More: Best dog EVER for this old lady! Ernie is attentive, intuitive, gentle, loving and protective. He always waits for me to navigate my steep stairs whether at the top or bottom. Ernie is cautious but never aggressive with people, children or other dogs/animals. We live in the woods and he remains next to me when outside never chasing deer, turkeys, woodchucks, etc. BUT he does keep squirrels off my deck and bird feeders!