LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN DOGS

Zena

ZENA, another rare breed, the Central Asian Shepherd (CAS), came from a long line of champions. My little warrior princess came into my life at 7 weeks old, after a long day flying to Denver from Foxfire Farms, a premier CAS breeder in upstate New York. I picked her up at DIA late one Sunday night. I thought she was quiet and reserved. Really, she was just exhausted. A few days later, her spirit, character, and personality began charming her way inexorably into my heart forever! Meet my precious Zena, everyone's friend.

As I had done with Zak, I kept Zena inside with me at night until she was over six months old and began to demand to stay out with Zak. Between six and seven months old, Zena’s own instincts began to kick in, as Zak’s had done. By 10 months, she was “helping Zak,” who by that time had trained her well.

Zena, Zak, and my Great Pyranees rescue, Bisquit, divided up the “job responsibilities.” Zak took the fenceline, heading straight for the threat location. Bisquit headed straight for the barn and her alpacas. Zena took an intermediate position between them until she determined if she was needed elsewhere. Where Zak was loud and aggressive, and Bisquit was quiet and watchful, Zena waited and responded as needed.

The first time Zena took the lead in alerting to a far corner of a pasture she was between six and seven months old. She jumped up and ran to the area, barking furiously! Zak joined her, and they ran off to attend to whatever the threat was. Meanwhile, Bisquit immediately went to the alpacas, herded them to the farthest corner of the pasture away from the threat, and posted herself between them. The three LGDs worked together beautifully. It was a joy to watch.

Zena was also a “uniter.” She had her favorite things: toys, places to sleep, foods. But she had no favorites among her family – me, dogs, alpacas. She loved each one individuially and encouraged them to love each other. She taught the other dogs how to play and how to play with each other. For all the seriousness with which she took her job, she was equally light-hearted and joyous. I never heard her growl, even when warning off a coyote. She combined silliness, seriousness, steadfastness, serenity, as sweet as she was sturdy. In her first year, she grew quickly and blossomed into a true and good-hearted warrior princess, happy with her self, her life, and her job, and good at it.

Her life was tragically cut short intentionally by a human killer as she was happily and exuberantly (as she did everything) doing the job she was born to do: chasing off a coyote pack. She was my shooting star. She will always shine brightly in my heart.

This link from Zena's breeder (Jeannine de Palma, Foxfire Farms, in upstate New York, the country's authority on the Central Asian)speaks of the temperament of the Central Asian Ovcharkas

PLEASE, DO NOT BUY ONE OF THESE SPECIAL, RARE, WORKING BREEDS from a "backyard breeder," pet store, or puppy mill. Buy your CENTRAL ASIAN from FOXFIRE FARMS (Jeannine de Palma, New York) or MAXOMAGIC (Victoria Evans, Atlanta GA), or from a breeder recommended by one of these two reputable, careful and caring breeders. Check out their websites.

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