Tío is the definition of contradiction. An imposing shepherd with the heart of a puppy. Or rather, the heart of a teenager. He is no longer young, yet there is a spark in his eyes that we usually see only in much younger dogs. He is not exactly slim, but he moves with such elegance that we often wonder how a dog of his weight can be so light on his feet. He uses his big, sturdy paws with such gentleness when asking for a stroke that it almost feels as if he is the one caressing us when he places them on us.
His solid, powerful frame can turn into supple, carefree energy within seconds if we call him over. His years do not stop him from flirting with any female dog who happens to pass by. He is the middle aged uncle at family gatherings who says, “I’ll sit with the young ones,” which is exactly why we gave him this name. Tío means uncle in Spanish.
We do not know where or how Tío lived before he ended up tied up at the municipal shelter in Krestena. We imagine he must have lingered near a taverna, with unlimited access to leftovers. When he arrived to us, he was overweight and, mostly because of his age, that extra weight is not kind to him. With a careful diet and gentle exercise, he will return to a healthy weight and become even more playful and spirited. He is good with other dogs and exceptionally good with people. He has tremendous patience, and he proved it to us when, even though he did not enjoy it, he stood still while we cut away the heavy, matted clumps hanging from his chest and hips and trimmed his large nails.
Tío is a balanced, middle aged dog who, with his steady presence and good natured character, can become a wonderful companion, joining his people on relaxed walks and in a calm, quiet daily life.
