He must take care of animals, sheep, donkeys and
even his master.
In our mountains, walking on unknown paths, danger
may appear any time: hungry wolves or bears, rocks coming down in
thundering noise, hard, unexpected rains.
But the dog unconditionally loves his master, and is ready to sacrifice
himself, if danger appears.
The shepherd dog is not the most educated dog
possible... This is happening because up in the mountains, there
is no time for socializing and proper education. It is pure, natural
life.
"BAD" is such a dog.
We met him in the northern part of the country,
the legendary Bucovina, during the winter season.
Everybody there knew that "BAD" is really a big,
bad, hostile dog.
After a hard way to that village, we reached our
destination: an old house, at the limits of the village, with the
forest hanging over it.
The master of the place told us that this is an
area where bears, wolves and boars often attack the sheep herds
and destroy the crops. His only defense is his dog. Being a puppy,
this dog was curious, eager to fight and attack everything that
moved.
He got the name "RAU" (BAD).
When he was 6 months old, a waggon bumped him
and his back leg was hurt.
Since than, nobody could pass with such a vehicle,
because he jumps in, and throws down everything inside: people,
things, heavy load. Than he jumps down and walks away, without hurting
people!
Of course that our main concern was: from all these
mountains and places, we could land only here, where this beast
lived?
Our host said that BAD is gone, at over two hills
distance (the space and distances are measured there by hills and
mountains, not by regular units!).
Somewhere far away, we spotted a white dot; "yes,
he is there, but don't worry, he fears that I will hold and lock
him in the barn", we heard.
Only a faraway, but deep bark came.
So, we started to prepare the dinner and cook what
we brought for the feast we intended to have: roastbeef, grills,
sausages, boiled drinks (a specialty)...
We drank and tried the food and became fearlessly
happy, laughing, joking and completely forgetting the beast...
... until the heavy smell spread all over and,
just like in old toons, the smell of cooking steaks brought the
hungry dog, barking and waving his tail and ears, becoming bigger
and bigger, with heavy ballot hanging down his opened mouth.
We were three grown ups, each over 1.90 meters
high, but his head came easily to our middle. My God, he was a monster!
But when we spotted his eyes, we realized that
his goal was to eat, not us, but something good, anyhow!
He received tens of bones and full steaks, so he
sat on a big rock, waving his tail and eating for an hour.
Than we became friends, we caressed him, he licked
our hands and let us take some pictures.
You can see him, majestic and in full power, a
meter high, but not a bad dog, but a simple, village sheep guardian,
preceded by a fearsome name, ready to make friends, but also ready
to kill for his master and property, if necessary.
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