Coban - Llama Guard Dog

Coban died on March 21, 2012. After 12 years on our farm guarding our llamas, chickens, pea fowl, cats, and us, she left us from her favorite place, surrounded by 10 kushed llamas in the hay feeding area. She was a valued, trusted member of our large farm family and we'll all miss her. Maya, her 4 year old Great Pyrenees understudy, barked at Claud as he removed Coban's body. We buried her on a hilltop alongside her mentor, Jarre.

Coban's History: We picked up our new llama guard puppy on Dec. 29, 2000 (birthdate Nov 13, 2000). Her mother is a Great Pyrenees, her father Akbash (Turkish for "white head"). She was 6.5 weeks old and a shorthair like her father. We named her Coban, Turkish for "shepherd." She was introduced to our five llamas the day we brought her home. Glacier, our herd gelding, responded to every bark and whine, so we decided to pen them together. The three females and other gelding were much too wary. She stayed with Glacier for three days, day and night. He taught her not to bite his legs and jump up on him by dancing backwards. Siesta, our youngest female, continued to give alarm calls and would not approach the adjacent pen, where she was fed daily. When Nova was put with Glacier and Coban, she was not as patient as Glacier and would kick when Coban tried to play. After five days, all the llamas were comfortable around Coban, so we left her with them at all times. Within two days, Coban had learned the intricacies of our pen/fence/gate system and when the llamas left her sleeping, she could find them again.

Coban's Great Pyrenees mother (left), Akbash father (right), and siblings.

Claud training Coban to sleep.	Glacier feeds safe, guarded by Coban.	Coban at two months of age.
I witnessed an interesting interaction between Nova and Coban about two weeks after Coban arrived. Coban lay down on her side in Nova's shadow while the latter was eating grass. Nova intently muzzled her belly and face, then held the loose skin of her back gently in her mouth and tugged on it, stretching it maximally. Nova nudged Coban's hind leg that was sticking up, moving it back and forth. She then put Coban's hind leg in her mouth and shook it, so that the paw flopped loosely. Nova returned her interest to Coban's belly, then gaI witnessed an interesting interaction between Nova and Coban about two weeks after Coban arrived. Coban lay down on her side in Nova'sve a final muzzle. Through all of this Coban remained still, loving the attention (or terrified to move).

Claud pulls down leaves for the llamas with Coban, Maya, and Joey "helping."
	Coban in later years with reduced hip muscles that made it difficult for her to get up. But she could still run out the gate when she felt we weren't watching her.
Coban, flying dog Joey, and Claud enjoy our bluebonnets.
	Sharon, Coban, Maya, and some llamas.