I’ve been visiting my friends Elaine and Randy in Flagstaff, taking in huge breaths of fresh mountain air, surrounded by majestic Ponderosa pines. At 8,000 feet I need all the air I can get as we wander the forest paths with Rudy the rez dog. Rudy is an example of a local mixed breed, some of which are used by the Navajo nation and other ranchers as livestock guardians for their sheep. These dogs appear to be a multi-purpose ‘landrace’ of various breeds, including the traditional European livestock guardians, adapted to this arid environment and herd management style.
Orysia Dawydiak 