He'd only been adopted hours earlier but already Hercules was feeling like part of the pack, springing into the role of guard dog when burglars broke into his new family's home, RadarOnline.com has learned.

When the 135-pound Saint Bernard and owner Rubert "Lee" Littler took their first nighttime walk together on Wednesday, the protective pound pooch suddenly began growling and chased an intruder out of the basement of the southwest Ohio house, reported the Times-Gazette of Hillsboro.

The potential home-invader had already allegedly cut the telephone and cable lines and was preparing to break in before the man's best friend alerted Littler of the danger.