Behaviour and Training

Halter Fit 

A properly fitting and fitted halter will make the job of halter training easier for the owner and the animal. Under normal circumstances, camelids breath only through the nose! A halter which allows the nose band to move too far down the nose bone will threaten to cut off the animals breathing and make it unnecessarily nervous. This is especially true if the session turns into a tug of war. Choose a halter which is easily adjusted, and which has a short cheek-piece. The crown piece should fit just behind the ears.

When fitted, the halter should have ‘two fingers’ of slack between the nose band and the animal’s nose and one finger slack in the crown piece. The lead rope is best attached to the ring in the nose band.

Personality Disorders

From the Health & Education Subcommittee

It needs to be stressed that alpacas are instinctively herd animals. They learn how to ‘be an alpaca’ by being part of a herd. Their mothers teach them what food to eat and in the case of female cria, their mothers teach them how to be good mothers themselves in the future. Their peers within the herd teach them about the pecking order. The entire herd has an influence on the mental development of the offspring within that herd. Humans are not particularly good ‘substitute alpaca parents’. We just don’t know the right things to teach them. Animals that are removed from their herd, in particular their mothers, run the risk of developing strange behaviour patterns. Berserk Male Syndrome (BMS) is the most commonly known but it is not confined just to males. It is a mixture of unbalanced emotions dominance, assertion, defence, and a desire to breed. The result is a dangerous animal that usually needs to be destroyed.

How does this come about? My cria was so lovely when it was small, I used to spend hours petting it and feeding it treats. It would follow me around like a shadow. Now it is a monster, and I am scared of it.

Bad behaviour is not usually hereditary, it is predominantly a human induced condition. It often results from an improper over-socialisation of cria by humans. Bottle fed cria are at particular risk of developing BMS, which makes it essential for the act of bottle feeding be done in a very business-like fashion. Feeds should be conducted in silence without stoking, cuddling, or petting the animal. It is the improper human affection that goes along with the act of bottle feeding, not the bottle feeding itself. Similarly, animals can become badly behaved when deprived of the company of other herd members. Solitary animals are at high risk of becoming unmanageable. There are many examples across the range of personality disorders. 'Sidney' was bottle raised then lived in a farm park for 3 years. He is very naughty, bites, bowls people over and is dangerous. He is now confined to a paddock on his own. ‘Caesar’ is a bottle-fed llama. A perfect gentleman and just a delight and loved dearly but is well behaved as he was taught the boundaries if he got too pushy. From time to time, it may be essential to bottle-feed a cria due to illness or death of the dam. Such a responsibility brings with it the joy of knowing you are the cria’s lifeline, but also the difficult task of balancing your interactions with the baby, so as not to overly imprint yourself on its rapidly developing brain.

Why are we telling you this?

Nobody should deliberately take a cria away from its healthy mother. However, there have been reports that, even within New Zealand, breeders have sold very young cria (presumably male) to unwitting new owners. It is essential that cria are not sold while they still need a bottle. Similarly, it is essential that weanlings are not sold (even if in pairs) to a buyer who does not have other adult alpacas around. These little cuties are time bombs of bad behaviour waiting to explode without the teachings of their older herd members. If any members of the association have bought young cria under these circumstances, they are encouraged to contact the Health and Education Committee and receive advice and guidance on how to prevent such behaviours developing in their alpacas.

Handling Cria at an Early Age

By Trudi Arnold, Judge

When it comes to handling alpacas, it is better if they will accept understand what we want, and to develop confidence and trust in us. to halter train at a young age.

You should never intervene between a mother and cria during the birth process or for several hours afterwards, as this time is important for the bonding process and for the establishment of successful feeding [unless necessary]. However, you can start handling on the day of birth, but only do so if all is going well and mum and cria have established a correct relationship.

It is important to never chase or pounce on the cria in the paddock, but have your arms out stretched and catch in the corner of a small paddock with gates if necessary. It is ideal to shake a feed bucket and quietly walk your dams and cria walk up to a yard area, they will soon get used to having their daily ration, while weighing and handling the cria.

