Dachsund becomes national hero

In the best tradition of canine cinema star Lassie, a dachshund named Agathon refused to give up until he barked some sense into his master so they could rescue a young boy.

Agathon’s determination also made the small dog a big hero in Norway today.

Daniel Refsnes Trevland, four, wandered off as his mother, Monica, was waiting to pay at a store checkout counter in the western port city of Stavanger on Saturday.

The weather was terrible, with high winds and rain, and it turned dark as searchers failed to find Daniel after two hours.

Unaware of the search, Ivar Lunde, 67, had driven down to a rocky beach for Agathon’s regular walk. The weather was so bad that Lunde stayed in the car, and let his dog walk himself.

After a while, Lunde called for Agathon, but the eight-year-old dog remained at the waterfront, barking.

Finally, the dog ran back to the car, and stood in the rain, refusing to get back in and still barking.

“It was a very special sound,” Lunde said of Agathon’s barks. “It was as if he was barking ‘come here, come here’.”

Lunde said Agathon, repeatedly looking back to make sure his master was following, led him to the waterfront, where they spotted a soaked and cold child on a slippery rock just off the shore.

Lunde managed to reach the little boy, carry him to shore and contact the police, so he could be returned to his mother. Daniel was not harmed.