Recently, the weather has been hot, so we have adjusted the direction of our collection and chose the countryside of Jiwang Mountain in southern Shanxi. This is a loess mountainous area, a small mountain village hidden in the mountains and ravine slopes. It is a living fossil of farming civilization, and the villagers live a relatively traditional life. , cocks crowing and dogs barking, and the environment beautiful, it is a typical northern pastoral life.
At around 9 o'clock in the morning, after climbing over the mountains and ridges under the guidance of a local film teacher, we entered a small mountain village built in the Loess Mountain Col. An old man at the entrance of the village introduced us to the general situation of the village. I heard that we were here. To record rural life, he suggested that we take a photo of the " black bear dog " that protects the village. It is extremely smart and loyal. Some owners once paid a high price and refused to sell it. There were even dog thieves who visited it several times but failed to succeed. I heard this from the old man. It felt a bit mysterious, and then everyone followed the direction indicated by the old man and found this family.
It was a coincidence that when I came to the house of "Black Bear Dog", I met its owner Sister Liu behind the house. I heard that everyone wanted to meet her "Black Bear Dog". The elder sister looked a little shy and lowered her head and smiled in embarrassment. He smiled and pointed at the side door for us to see. In the crack of the half-opened door was a big black-haired dog lying in the shade. Although he didn’t act aggressively when he saw us strangers, the photo was taken of him. Because of its reputation, none of us dared to step into the small courtyard rashly. Teacher S asked the eldest sister in a low voice to take us to take a closer look. She lowered her head and smiled and said: "Don't be afraid, it's okay, this is an old dog." "It never attacks people for no reason. As long as I am at home, it is more obedient and very smart."
When it was about 5 meters away from the "black bear dog", it raised its head alertly and growled in a low voice. Staring at us with wolf-like eyes, it seemed to be warning everyone. Sister Liu scolded it, and it immediately drooped its ears and continued to lie down on the spot.
took a closer look at this "black bear dog", which is not very big, has black hair without mottled colors, and a head that looks very much like a bear's head. Teacher S is a dog lover with more than 30 years of experience in raising dogs, and he is considered a leader in the local area. An insider said: "This kind of dog became popular locally in the mid-1990s. Because it is black all over, it is often called 'Black Bear' or 'Yiting Mo'. It is a famous dog in North my country. Its biggest advantage is confidence." Calm, loyal, and fighting prowess, when the dog-raising craze was on the rise, a black bear dog in the village could be sold for hundreds of thousands of yuan. This dog looked like it should be a cross between a black bear and a native dog, and now it is also The price is thousands of yuan.” Teacher
S’s words were verified by the eldest sister. She said: “This is a hybrid dog. My son brought it back from a friend’s house more than 10 years ago. At that time, he had a small dog. The asking price for the dog is only 1,000 yuan. This dog has a strong sense of territory. The mountain village is not very big and there are about 20 households. When it grew up, it almost defeated more than 10 dogs in the village and became the dog king of the village. The small mountain village became its sphere of influence, and it often 'patrolled' in the village. Whenever a stranger entered the village, it would pounce and bite, but it was very measured. If you stayed where you were, it would no longer attack. People often say that a good dog protects a village, and this is the case with this 'Black Bear Dog'."
The eldest sister said that her "Black Bear Dog" did not have a formal name. When she was young, she called her "Little Black" and when she got older, she called her "Big Black." It can understand the meaning. Her yard is very large, with three adjacent yards connected to her sons. The black bear usually guards this place.
Jiwang Mountain District has been a land of farming since ancient times. Sister Liu and her husband make a living by farming. They depend on the weather and have a lot of luck. In order to increase their income, they raised a group of sheep in the past few years. The 'Black Bear Dog' was also used in those years It serves as the bodyguard of the sheep. When the sheep are being herded, it follows the sheep and manages the sheep according to the owner's wishes. It drives and finds stray sheep and prevents the sheep from eating the crops. Sometimes, Sister Liu and her husband It can drive the sheep to the grazing place without going out. When it comes home at night, it will stay around the sheepfold to protect the safety of the sheep. In the seven or eight years that Sister Liu has been raising sheep, there has never been a safety problem. , and there was no loss of sheep. It can be said that Sister Liu’s family’s income from raising sheep also has its own contribution.
