Re: [AlpacaTalk] First alpacas
hi Mandy - I have found that "pregnant behavior" can cause some girls to be less friendly or agreeable than when they are not pregnant so Clover may be a different girl once the cria arrives - and two years old is still young, and very trainable - i have just finished halter training a 3 year old male who at first acted like a total weenie when he was approached. Now he is halter trained and leads well - i've found weanlings are the best to train, and they are still small enough to handle easily - ive found alpacas learn very easily with repetition and slow, calm movements - they can follow hand signals (ie to come through a gate now) - also my alpacas will follow me anywhere if they think there is a treat in it for them - they're extremely food oriented. - alpacas also have very long memories - i always have a jacket pocket full of grain, which makes me a very interesting person in their eyes.
i've never heard of any particular blood line being flighty - every animal seems to have their own personality and quirks - i'd check clover out for your breeding goals (ie fiber, genotype, ancestry) and go from there.
Alpacas are so much fun to live with and train, i'm sure you're going to really enjoy them, especially with your prior experience with animals.
all the best,
Wendy
DreamWeaver Alpacas
Port Alberni, BC
Canada
----- Original Message -----
From: mmttocher
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 4:39 PM
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] First alpacas
Hi everyone - I am new to the list. I live in the south of New
Zealand and I am just about to buy my first two alpacas for the
purpose of breeding.
I purchased "the camelid companion" and I am up to about page 35.
From the research I have done to date it seems some alpaca lines are
flighty and more difficult than others - a flighty mother can often
have cria with the same disposition.
My question "can young alpacas (<2years) that appear scared and
flighty be turned around or should I stay well away from them?".
I ask because I have my heart set on a certain girl called Clover
but she seems quite fearful of humans. She is pregnant for the
first time. I really want to buy her and I trust in my ability as a
dog trainer - I use positive training techniques. So although I am
only now learning about camelids, I am not a complete novice when it
comes to animal behaviour.
The other girl I hope to buy will be really young - a weanling.
What do you all think? Should I buy Clover and hope for the best?
Thanks
Mandy
no herd name yet but toying with "Alblacka alpacas"
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posted by Chaddo at 9:39 PM
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