he added.

The sheriff's office said that during the overnight search, "DPS ranger rescue helicopter said they spotted 2 mountain lions among the terrain the boy traveled."

Dunton's wife Dawn told USA TODAY over email that she wasn't home at the time of the rescue, but the "child was in fairly good condition all things considered."

"He was crying but Scotty was able to comfort him. His little face was all dirty and of course he was hungry and thirsty," Dawn said. "He is doing well now after some much needed rest in the safety of his home."

Buford 'loves kids,' is a 'natural babysitter'

Dunton said he believes the toddler reached the ranch by following a road right next to a power line before their dog Buford found the boy.

Buford "loves kids, so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said.

 

[Hardcore troubadour 15,416]

Good thing it wasn’t a pit bull. 

[5-Points 3,526]

7 hours ago, cmh6476 said:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/missing-arizona-toddler-found-7-182410115.html

Missing Arizona toddler found 7 miles from home with rancher’s dog: 'He wouldn’t leave him'

Julia Gomez and Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY

Wed, April 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM CDT

2 min read

 

A rancher's dog is being credited with helping protect a toddler who went missing in Arizona this week after he wandered away from his home and was found several miles away.

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call April 14 reporting a missing 2-year-old boy, the sheriff’s office said in a post on Facebook. The toddler had wandered away from his home in Seligman, Arizona, about 180 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and into rough terrain.

A search and rescue party consisting of 40 members was put together to look for the toddler, according to police. After 16 hours of searching, the boy was found in a rancher's driveway, almost 7 miles away from his home.

But the boy wasn't found alone: he was with the rancher's dog named Buford, a 5-year-old Great Pyrenees/Anatolian mix.

 

'I can't believe that kid made it that far'

In a video posted by the sheriff's office, the rancher, Scotty Dunton, said he had heard about the missing toddler and was headed to town when he spotted him.

"When I was driving out the driveway, I noticed my dog was sitting down by the entrance," said Dunton, who owns Dunton Ranch in Kingman. "I look up and the little kid's standing there with my dog."

"I can't believe that kid made it that far," he added.

The sheriff's office said that during the overnight search, "DPS ranger rescue helicopter said they spotted 2 mountain lions among the terrain the boy traveled."

Dunton's wife Dawn told USA TODAY over email that she wasn't home at the time of the rescue, but the "child was in fairly good condition all things considered."

"He was crying but Scotty was able to comfort him. His little face was all dirty and of course he was hungry and thirsty," Dawn said. "He is doing well now after some much needed rest in the safety of his home."

Buford 'loves kids,' is a 'natural babysitter'

Dunton said he believes the toddler reached the ranch by following a road right next to a power line before their dog Buford found the boy.

Buford "loves kids, so I can imagine he wouldn't leave him when he found him," Dunton said.

 

I have a Black Lab/Great Pyrenees mix. He's very protective. GP's are great dogs. 

That said, How TF does a 2 year old "wander" several miles from home before his parents realize he's gone?

I'm not a parent but I'm pretty sure I'd realize my two year old wasn't where I left him when I returned 30 seconds later. 

[easilyscan 924]

8 hours ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Good thing it wasn’t a pit bull. 

You got that right!

[BunnysBastatrds 2,438]

 Incredible story. Love these. Puppies>peoples

[HellToupee 1,773]

2 hours ago, 5-Points said:

I have a Black Lab/Great Pyrenees mix. He's very protective. GP's are great dogs

GPs are super sweet dogs but are barkers. Gentle giants. We had a neighbor with one behind us when we lived in Mass. We have a 85 pound lab and was dwarfed by the GP

[5-Points 3,526]

51 minutes ago, HellToupee said:

GPs are super sweet dogs but are barkers. Gentle giants. We had a neighbor with one behind us when we lived in Mass. We have a 85 pound lab and was dwarfed by the GP

Oh they can bark, for sure. 

We have a "no soliciting" sign on our front door. My wife and I were sitting on the couch watching tv around dusk one night with the front door open and the lights off. So I could see out the door but you couldn't see in. This guy comes walking up the front walk thinking he's about to launch into his sales pitch. 

The dog is asleep on the living room floor about 40 feet from the front door. 

I see this guy walk up and about the time his front foot hit the porch, I say "Sorry, we're not interested."

He managed to get out the words "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm from...."

At that point, my dog jumped up out of a dead sleep, barking, and heading quickly towards the screen door. 

Dude turned and ran!

I muttered under my breath, "I tried to warn you."

My wife who was looking out the kitchen window at the time said "He's already at the sidewalk and running to the neighbor's house."  It's about 15 yards from the front door to the sidewalk. 

 

ETA: He's 4 years old and 160 lbs.