I'm researching about getting a "watch" llama for my upcoming goat herd, and although I intend to never let my current dogs interact with my herd, I've heard that a full-grown llama against a dog isn't a pretty thing.
Anyone have any experience in this matter?

No experience to share for you but....the visual you just gave is very disturbing. Will the goat herder. How could it be? Or are you just raising your own culinary delicasies? sp?

Almost forgot. I did have a big male Llama take quite a shine to me at a pet zoo in Kissimmee , Florida. Glad there was a fence to contain him. LOL

We have quite a few herd protection llamas in our area. They are lethal against coyotes, don't think a dog would fair much better. Shadow and I came across one guarding his flock and I made sure Shadow stayed on the other side of the fence from him. We kept our distance but he was still snorting and stamping his foot. I think they spit at people also. Didn't want to get close enough to find out.

Hi Will,

My parents used to have guard llamas and they were VERY effective in warding off canine predators. They did not require any training, and the females tend to be particularly hostile to coyotes and dogs. We also had two GSD, HGH that tended to the flock during the day - llamas (one per flock) did the night shift. The GSDs stayed FAR away from the llamas - not sure if it was an introduction issue on our part - my parents at the time seemed to think llamas just cannot distinguish between a good dog and bad dog.

You are correct, a llama against a dog is not a pretty thing - the llama wins. Growing up in coyote country, we never had a coyote problem with llamas around. There was only one time my dad found a coyote that was trampled to death with its head and two limbs completely severed at the edge of our property - we assumed it was one of the llamas, but did not even know when it occurred.

If you are interested in getting a watch llama, I would suggest just getting one. A flock of them tend to bond with each other and sort of not pay much attention to their surroundings (they become "doggy"). Females are great, if you opt for a male, he ought to be gelded, otherwise you may have problems.

Jeez, I had no idea llamas were so fierce. I've seen TV ads for raising llamas and I was left with the impression they are sweet docile animals. Sort of like raising a herd of oversized stuffed animals. Guess not!

I wanted to get a whole bunch of emu's. One of the few times my husband freaked. I've tried to figure out a way to sneak them in one at a time but haven't come up with much.

A couple of the farmers by me use Donkeys as guardians also. I'm not sure if that would be more "trainable" with dogs or not.

We have a donkey farm down the road a bit from me Will, she has a couple of hundred of them and I swear to God a zebra in the middle of the herd. I know she has dogs also, if you want, I'll stop by and ask her about dogs when Russ isn't with me.

He gets nervous when I go over there. He thinks I'm going to come home with a couple of donkeys.

Oh-Col got a whole bunch of Boer goats a year or so ago and did some research before getting them. He might have some info for you too!

I am by no means a llama expert - just grew up with a few. They were not viscous toward humans usually, just dogs. I think they have some innate and profound dislike for dogs or anything that looks like one. Often, I think it is the reaction of whatever they were guarding (in my case sheep) that sets them off. That is, if the sheep start crying the llamas will go into their hunting mode to find what is bothering their flock, and put a stop to it.

I think I would feel safer around a llama than an emu - something about a bird with its large beak looking at me eye-to-eye is unnerving to me ... oh, and those talons ... all I can think of is: disembowelment.

<sigh> you've been talking to my husband haven't you? LOL

I think they are cute, all 6 feet of them.

In their natural enviroment don't llamas also have to deal with large cat predators?

I've only met a couple in my life but I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of one. Very agile 3 or 4 (maybe?) hundred pound animal.

What kind of goats you think of getting Will?

LOL, I don't know anything about them either.

Randy