For the first few days spend time handling the whole body, from head to toe by rubbing each area for 20 seconds. Make sure the cria is not leaning on you, and keep touching the same areas that they feel jumpy or uncomfortable until they relax. (In an older animal that kicks, you can use a cloth or long stick firmly against the back legs). Continue this for a few days until you are satisfied the cria stands well and then decrease the times handled depending on the acceptance of the cria. It is vitally important that every time you release the cria, for the cria to be standing as relaxed as possible before releasing, and walk off quietly. It is very beneficial to use this method throughout adulthood.

It is most important for us not to bond with the cria by looking in their eyes and treating like a cuddly teddy bear, even though it is very tempting at times. If bonding develops between you and the cria, they can start to regard you as their own kind and treat you as such. When reaching maturity they could exhibit behavior such as pushing, spitting, and even chest butting. We don’t want our males thinking they can boss us around. This may surprise some of you, but be aware that the animals that walk up to you in the paddock and are born extremely friendly are more likely to develop this behavior if encouraged. You can lightly flick the nostril just enough to discourage this behavior progressing.

If the cria is skittish and if the dam is not a quiet animal herself, you may wish to intensify the handling process to prevent this characteristic from being perpetuated into the offspring. In the paddock, and by having the dam on the other side of the fence to watch, the handler can sit on the ground with the cria lying on its side on the ground. To keep the cria from getting up at any stage, one leg over the neck and at times hand on the rump when they kick is sufficient. The cria’s body is divided into sections and handled in one area at a time. Each part is gently but firmly massaged to the count of 20, if during the count the cria starts to struggle, the count starts again from one on the same section of body. Once one side of the body is completed the cria is turned over and repeated on the other side. In some cases the cria becomes very relaxed and may even stay in the same position, until they realize you have gone. Repeat this for the first three days; sometimes it may be necessary to continue every other day until the cria relaxes.

Although I do not physically do anything to the dam, it seems in many cases to improve her behaviour too, as she learns to trust with her cria. Most dams are concerned initially, but soon realise no harm is being done to their cria and start to graze happily nearby.

Training to lead can start from 3-4 weeks onwards, as long as you have a correct fitting cria halter. Separate in the yards and then leave the dam in the paddock, this time also helps the cria to develop more independence, which is beneficial when weaning or showing at a young age. However, always have another animal nearby in a pen, without being able to interfere, as it could get tangled in the lead. It is most preferable to train with another cria.

Be aware that any habits learned at this time will be with your alpaca for the rest of his life!

Tricks of the Trade (With permission)

By Alpaca & Llama Handler - Trainer - TRAINER Marty Mcgee Bennett

Camelid Handling Secrets

The information in this article should really be top secret. You shouldn’t really be able to know these things until you have paid your dues. By rights you should be pitched into the dung pile a few times, wear a lot of spit and know the feeling of being dragged around the paddock on your face once or twice before you gain entry to this inner sanctum. Fortunately for you I never could keep a secret! These simple tips and techniques will make you look like a veteran animal handler as soon as you try them. You need not begin at the beginning or keep reading until the end. You don’t have to understand or agree with any particular philosophy. The following list is a compilation of tricks of the trade that will help you work magic with your animals immediately. Newcomers to the alpaca business will want to laminate this article and put it in the barn. If you have been at the alpaca game for a while you may already know some of this secret knowledge but read carefully you may find one or two new nuggets of wisdom to add to your “toolbox.”*

