It was a sheepdog, and it thought I was trying to steal its family's sheep! I turned around and ran as fast as I've ever run in my life back down the trail. Eventually the dog stopped chasing me, but I kept sprinting back to my house, my heart pounding. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life! But after meeting some shepherds while hiking in the mountains, I got over my fear of Tajik sheepdogs. I saw that the dogs are very good at their jobs -- making sure that no sheep get lost from the herd -- and that they're well-trained to protect their shepherd's sheep and goats. I have a lot of respect for these dogs, who can walk 20 miles a day through the mountains with their flock and their masters.
Unlike in America, residents of Dushanbe don't keep dogs as pets. Dogs are seen as working animals, so they're usually only found on farms or travelling through the countryside with their shepherd and their flock. Tajik sheepdogs are immensely loyal to their masters.
Tajik sheepdogs are a part of the natural environment, but they're also part of a system of human relationships and cultural practices that are unique to Tajikistan. The reason their work guarding flocks of sheep and goats is so valuable is because the work of shepherds in Tajikistan is highly prized. Sheep and goats here are very expensive. Many families measure their wealth in the amounts of sheeps or goats they own. Similarly, eating meat is seen as a sign that someone is very rich. Tajiks only eat meat on very special occasions. So sheepdogs do more than just guard animals: They guard wealth.
