Duck

Duck was Canada's High Point Fleece Llama for 2004 and 2006!

Canada's High Point Non-Breeding Llama for 2006!

Canada's High Point Halter Llama 2007!

DW was a black, cute, fuzzy, personable and very smart cria. He's grown into a big, black, handsome, hairy, personable and very smart adult. He was in 4-H for most of his life with Taylor Dubois, working at (and winning in) Showmanship, Halter, Obstacle, and Pack. In 2004, Duck led Taylor to High Point Showmanship, and he was also High Point Fleece in the country.

		Victoria's MacDuff
	MU Maximum Ice
		MU Windwalker's Whin
DRAGONFLY DARKWING DUCK AoM OL1 PL1
		Alberta Stormy Weather
	EP Dr Pepper
		Tyrrel Sassperilla Moon

How interesting to watch Duck turning into a guard llama! He spent his first two years with other young males. Following his gelding, he spent another year in the Boy Pen with adult studs, growing boys and other geldings. One summer for the first time he was put out in a pasture with nine females and four crias, and he discovered his Real Job. If we drive by the pasture, all the llamas come over to greet us, but Duck definitely stands between the truck and the herd. When I drive the ATV out into the pasture, Duck is always standing slightly apart from the herd, keeping watch (he looks very good, standing up all proud and Doing His Job). If I ask the herd to move into another pasture, Duck runs between the ATV and the herd, or leads them into the next pasture to be sure it's safe. For their part, the mothers appear to be happy to let him do all the work, and mildly amused to see him assiduously guarding them from an ATV! The crias, especially the males, follow him around like a big brother.

Most interesting is Duck and the dog. He's never particularly liked dogs, but since he's been in charge of the moms and crias, he's developed a dedicated hatred.

The dog in question is Scuba, an extremely well-trained and well-behaved Portuguese Water Dog who Duck has seen and tolerated every day of his life. Not any more. He's aware of her every move, and if she comes in his pasture, the only thing that's going to save her is if she happens to be standing behind me, in which case he'll trust my control of her enough to go back to the herd, but not enough to take his eyes off her.

These photos show Duck approaching the pasture fence with Scuba on the other side of it, and then trying to strike her through the fence. I tried to get Scuba AND Duck in the photos, but it was impossible as he was always between me and the dog.