Herding

• Using a special word, noise or whistle to call your alpacas into the barn at mealtime is a great way of getting them in the barn but be aware of the dangers of creating a “calling “pattern. Periodically call the alpacas in at two in the afternoon or ten at night and give them food when you do. You won’t be faced with a group of alpacas looking at their watches and shaking their little heads when you holler the magic word at the wrong time of day.
• When threatened an animal’s first choice is to get away—the flight response. All mental circuits are focused on finding an escape route. Herding a group of animals is actually the same as creating an escape route for the animals that suits you. Camelids will instinctively orient themselves so that they have a forward escape route relative to any perceived threat. Before you begin herding look at the process from this perspective and block all exits except the one leading to the desired location.
• When moving animals into or through small spaces and particularly when moving around frightened or shy animals, be aware that you are larger than you think. Remember… to a camelid you are as big as the physical space that you occupy and your reach (reach=your body and the length of your arms). You will make major points with your animals, especially nervous ones, if you keep yourself at a safe distance as you work around them.
• When sorting animals, it is very helpful to have two or more levels of confinement. Small catch pens that join a slightly larger area are much more useful than a single tiny catch pen in the corner of a huge pasture. It will be much easier to herd the animals into the secondary container. There will always be those animals that sneak by when you are working them into the smaller catch pen, with an intermediate container you will not have to start over in the big field.
• If your pasture is too big to manage alone you can build a temporary fence into the middle of the pasture to create an area you can work with. Fiberglass fence posts and nylon tape makes a visible barrier and can be taken down easily for pasture maintenance. You may be able to manage smaller pastures with a length of rope or flat nylon tape (40 feet works well). Simply tie the rope or tape to the corner of the pen walk out with it and round up the animals.
• When herding with more than one human, both herders must remember the effect of their reach. Gate tenders should stay as far out of the way as possible. You would be amazed at the difference one giant step backwards will make. At clinics I have helped someone move an animal that was absolutely stuck simply by asking a bystander to move back a bit and open a gate slightly. Your alpacas are acutely aware of human anatomy and will pass easily if the human is more than arm’s length away from the path the animals must take. It is also better if your gate tender is standing behind the gate instead of on the animal side of the gate. It feels safer for the alpacas to pass through a gate if the gate is in between the human and the animals.

Catching

• Use a catch pen! Build or buy panels to create a sturdy, safe, confined area approximately 10’ x 10’ in a convenient spot accessible from your pastures. Herd your animals to this pen each time you halter or work with them. If you have any trouble with any particular technique or task while working in the pen try making it smaller by stacking bales of hay inside the pen.
• Try catching difficult animals (wild or spitty animals in particular) in the catch pen by tying a rope to the end of a stick (a four-foot dowel will work). Use the stick to guide the rope over the head. Once the rope is around the neck you can control the head but still allow your animal to move within the catch pen. Use the rope to steady your animal as you walk up to him with the halter.

Haltering

• If your animal is difficult having difficulty with initial halter training try this: Buckle the crown piece of your halter on its largest hole and offer this large opening as if it were the noseband of the halter. Sometimes a few practice attempts with this much larger opening can pave the way for actually putting the noseband over the nose.
• Check your halter fit! Halters that don’t fit are dangerous, create behavioral problems and don’t work well for their intended purpose. Your halter is probably lacking if the noseband cannot be adjusted. A properly fitting halter rides up high on the nose bone close to the eye and stays there regardless of what the animal does or doesn’t do. A properly fitting halter is safe and comfortable. The noseband rests firmly on bone and stays there NO MATTER WHAT. There is enough room in the noseband for the animal to chew without interference.
• Before you put any halter on always open the noseband so that it is larger than you think you need. Snug up the crown piece. Tighter for animals with smaller heads. Take the slack out of the noseband. Larger animals need more room. Always physically examine the nose bone before you put a halter on an animal you don’t know some animals have shorter than average nose bones. Recheck halter fit after about ten minutes.

