Llama Training Manual

Tying your llama out, or picketing, is a handy way of securing him for the night when you’re hiking. It’s also useful around the farm for putting him in a position to mow the lawn without eating your hedges and flowers! In the spring, when our pastures aren’t quite...

COMEBEFORES - Giving To Lead. START HERE - In the round pen. AIM FOR THIS - The llama lowers his head willing when you ask him to, all the way to the ground, and holds it there as long as you ask him to. HOW TO TEACH IT - Do a little giving practise first. Ask him to...

COMEBEFORES - Loose Lead Walking. START HERE - Anywhere you have a safe, solid, llama-nose-height ring or bar to tie him to. AIM FOR THIS - You'll tie him to the side of your trailer, to the top bar of a pen, to the barn wall. He'll stand safely, comfortably and...

COMEBEFORES - Walking On A Loose Lead, Whoa. START HERE - Outside, walking around with the lead loose. Somewhere nearby, he has a goal, such as a treat pan on the ground, or another llama in a pen. AIM FOR THIS - You walk, he walks. You run, he runs. You run really...

COMEBEFORES - Walking On Loose Lead. START HERE - Outside where you have some room to walk. AIM FOR THIS - The llama is walking just off your right shoulder on a loose lead. When you straighten up a bit and slow down, he does too. When you stop, he stops without...

COMEBEFORES - Walking on a lead. Huh? Isn't that the same thing? Well, yes, it should be, but there's so much that can go wrong with the idea of a loose lead that it needs its own section! Tight Lead Castaway, at 2 weeks, isn't enjoying his walk with that huge halter...

COMEBEFORES - Haltering, Wearing The Lead, Giving To The Lead. START HERE - Still in the round pen! AIM FOR THIS - When you walk, the llama walks with you, about a foot out from your right shoulder. Your lead is loose almost all the time. Two buddies, going for a...

COMEBEFORES - Haltering and Wearing The Lead. START HERE - Yep, still in the round pen! AIM FOR THIS - No matter where the lead goes, the llama follows it. The lead stays loose. HOW TO TEACH IT - The job of the lead will be to keep the llama safe, and to help you tell...

COMEBEFORES - To start lead training, the llama needs to understand how to be haltered, and all the behaviours leading up to haltering. START HERE - In the round pen. AIM FOR THIS - The llama is comfortable with the leadshank, whether it's tight, loose, dangling, or...

This is where most people THINK we're getting down to the business of training llamas, but don't be fooled! If you and your llama aren't solid on Go, Stop, and Stay Stopped, you're going to have problems you didn't need to have! COMEBEFORES - Go, Stop, and Stay...

HALTERS AND LEADS The halter and lead do more than connect you physically to the llama. They connect you mentally as well. Wearing a halter - or a hat, or a backpack, or a harness, going WITH the pressure of a lead rather than AGAINST it, walking at the same speed and...

Well, he stops. He goes. The POINT, however, was to catch him, hmmm? COMEBEFORES - He'll need to know both Go and Stop. START HERE - We'll start with the llama in the round pen. You're standing in the middle of the pen. AIM FOR THIS - When you look at his tail, he...

Most sensible people at this point will be thinking "Great, I can get the llama to move. The PROBLEM, though, is getting the llama to STOP!" You're right. Llamas protect themselves from minor inconveniences by moving away from them. Before you can be promoted from...

Moving is the most basic behaviour you'll teach your llama. Something he already knows how to do! START HERE - Start with a single llama in the round pen. He doesn't have to have any tack on for this, and he doesn't need to be willing to take your treats from you....