Latxa is a Basque breed of sheep whose milk is used to make the worldwide famous smoked Idiazabal cheese.
Latxa is a Basque breed of sheep whose milk is used to make the worldwide famous smoked Idiazabal cheese.

Halfway along one of the many routes in the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park, I ran into a Basque shepherd who was giving orders (in Euskera) to his sheepdog for the Latxa sheep to retreat, since it seemed that a storm was coming and I think they were looking for shelter.

Shepherd yelling in Euskera, bottom left corner.
Shepherd yelling in Euskera, bottom left corner.

I was impressed by the intelligence and obedience of the sheepdog, who made a few maneuvers to regroup the flock of sheep and then ran towards the shepherd.

Sheepdog coming back to where the shepherd was yelling and whistling, close to my position.
Sheepdog coming back to where the shepherd was yelling and whistling, close to my position.

And this is their day by day there into the Basque mountains for shepherd, who have their stone houses in the very deep of the Natural Park.