Training by Webster’s Definition

Training: noun

Act, process or method of one who trains

A Train: noun

Something which trails behind (i.e one llama)

A number of followers (i.e. several llamas)

A moving or continuous line or file (i.e. llamas on the trail

To Train: verb

To entice, allure

I like these words: entice and allure, to me they bring an image of gentleness and convincing, rather than demand and force.

For forty years, I have been breeding and training dogs and farm animals. I repeatedly found that a firm gentleness is the best, easiest, and safest method. I started in college when a professor said sheep could not learn anything. A few weeks later, I had two yearling ewes hooked up in a cart, pulling me around campus. On the other hand, Cadbury, my beloved gelding, is trained to pull a cart for parades with me walking beside him (he even has had cannon shot off beside him - it only made him jump a little). On the other hand, being asked to turn in tight places when he is being driven is not his idea of fun and he spit that message out recently in the show ring! My face is still red!

Mindset: Yours and Your Llamas

You have your mind set on walking your llama through a gate or doorway out of his pen. Your llama has his mind set on staying in the pen with his buddies. You are going to “train” him to go through the door - remember entice and allure. He feels safe, secure, and content to stay with his friends. Outside may appear scary. To some llamas, even little ones, an open door is an open invitation to go through and explore the world, others seem to feel it is the end of the world!

I am assuming that your llama has had the halter on and off several times and been led around his stall and pasture. To put on the halter, lead him and ask him to have his safe space is too much. I use voice and small encouraging tugs on the lead. Llamas like to please, but just voice reward does not do it. The slight tug or light pull is a bit annoying and uncomfortable (see his ears go back?) so it is very important to relax the lead as soon as he takes a step forward. That is his reward, no more pressure on his neck and you give him back his own space and sense of freedom. Praise with your voice, wait a few seconds and start again with a light tug, a couple of more steps, and he’s through the door! A handful of grain can add to the allure and help calm him down. Now take him for a very short walk, stay close to his pen. Remember that is his safe space. Return him through the gate one step at a time. Try not to allow him to jump or rush into the pen. Walking slowly into the pen teaches him respect for you. He is better now, but at 350 pounds jumping past or on you will not be cute. One of my own training rules is to never allow a puppy, calf, or llama to do as a baby anything that will be dangerous, uncomfortable, or disrupting to me when they are adults.

If the first few times you go back into the pen he jumps past you, try to anticipate him by talking the lead close to the halter and hold your arm back stiffly and give a backward tug when he comes too close. If after the third time he is still rushing and it is not from fear, a sharp snap may change his mind. If he repeats it again, a snap, thump on his chest, and loud voice NO! should make you more important than getting back to his buddies. Sometimes just putting your free hand in front of his nose is all it takes.

If you feel that fear and anxiety are making him jump through the gate you should use a soothing voice, a nose to nose deep breathe, and move through the doorway quickly with that tight lead and stiff arm. Stop in the pen and relax him again. Reading your llama is so important in training.

One quick tip - watch under his chin for a “worry wrinkle ”: it appears when the llama is stressed. I have found that if the wrinkle appears, the brain is not learning well. Relax and remember: training is enticing and alluring, NOT fear and force.

Good luck and Happy Llamering!