Heartwarming / Hank the Cowdog

• The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog:
  • When the coyotes plan a raid on Hank's ranch, Hank (who had unofficially been in the coyote tribe for a few weeks) is assigned by Scraunch to kill Drover. On the way to the ranch, Hank thinks about how he did care about Drover and the ranch, culminating in a Heel–Face Turn and a fight with the coyotes. When Drover is presumed dead after the fight (he had only fainted), Hank is sad about it.
• The Case Of The One Eyed Killer Stud Horse: Hank is immediately charmed by Alfred's cousins Ashley and Amy, even letting them play dress-up with him despite his own feelings. Then the eponymous horse, Tuerto, attacks Amy and Ashley. Hearing them scream, Hank moves in for battle. Initially, he plans to distract Tuerto while keeping far enough out of range that the significantly bigger horse can't use his full strength against him. However, when Tuerto refuses to take the bait, saying he wants the girls, Hank attacks him directly. Hank gets his leg broken and the incident could easily have ended up being a Heroic Sacrifice if not for Sally May and her shotgun.
• The Christmas Turkey Disaster:
  • Ashley and Amy's appearance in The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse receives a sweet Continuity Nod when Hank remembers the first time they were on the ranch and how he fell (platonically) head over heels for them.
  • Little Alfred falls through the ice while he and his cousins are playing. Although Hank is initially reluctant, he steels himself and goes to try to pull the boy out, talking soothingly to him all the while. When Alfred accidentally pulls him in, Hank tells him to hold him close so he can warm up, and clings to the edge of the ice to keep them both above water.
  • When the rest of the ranch arrives to rescue Little Alfred, Loper says he'll lay the ladder across the ice and go out there. Slim gainsays him, saying that Loper has a family.