We are two admirers of the German Shepherd dog and in 2006 we joined forces in promoting the working type of these dogs, following the selection criteria that was once used in the former DDR as well as Czechoslovakia. We joined our forces only in the recent years, alrhough both of us entered the world of the German Shepherd dog in the early ‘80’s. Nica Nicolae has had the oportunity of actually working with the Border Patrol dogs and at present time he still works with the Romanian Border Police. Nicu’s experience with dogs was also greatly influenced by Military Dog Training Schools such as the one in Sibiu as well the Ciorani school, who ended its activity in 2005.

Nica Nicolae

Nicu, Rex and Faleza, June 31st 1985

It all started in 1978, back then I was 10 years old and together with the other boys in my neighborhood, was going to the woods for my summer school break. I was born and brought up in a small town called Moinesti, in the county of Bacau and the forests were quite large back then. We established our playground on the “Magura” hill. In order to get to that hill, we had to pass by the local Militia unit. Next to the Militia building there was a widely spread field, used by a local officer to work his service dog. On a day of June, about 9 of us gathered together to go and play at the hill. As usually we passed by the Militia unit and we saw Mr Matanie working his German Shepherd dog “Lino”. We stopped for a few minutes to see what the officer was doing with his dog and I must say I was really impressed. That dog was climbing over 6 ft tall fences, doing “crawl” walks, was waiting in the “stay” position as the officer was making use of a few fireworks right next to the dog. Then Mr Matanie called us all on to the field and positioned us in a straight line, with about 1 meter distance apart. We all took one shoe off our foot and then put them all in a stack. Then the oficer had Lino walk by all of us and getting our individual senses. After that, Lino was sent to the stack of shoes and he was selecting each shoe corresponding to its owner, with golden precision! After undergoing all this, the officer took the coat off one of the boys and gave it to Lino to smell it. Lino smelled it and then on command started to smell all of us looking for the owner of the coat.. Lino indicated the coat owner with the same impeccable precision. From that day I remained fascinated with these dogs and each time I saw an officer with his dog on the street, I was walking next to him, keeping a safe distance but admiring the dog at the same time.

In 1979, I had yet again the opportunity to see and interact with a service dog. In Buzau city, the local Militia officer was living in my parent’s house. He had a service female German Shepherd dog named “Faleza”. I think I spent more than half of my summer school break admiring that dog. In 1985 I had my first German Shepherd dog. I named her “Faleza” in memory of that dog who made my summer break special. Faleza came from a service lineage. Back then my brother was working with the Militia and when the local unit bitch gave birth, I was given a puppy. I started to train Faleza making use of a military dog training book. I was so impressed with that dog training booklet, I hand-copied it until midnight. Back then we were not allowed to own documents issued by - and for the use of the Internal Affairs.  Faleza, like most of the service dogs back then, had ancestors that originated in the former DDR and Czechoslovakia. She had amazing working abilities, was very sharp, brave and and with an outstanding defense drive. Because of all these qualities, when she reached the age of one year old, I gave her to my brother to use her as a service dog. And so, in the autumn of 1986, my brother was able to apprehend a thief on a corn field. But really, all the work was done by Faleza alone. With the ‘help’ of Faleza, my brother was able to enforce the law up until 1987, when Faleza left us.

Faleza

In 1985, my best friend purchased a German hepherd named Rex. Rex used to be owned by a Militia Officer. He was a medium-sized dog, but very robust. he was also very sharp and tough. Both Stefan and I began to work our dogs using that dog training booklet. I must admit we were making quite a few mistakes, like most beginners would, but the dogs had such solid nerves, that they were not “permanently scarred” by that. In 1986, Stefan joined the Marin forces, and I was left to look after Rex. One Deecember ‘86 evening I was taking a stroll with Rex, on a low-lightened street. I used to keep him with the muzzle on, to avoid causing disturbance. Rex never attacked a person for no reason, but only on command or when provoked. Out of nowhere this well built man, wearing a thick winter coat comes our way and kicks Rex. I intended to ask him for an explanation but this man was now coming to hit me. In the light of this I gave Rex the “attack” command. The dog attacked the man with no hesitation whatsoever and they “fought” almost in a human manner. After a short while I gave Rex the command to let go and the man used that moment to run away. Faleza and Rex generated a huge amount of confidence back then; I was going out for walks at any moment of the day or night, on any street, having no fear whatsoever.

Nicu and Rex

In 1985 I bought Tarzan, a dog owned by a former Militia officer. He was the typical patrol dog. Somewhat bigger and stronger than Rex, Tarzan really impressed me with the way he protected his territory. Wherever he was in charge with guarding, no flea could enter the territory without his permission. I worked all the summer of 1985 at a farm near Bacau to make the money to buy Tarzan. In Moinesti, in the 80s, there were about 6 german Shepherd dogs, originating at different Militia units but owned by different citizens. We used to get together and take all these dogs in the woods. I am not looking to dramatize things, but based on how I viewed these dogs at that time, I was thinking only humans could have experienced fear, but not these dogs. All the GSD’s I saw back then, or owned then or later in my life, impressed me primarily because of their courage. In ‘87 I was called to perform my military duty, again in the Internal Affairs troops, namely the Militia Security Troops (MST). I noticed some dogs there too, out of which I was impressed with  “Tars” - a black German Shepherd owned by a Militia officer who was performing night patrols. One of our tasks as TSM troops, was to accompany the night patrol Militia officers. My officers in command, knowing my passion for dogs, always had me accompanying the officer who owned Tars. In fact, I was left to handle the dog the entire night patrol. Whenever the officer was stopping different groups of people and asked them to present their ID’s, Tars always looked very tight and ready for action. Nobody had the courage to move one finger. Whenever we had to raid through the dangerous neighborhoods, needless to say we took Tars with us. Tars simply made way though the dangerous gangs. Back then that was actually possible. The Militia was always right (as far as the law) and so there was no problem if Tars would take someone down to the ground. After finishing my service as a soldier, in January 1989, I decided to follow the military career. In 1992 I graduated as an officer and was seconded to the Border Patrol troops where I activate to this day. Today this institution is called the Romanian Border Police. I had the priviledge to see many service German Shepherd dogs used by the border patrol troops . Also because of my profession I was able to undergo dog training courses at the Military Dog Training School in Ciorani, in the Prahova county, as well as the Police Dog training School in Sibiu.

Faleza, Rex, Tarzan, Sultan, Tars and many other German Shepherd dogs of the ‘80s made me believe in this breed. These dogs, through their loyalty, courage and other qualities, have determined me to always be a promoter of this breed selecting character qualities in the first place, and not beauty.

I thank God for giving me this passion for dogs and for the great priviledge of being surrounded by dogs pretty much all the time, because of my profession.