Life in Bulgaria

Bulgarian Sheep Dogs, enjoying their own field

Karakachan Puppy, Sasha - Sept 2011 aged just 6 weeks and already 'on patrol'

Karakachan Puppy, Sasha aged 6 weeks

Karakachan, Sasha and her Dog Basket

Karakachan, Sasha with Snowy our West Highland Terrier

The Karakachan or Bulgarian Sheep (Shepherd) Dog.

High resolution photographs of our six week old puppies

Karakachan Puppies, Sisters Maya and Sasha - looking lovingly at each other

We first got our Karakachan puppies - two sisters, that we named Sasha and Maya - on the 26th of September 2011 when they were aged just 6 weeks. We had two reasons for getting them, firstly as we were in a new country, we wanted outdoor dogs to provide security for us and our property, and secondly we wanted loving, loyal, faithful, vigilant and strong dogs, which I had read was what these dogs are all about.

To get to our house in the Bourgas region of Bulgaria they had been on what was for them a long and stressful journey by road. Maya in particular was withdrawn, nervous and vulnerable, Sasha from the day that they arrived worried about and comforted her, and I wondered if these really grow into dogs reputed to have fought with wolves and bears?

After an hour or so in our garden, and with the sanctuary of their new kennel they eventually calmed down and became almost normal young puppies, but Maya would prove to always be a shy and wary dog, and Sasha the more dominant of the pair.

As with all young puppies Sasha and Maya were a delight to cuddle, and with that odour unique to young puppies. the picture of what might follow was complete, and to say that we were delighted with them is an understatement.

They were immediately put onto an all in one dog food for puppies (recommended by our vet), which they thoroughly enjoyed, and almost 6 months later I cannot remember giving them anything to eat that they have not eaten with enthusiasm, in fact they have eaten things outside that they most certainly should not have enjoyed - but did.

As outdoor dogs with thick woolen coats these dogs are bred to live outdoors, and from the very first day that is where they lived, in a kennel that I had built for them. Any blankets that we put inside the kennel would be unceremoniously dragged out and left in the garden, as if to say 'thanks, but no thanks'.

More pictures aged 6 weeks

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