How do I know if my LLama will be a good guardian?

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Well, I asked about donkeys last spring. We almost bought one too, but decided to wait. Now we have collie puppies and in the course of advertising and selling them I ended up trading a puppy for a llama. The breeder is very reputable, and she said if I didnt like him she would take him back. He is a 4 year old gelding, and seems to have a very quiet disposition-will eat grain from anyones hand. He is halter trained and she was using him to guard baby llamas.

All that said, he seems to fit in fine. She brought a baby llama to help him get used to the place and the sheep. He seems a little nervous about the sheep, but is getting used to them. The first day my dogs raised cane. They barked their heads off. I kept them away from the pasture. By the evening I let them go over and the one ran up to the fence barking. The llama raced over head lowered and the dog ran with her tail between her legs. I have seen full grown beef cows chase her and she never stood down from them, so I thought great he works. Well, later I saw the dogs run the fence line and he kind of ignored them and even ran off with the sheep once. (when the dogs bark the sheep usually run to the barn not from the dogs but seem to know to seek shelter.)

So, how do I know if when the time comes that a stray dog or coyote comes along he wont just run off with the sheep? I guess I know I cant be certain, but are there any characteristics that I should be seeing? He seems to be a lovely pet, I hope he also knows how to do his job.

Thanks for any insight! Tami in WI

-- Tami in WI (windridg@chorus.net), October 19, 2001

Answers

How do your sheep react to the dogs? If they show no fear, then there is no reason for the llama to be on guard. Hopefully, you will never have to test him. I would be comfroted knowing that they are great herd protectors, and if your dogs had truely been menacing the herd, I am sure you would have seena completly different reaction from the llama. He may also know those dogs are supposed to be there. A strange dog/coyote may send an alarm to him.

-- Wendy Antes (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), October 19, 2001.

Llama's are easy to spook but once they know there is no threat they will go back to there laid back life.

Dont think just because your dog doesnt generate a reaction from the llama that all dogs will get the same responds. Our llamas did not like our dogs when we first introduced them. Now the dogs and llamas will run the fence togeather. A stray dog gets a very different responds.

It sounds like your llama is doing what it suppose to.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), October 19, 2001.


You are never going to know until it happens, how a donkey, dog or llama is going to react. Until seen with your own eyes you can't believe how your dog, who has raised and cleaned all your baby goats for the year, viscously kills a coyote that came into her pasture. Even our two year old donkeys run and kick and hee-haw :) when there are stray dogs out in the neighbors cattle pasture. My donkeys know which dogs are ours, our dogs know which animals are ours, so you really can't judge how they react with your stock. Our donkeys didn't hang out with the goats/yearlings, but if they ran in from the woods the donkeys would be right there to see what was wrong. Morgan our dog seems to be able to tell the difference between "run its a squirell" or get out to the barn there is something out here. The donkeys are working wonderful for us, I also introduced them to the goats very carefully. Sounds like you are on the right track with the sheep and llama! Good luck! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 19, 2001.

I cant answer as far as lamaas but will definnatley agree with the above posts.I have 3 horses pastured with my goat and this summer ended up with a coyote stalking the goat and my alpha horse, Peppi, ssaw what was happenning and put his head down and chased him out of our pasture, then the other horses did the same. Animals are amazing creatures, they will protect their propery.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), October 19, 2001.

Our llamas know our dog and other family/friend dogs that visit and mean no harm. But they will not allow strange or threatening dogs around. Our newest llama won't let the cats or chickens in the pasture either. So far, we have no trouble with coyotes harming our sheep or goats. And there are coyotes around.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), October 19, 2001.


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