They are traditionally found grazing in the high Andean areas of southern Peru.
But one alpaca has discovered that he much prefers the comforts of this Scottish home.
Annie the alpaca was hand-raised by Dannie Burns after her mother rejected her when she was just 10 minutes old.
More than comfortable with her surroundings, she never moved and, according to Mr Burns, now thinks she is a dog.
Mr Burns drives her everywhere – in the big back seat of the Vauxhall Zafira he bought especially for her.
Annie and her daughter Baillie enjoy the comfort of owner Dannie Burns’ home in Stirling
Now four-year-old Annie is pregnant with her own baby, but has still shunned the pack of 75 dogs in the fields outside, preferring to stay inside with her three Labradoodles.
If his baby follows in his mother’s footsteps, Mr. Burns may soon need a bigger car… and a house even bigger than his 3,200-square-foot home.
Mr Burns, from Stirling, said: ‘I’m not sure if her next baby will act like her or an alpaca, but we may need to get an extension if the baby does.
Annie is due to give birth again at the end of September.
“He’s acting even more like a dog now. Every time the door opens, he lays down next to the TV, just like a dog would.”
He now runs the Alpaca Trekking Centre in Stirling, having created the facilities to care for cows, sheep and even a golden eagle.
Annie was rejected by her mother and Mr. Burns had to bottle feed her every two hours, which strengthened their bond.
Spending time with her canine friends has rubbed off on her, and Annie has grown up behaving exactly like a dog.
She thought maybe indoor life was no longer necessary, but even after having her first baby, Bailey, now two, remained a house pet.
Bailey lives outside with the pack, but her mom Dannie prefers to socialize with the three dogs in the comfort of home.
And baby Bailey likes to follow his mom inside, too, enjoying the best of both worlds.
Dannie Burns raised Annie after she was rejected as a baby. She is already a mother to Baillie, the alpaca who thinks he’s a dog, and is pregnant again
Annie is now pregnant with her second baby, due next month.
“We’re all very excited, it’s a very busy life but it’s a lot of fun,” Burns said.
“Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but I don’t care.”
Annie lives on cereals, barley and oats, as well as other things she finds along the way.
However, Mr Burns said he also has some more unusual tastes.
He said: ‘He likes to chew gum, chocolate, apples, bananas.
‘She chews on wires: she has no front teeth on top, but at the back they are quite sharp.
“It’s not as bad as having a puppy that chews your shoes.”
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