Leading/Loading

• If you pull steadily on your alpaca he will pull steadily back. You and your animal will be counterbalanced. No productive movement will result from this counterbalance. Alpacas learn very quickly to widen their stance, drop their head and grow roots. Alpacas commonly learn to cush as a reaction to the steady pull. Use intermittent signals with a mini release in between each signal and continue giving them until the alpaca loses his balances and moves.
• Use a longer lead for initial lead training. I like a lead that is about 17 feet long. Getting further away makes your alpaca feel safer and more likely to try walking with you. If he does bolt you have more time to react with a longer lead.
• If you have a long narrow aisle way, use it for your first few leading lessons. You can keep control of your animal more easily and leading in a long narrow pen encourages your animal to walk in a straight line behind you rather than all over the place.
• Loading a difficult alpaca. Most alpacas would rather not get in a confined space with a human and will load in a trailer or other conveyance much better if they can get into the trailer themselves without being led in. Spot the trailer by the entrance to a barn and use panels to block any exit other than the trailer door. Herd the alpaca into the trailer. It will be much easier to herd a group of animals into the trailer releasing the ones you don’t need rather than trying to load a single frightened animal.
• When showing an alpaca help him stand still by watching for weight shifts in the front half of the body. Pay very close attention to the front feet and use your lead to keep the weight evenly distributed on both front legs. If the alpacas weight is more over the right leg move the head and neck to the left and release- weight over the left leg move the head and neck over the right leg and release. You must correct and release or your animal will begin to lean on the leadrope and you will end up fighting with him. Your alpaca will be much more likely to stand still using this technique than if you try to hold him still using force.
• Do you have an alpaca that has trouble paying attention on the lead? Try walking him over 5-6 parallel poles on the ground spaced about 3 feet apart. This will often help a scattered animal learn to slow down and focus.

Management

• Try giving subcutaneous injections using the group method. Cram as many alpacas as you can into your catch pen- the alpacas will feel safer in a group making the job easier from a purely psychological point of view. But the advantages don’t stop there. With enough animals in the pen you don’t have to restrain the alpacas as you give the injection. The shot recipient can’t move very much because of the crowd of other animals. Stand behind the animal’s eye on the side of the animal closest to the center of the pen and use an injection site in the front half of the body- the crease of the neck works well. This is not only easier for the animals but a real time saver for the manager.
• Add a butt board to your chute! Tie a frightened alpaca in a chute by the head and he will more than likely throw himself around, flip over, end up forward of the shoulder restraints or lie down. An alpaca’s long neck makes it difficult and dangerous to restrain him by the head. Add a rear barrier to your chute, tie your animal loosely and your chute becomes a very tiny catch pen instead of a restraint device. Alpacas will remain calmer when contained than when restrained. ***Always double check halter fit when using a chute!
• Don’t have a chute? If you have a trailer use it for the chores that you would normally do in a chute.
• Are you nervous about giving an injection for the first time? Forget the orange—practice on a chicken! Get a whole chicken at the grocery store with the SKIN ON. Practice both sub-Q and IM injections with a variety of substances- soy sauce is just about like Tetnus C/D, honey is very similar to ivermectin. Try a variety of needle sizes. You will get a much more accurate idea of what to expect on a real animal. You can even bake and eat your chicken after you practice.
• Difficulties picking up feet to trim toenails? Don’t bother picking up the feet at all! Stand your alpaca on a rubber mat or concrete pad and trim the long parts of the toenail while the animals stands on his feet. It may not be the perfect answer but it is possible to do a fair job of trimming toenails this way and this technique can keep you out of a fight with your alpaca. A helper can steady the animal as you squat down and work, if your animal kicks you may want to use a panel as a boundary reaching under the bottom rail to trim. Another alternative for quieter alpacas… steady the animal by putting your hand on the shoulders or hips while reaching down with the other hand to trim. When using this technique it is best to nibble away at the nails rather than taking off big hunks. Pruning style toenail trimmers work best for this technique.

Husbandry

• If you ever have to milk a female alpaca this trick comes in very handy. Cut off the needle end of a 20cc syringe and insert the plunger in the wrong end- the end you just cut off. You now have a breast pump. You can put the smooth end with the rim up against the teat, draw back with the plunger and you are milking away.
• Work with your babies early (three to four days old) and often (once a week) in the first three months 5 minutes per session is enough. Work in a catch pen with mother present; handle the mouth, tail and legs while the baby stands in balance unrestrained. Allow the baby to move freely in the catch pen and move with him as you work
• Correct young alpacas that don’t respect proper boundaries. Male or female alpacas that pull on your clothes, make physical contact with you or stand in your way without yielding the right of way are heading down a dangerous path. Don’t encourage this behavior and learn more about how to respond appropriately.
• What ever you are doing remember to breathe!

More information and details on these and other training and handling techniques are available in past columns in this magazine and Marty’s new book “The Camelid Companion”. For more information about Camelidynamics, Marty and TTEAM visit www.camelidynamics.com