Illustrated chapter book about a man and dog, and the man is killed by wolves. The dog runs away and finds an injured goose

[Austin]

I'm trying to help my friend find the title of a book they read back when they were younger. Their memory of the book is hazy, as they read it when they were 5. The book itself is older than 2005, likely between 1980-2000, and was a chapter book with illustrations.

All they remember about the plot: A man and a dog go for a walk. The man is killed by wolves, and tells his dog (which they think is a shepherd?) to save itself by running away. The dog later finds an injured goose and befriends it. It was goose season, and a hunter was trying to bag the goose, but didn't want to hurt the dog. Therefore, the hunter doesn't end up killing the goose for fear of also hitting the dog, and the goose flies away safe.

They also remember hazily some of the images that were in the book: 1) the dog was jumping from behind a log to the front, 2) a hunter's shack with a fireplace and antlers hanging on either side of it, 3) a picture of a hunter pointing/leaning on his gun barrel to the ground, and 4) the goose flying away from the dog into a clear blue sky.
Any help would be appreciated!

[Rainbowheart]

Outlaw Red?

[bookel]

A book by Joseph E. Chipperfield? He wrote quite a few with German shepherds, if that is the breed you meant. https://www.librarything.com/author/c...
Or by Jack O'Brien, Jim Kjelgaard, Thomas C. Hinkle, Mel Ellis, Walt Morey, Sterling North?
Strange Companion by Hyde has an injured goose and death but wrong plot.