Baby steps - painlessly   by Dave Beck

    Have you ever watched a new born, and while watching, realized that although they are absolutely dependent and unaware of what and where they are, it is amazing how fast they are able to comprehend and learn new things? Eyes, ears, touch, smell - all of the senses are at a heightened awareness, it seems. When babies are experiencing the world, and all of the new adventures, all that has to happen is that they are awake and learning takes place.
    And baby llamas!! Think of the fast track learning curve they are on. Instantly they have to comprehend how to get up, where their source of food is, what to do if there is danger. What are those bright spots, those harsh sounds? What does it all mean?
    From the moment they hit the ground with an OOMPH, they are awash in sensations. And immediately they learn - to get up, to maintain their balance, to find their mama, to find where to nurse, and so on and so on. It happens -Fast. And from there on out, what do baby cria do? They watch their mothers and in a matter of days they will learn how to eat hay, where to drink, where to go for a nap, who is the Queen of the herd, where the poop pile is, etc..
    So, why is it, that if we have watched these little bundles of velvety fur, and we can see how easy they grasp the situation at hand and how they learn on their own, then why don’t we realize how easily and painlessly we can train them, if we just take the time.
    Let’s think about HALTER & LEAD TRAINING - Why do we think we have to "inner tube" them to a fence post to get them accustomed to a halter. There they are jumping up and down frantically trying to get away from this bad situation they are in. Does this make sense? Do you think this is an event which they will remember positively. How many end up straining their neck muscles and or legs, only because we - the supposedly "smarter species" don’t have the patience to let them learn on their own. And, Why do we think we have to draggggggg them around the field to get them to understand what the lead rope is all about?
    I am always amazed at the abrupt, and harsh ways we go about training these amazingly smart creatures in something so simple as walking around on a lead and harness. Think about it - Is it natural for a baby llama, at or near weaning age to accept a leather or rope to be tied around their face? Let alone to then have another big ol’ rope jerking and pulling on their head and neck, no matter which way they turn. NO, it isn’t!
    So, let’s think about it for a while. How can we make it more natural, and therefore less traumatic on them and also less chance of injury. Remember, (1) Cria are fast learners and (2) they learn by watching their mothers!!! What a concept.
    Lillian and I have birthed a few cria, and have spent many hours and days trying to train each new baby and eventually we get to the time for harness & lead initiation. We have tried all different approaches, but always have looked for a way of training that is much, much easier on the cria and on ourselves. Through all of the ups and downs, we have gone back to the basics.
    As I said above -

1. all that has to happen is that they are awake and learning takes place.
2. And from there on out just Watch Mom - Listen to Mom - and Follow Mom.

    After trying different techniques with our baby llamas, and trying to find an easier method we have settled on what seems like a " natural" process.
    When our new cria are in their first two months, we leave them with Mom to just run, play and discover their new life. No training takes place, other than what is taking place between the two naturally. But just a little after two months, as they have now started to look for something new and they now seem to be interested in eating a little grain and are really interested in being in with Mom when morning feeding takes place, they get to experience one more new discovery.
    While they are in the feeding area, which is contained and somewhat small, Lil starts out by fitting one of them with a new juvenile halter. Usually you will be able to know who is progressing a little more than the others and that is your fast learner. The fast learner gets to start it out. While feeding is ongoing and taking up some of their attention, the new halter (only) is slipped on. AND, when the halter is in place - WHOOOA--- what is that???? Usually this is sort of a shock, but it only lasts for a couple of minutes and then they calm down to acceptance. Maybe a little dancing and throwing the head around, or maybe they just stand still hoping all of this will go away. But the time passes fast, We only leave it on for 10 - 15 minutes this first day. When feeding is done and all are let out to the pasture, off comes the halter. Then, maybe the 3rd day, they get fitted with their halter again, and this time it may stay on for 30 minutes to an hour, and while they are out in the pasture. This takes place for about a week. After the second or third fitting, it is no problem, and now the baby is wearing the new halter for several hours. Actually I think it is a status symbol, and it seems that some of them, show off to the other cria who haven't had the halter yet. We even use a bright blue one so all will notice it. This is another piece of the learning, - the other cria see the halter being worn by one of their friends and begins to understand what is happening. Remember these guys are smart..
    Anyway, they wear the halter for about five different days, gradually gaining acceptance of this phase.
    Second stage - How do we introduce the lead rope? This is the piece that is always the toughest on you and the cria.. Jumping, diving, running, twisting, falling. You name it, they'll try it, just to get rid of that darn thing.
    Well, here's how we work it . Where’s Mom? Why not get Mom to help? Remember, they watch their mothers and learn. The first day, we put the lead on for only a few minutes, while in the smaller penned in feeding area. This is to minimize the room where they will attempt to flee. Maybe one more day we will do the same thing. At first, while they have it on we only hold the end to make sure they are not in trouble. Not at any time are we trying to guide them, pull them, or walk them. Some stand motionless, and others try several steps, but not much. But by the second day gently let them move or encourage them to move, but usually where they want to go.
    Now they sort of know what it's all about, but they still don't want any part of it. And now is the time for Mom. Lil and I put harness and lead on the mother, and then while she is standing there, we put harness and lead on the baby, right beside of her, so they can touch and nuzzle. And then the Mom takes over the training. I try to hold both leads together, and actually it works best as we progress to keep the cria’s lead almost draped over the mother, so her baby can stay nestled right to her side for comfort. Off we go at a very slow pace at first, but in no time Mom and baby are walking on a lead, calmly, slowly, and painlessly. Usually we take the two on a short 10 - 15 minute walk and probably will even introduce them to the trailer at this same first time. As we approach the trailer door, it is taken very slowly as the cria will need to look the trailer over and to quickly understand what it is that Mom is going to do.
    Mom jumps in, and we may have to help the baby up with one foot, and in many cases we don’t, but very quickly she or he jumps in to follow their mother - and maybe we will repeat this one more time, and by then it's time for the session to be over. The whole thing has taken no more than fifteen minutes. By the very next time we go through this same procedure and within two days, it's a learned experience. Done and no pain..
    With our juveniles that soon will be going to shows, there is a third stage - But this is the final lesson, and it really can't happen until we go to our next show. This third step is important because we need, as soon as possible, that each llama be on their best behavior in and around the show ring. Somewhere about their fifth month we take the new juvie out to a show with Mom. Believe me, it lessens the aggravation. They watch every move. Being at this first show they accustom themselves to the noise, the never ending overhead lights, and the action. And through it all they are with their mother, learning. Of course you may have a baby who will become agitated knowing that her Mom is near but can’t see her while she is showing, so if you try this there may be some fine tuning needed, such as putting the cria in with another female who is not showing at that time, or put her in a stall with another young juvenile until mom gets back.
     But, by next time at the show it is old stuff for your new juvenile.

Learning to wear a harness, Learning to walk on a lead and even going to a show has become a painless and enjoyable experience.

Baby llamas are highly intelligent, they accept challenges, and they are very tuned in to learning new things, and they will. But let's make life a little more enjoyable for them and for us.