Dog and Llama Teams
Shepherds have always been the primary guardians of the flocks. Other animals are willing and able to protect sheep and goats from danger. Ancient tapestries and frescos depict flocks of sheep with their shepherd and guardian dogs. Llamas and donkeys also make worthy protectors.
As highways and new housing developments expand more predators are pushed into increasing their hunting territory to include back yards and pastures. Lambs and baby goats are a delicious treat for coyotes, cougars and wolves. Predators find lambs and baby goats an easy catch to feed their young. A ewe will stomp her feet, run at and even body block a large dog that gets too close to her babies. A mother goat will use her horns to protect her baby but neither sheep or goats are a challenge to a predator that has tasted lamb and has many hungry mouths to feed.
Sheep and goats have limited means of defending themselves from predators. Their best method is to keep watch over their surroundings and to flee from perceived danger. When sheep they bed down they usually do so on a high area so they can keep watch. Sheep can spot predators that are over ¾ of a mile away.
Sammy and his Llama team
Notice position of Sammy in the front and the llamas as back up. The flock is grazing undisturbed in the background trusting they will be alerted to any danger by the trio.
The Dogs
Special dogs have been bred over the ages to live with and to protect sheep and goats. These special dogs are usually Great Pyrenees, Maremmas or similar breeds. They are large white dogs with floppy ears that do not trigger the instinctive fear reaction the upright predator ears cause. The puppies are born and raised with the flock and sometimes an ewe will adopt and nurse a pup.
Guardian dogs accept the sheep and goats as their pack and protect them as they would their own families. Predators, such as wolves, will usually not intrude into another dog's territory. When a wolf is pressured into the guardian dog's area by lack of food it is usually confused by a dog surrounded by a huge 'pack' of sheep or goats. A wolf may still catch a stray young animal and risk a fight with the dog, but usually it will decide to move on to easier prey. Guardian dogs rarely actually fight off predators. Generally, their size, bark and assertive posture is enough to discourage most predators.
In rural areas where wolves have been recently released and protected their natural shyness and hesitant to risk injury in a fight has lessened and a pack of wolves will decimate a flock of sheep
or goats. In such cases shepherds have increased the number of guardian dogs that protect their
flocks as a lone dog is easily killed. We have five guardian dogs that work together and with llamas to keep their adopted families safe.
Llamas
Llamas and guardian dogs work as a team. Llamas have marvelous eyesight and are usually the first to see anything new in their pasture. If it is a strange dog or coyote they run towards it with their heads stretched out low to the ground. They use the side of their heads to strike. The force of their strong necks can send a dog or coyote rolling. They also scream; stamp and kick with their feet. They are capable of stomping a coyote to death if the coyote refuses to retreat. Under attack sheep and lambs will gather into a tight circle. Llamas and guardian dogs will stay on the outside of the circle and chase off the intruder. Coyotes and dogs are not quite sure what to make of such a large, odd animal attacking them. Predators cannot risk becoming injured in a fight if there are easier ways to find food. They are usually cautious about being spotted or attacked and retreat rather than confront. A lone llama is not a good match for a dog or wolf determined to attack. Although brave they are vulnerable. Guardian dogs and llamas together make a good team.
Sheep and goats like to follow the biggest flock member. Ewes do not hide their newborns like goats or deer. They encourage their lambs to follow. Therefore, sheep are conditioned from birth to follow the older members of the flock. When llamas live with sheep, the sheep begin to follow the llamas out to graze, to water and to the llama's favorite observation and loafing areas. A llama new to sheep appears confused by all their followers but soon take on the role of leader and all the responsibility that goes with that role.
Llamas are very curious about human visitors. They wiggle their ears and come up to sniff. Sometimes they will rub their noses against your shirt of face. They have good memories of people they do not like such as veterinarians and will keep their distance. Llamas communicate by humming. Baby llamas, crias, identify their mom by the unique hum she sings to him or her at birth. If they are separated at this critical bonding time they will not recognize each other later. In contrast to popular opinion, llamas seldom spit at people, even when upset, unless trapped. This happens sometimes in petting zoos when the llama can not get away from too much attention. It is normal for llamas to spit at each other especially if a younger llama disrespects his or her elder.
In the Peruvian Andes, their native home, llamas were honored as a noble animal by the Inka Kings. Llama feet are eco-friendly composed of two leathery pads with toenails to grab the terrain. This makes the llama very sure-footed and a good pack animal that has little impact on the environment. Carrying nearly 100 pounds they are used over some of the roughest and highest mountain terrains. Their wool is woven into the warmest, lightest garments available today and comes in a variety of natural colors to the delight of spinners and weavers. This mother is spinning llama wool like just like her mother did and woman in Peru have done for centuries.
