[pct-l] dogs on the trail (Long)

[Marion Davison]

Carolyn Eddy wrote:
> Llamas don't like dogs even if they are very familiar with them. They are 
> used as guard animals for goats and do a great job.
> 
> "Sweet Goat Mama"
> Carolyn Eddy
>
The real truth is, the average llama doesn't actually like anybody.  Not 
their people, not dogs, not each other.  Especially the stud llamas I 
pack with.  However, my llamas tolerate the dog walking right at their 
heels and sleeping with her body right next to theirs at night.  She 
will also flop right down next to them when they lay down on a daytime 
trail break.  They don't care.
My llamas will try to stomp an aggressive dog and I have seen them, when 
loose in a pasture, drop their head and charge an aggressive dog.  The 
dog turned tail and ran for his life.  Llamas are great bluffers, which 
is why they are used to guard herds of sheep from predators.
Male llamas are constantly playing dominance games with one another, and 
spitting on each other is one of their main tactics.  If a llama is 
spitting on you he is either treating you as a lesser llama or is 
expressing his displeasure at your presence, or because you have just 
caused him pain or he thinks, from prior experience, that you are about 
to cause him pain.  We get spit on frequently when we are shearing or 
giving vaccinations.  Some llamas won't tolerate being touched at all, 
and spit almost as a reflex.  Other llamas we own will allow us to touch 
them almost anywhere and have never spit on us, not even once.
Marion