In the tapestry of our society, different periods unfold, each marked by what some call "signs of the times." Curiously, one such sign is reflected in our friends: the guardians and companions we lovingly call our dogs. My journey into the world of humans and canines began when I welcomed a German Shepherd into my life and enlisted the help of a specialist known as a "canine expert."

Amidst the complexities of human relationships, there exists a unique bond between us and our four-legged friends—be they guardians or pets. My initiation into the realm of people and dogs occurred when I adopted a German Shepherd and sought the guidance of a "canine expert." Despite my initial intention for her to be a guard dog, my shepherd turned out to be remarkably gentle. Together with the canine expert, we endeavored to teach her what is known as "protection work"—training her to perform specific security maneuvers, like grabbing an imaginary intruder's right hand, barking on command, and responding to my whispered alerts such as "Guard! Stranger!" It turned out that everything dogs are trained to do is not out of malice or irritation, nor is it intended to frighten anyone. For dogs, it's a game. Essentially, the canine expert and I were teaching my shepherd to play at fierceness, which proved to be a fascinating experience.

As a side note, my German Shepherd's skills came in handy a couple of times in the woods of Peredelkino. She barked authoritatively and snapped her teeth a few times near some presumptuous strangers trying to strike up conversations in the forest. Yet, during the training process, I learned a great deal about the dynamics of human-dog relationships across different phases of life. Our canine expert, Shamil, loved German Shepherds so much that he started to resemble one himself. One of his dogs once shielded him with her body, protecting him from robbers. The dog perished, but Shamil survived and developed an enduring affection for purebred German Shepherds. Interestingly, purebred dogs, as it turns out, won't attack humans without cause. Those dogs capable of causing harm are bred for show purposes. To make them appear beautiful, fluffy, and large, various breeds are mixed. This mixing can adversely affect a dog's psyche, potentially turning it genuinely dangerous for humans. Remember the criminal 90s when people kept ferocious pit bulls—truly dangerous dogs trained to grab a person's throat? In our lovely Peredelkino, there was a time when strange and monstrous St. Bernards appeared. Originally bred in the Saint Bernard Hospice to search and rescue people in the Alps, these gentle dogs reportedly saved forty lives, once carrying a boy on their back for five kilometers. Yet, in our area, these kind dogs were crossed with Caucasian Shepherds, resulting in enormous, aggressive, and highly unpredictable dogs. Our local behemoth strolled with a small, fragile boy who, upon seeing my shepherd and me, would scream, "Run!" Unable to control the massive dog, he attempted to anchor it to a tree with the leash while my shepherd and I hurried away. It was a challenging time when people were ready to defend their lives even with the aid of living weapons.

My shepherd remained a kind dog throughout. Yet, the neighborhood children could visit without fear. Now, I am glad to see fewer damaged dogs around me. It has become fashionable to adopt loyal Labradors, amusing Chihuahuas, and carefree Spaniels. I want to believe that we have taken a breath and can now genuinely care for one another. Perhaps soon, we will be able to visit each other without the fear of being chased down in a neighbor's yard.



Original article: https://radiovera.ru/sobaki-i-ih-hozyaeva