Meeting with Abdesselam, a breeder in the “organic” valley of Esbintz. 

A valley, a stream, a small bridge, peaks around it emerging from the forest, it is in what can be considered a little corner of paradise that Abdesselam has settled with his flock for a few years: 80 animals raised outdoors, organically, where lambs, ewes and rams frolic happily. Abdesselam has been a breeder-shepherd for nearly 30 years. He has worked in summer pastures for pastoral groups, for state organizations or for farmers. Now, he devotes himself entirely to this activity with his flock in a "permanent summer pasture", where the animals feast on mosses, tree shoots, ferns or lush grass depending on the vegetation level of the day!   

Inevitably, changes in the profession and working conditions have required a particular adaptation from shepherds, between the scarcity of professional vocations and increased risks linked to new mountain predators. Being a breeder-shepherd is "a job of passion!": passion for the mountains, passion for passing on the ancestral and traditional precepts of pastoralism and above all passion for producing good, simple and healthy products as only territories like the Couserans can still offer!  

While he obviously invites visitors to come and meet them in the mountains, he also invites them to adopt some good habits towards the herds and animals to fully enjoy their experience at altitude: ignore the herds, do not cross them or restrict their movements, do not make sudden movements or change their speed. Obviously, dogs must always be kept on a leash! Abdesselam is categorical: "by respecting these few principles and with a good attitude, then your stay in the summer pastures will, without a doubt, be the best memory of your vacation!"   

Sheepdogs  

Whether for driving or protection, dogs are an integral part of the team that takes care of animals in the mountains! They are educated and trained to facilitate the shepherd's work in the difficult environment of the mountains and altitude!  

Driving dogs since they will, under the orders of the shepherd, gather, organize and lead the flock during a move and obviously they are the kings of transhumance! The protection dogs, mainly Pyrenean patous, are at the heart of the flocks. Their role is to give the alert in case of unforeseen events, such as overly invasive hikers, and also to react in case of the presence of predators. The dogs are trained to stay at the heart of the flock, in fact it is necessary to limit as much as possible the interactions with humans and in particular the affect: no caresses, no food, no words. These dogs intervene to signal a problem and not to attack, it will therefore be grateful to you for your most beautiful ignorance, by diverting your path to avoid the flocks as much as possible!