Sister Liu said that the intelligence and loyalty of the 'Black Bear Dog' were beyond her expectations. Not only could he protect the safety of his home and the whole village, he was also very attentive to the children. Since she had grandchildren, the children often regarded the 'Black Bear' as a It lost its playmates and even sometimes bullied it. No matter how the children treated it, it never changed its attitude. It followed the children wherever they went. Attacking people, she sometimes feels relieved when she is doing housework at home and her children are playing outside.
Today, the eldest sister’s grandson was sleeping in the room. While we were talking, he squatted in front of the door. Teacher S tried to take a step forward. The ‘black bear’ was obviously very alert and growled lowly.
Sister Liu told us that people often say that old dogs become spirits. "Black Bear Dog" is 10 years old this year and has entered old age. His physical strength is not as good as before, but his intelligence is beyond imagination and he is smarter. In recent years, local rural areas have adjusted their industrial structure. The government has guided rural areas to plant large-scale medicinal materials on loess soil. Every year in autumn and winter, businessmen from other places come to buy them. It can actually divert the attention of outsiders who often come to collect medicinal materials. 4 years ago The Guangdong merchant still remembered that he was very enthusiastic when the merchant came the year before last, wagging his head and tail to show his goodwill. The merchant also liked it very much. Before leaving, he offered 8,000 yuan to buy it, but she did not agree. The 'Black Bear Dog' has become As a member of the family, this is not a matter of money. Even if it is given 80,000 yuan, it will not be sold. You must keep it at home and let it die well.
While we were chatting, the 'Black Bear Dog' had been lying quietly on the side. It seemed that it was really old. When I heard that it was not for sale and was being kept at home in the mountains, it seemed to understand what the owner meant. , the expression is obviously quite docile.
Sister Liu said that the old dog’s intelligence is also reflected in its ability to identify food. In the past few years, dog thieves often visited the village. They once stole four dogs in one day, and in the end, only their own “black bear” remained. It became a veritable dog of a village. A few years ago, when she was cleaning the yard, she found a small sausage thrown at the door. The villagers told her that this was the bait set by dog thieves. As long as the dog eats it, it will be knocked down in just a few minutes. The 'black bear' is extremely smart. , just don't be fooled, never eat the food given by others, and successfully avoid the threat of dog thieves.
There are passages in the middle of the three yards of Sister Liu and her children. The children are away from home all year round, so this has become a place where she and her husband stay. Although the "Black Bear Dog" is old, it is still a safe place for their family. It protects the dog and lies in the middle yard every day. When villagers come to visit, it will bark a few times. When it encounters strangers, it will bark wildly. The eldest sister said that she can tell the situation from the barking of the 'black bear dog'.
The intelligence of the 'Black Bear Dog' was confirmed by another 80-year-old man. He told us: "This old dog is really smart. He never bites the air. As long as he hears it barking in the alley, he will There must be something going on, and the fight is quite fierce. In the past, no big or small dog in the village was its opponent. The village was not very big and there were hundreds of people, but it actually knew them all. As long as you called it, it would wag its tail at you at any time. What a magical dog. "
After leaving Sister Liu's home, the 'Black Bear Dog' still stayed quietly in the yard and did not leave. It seemed to have figured out our purpose.
Dogs have lived with humans for thousands of years. They are loyal and brave. It seems to be their job to look after homes and homes. Dogs rely on humans, and people regard dogs as family members. The relationship with animals has transcended and sublimated to a certain extent. The fact that Sister Liu is not moved by the high price shows everything.
On the way back, Teacher S said: "This dog's appearance is not standard, but its intelligence is beyond ordinary dogs. This is what makes it precious. It's a pity that it was born in the wrong place. If I encounter an opportunity in the city, I might be able to train it to become a dog." A good police dog plays a greater role. "Everyone, what do you think of this black dog? Please leave a message. [If you want to see more people’s stories, please click to follow]
