Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: Training questions and Hello

 

Cindy, it takes a professional trainer to fix a "beserk" male, I would never recommend doing it unless you have a lot of experience.  It isn't easy, and there is no "one fix" for all of them, you have to know how to read into their behaviour and use different methods for each problem.  I will tell you how to NOT let this happen, though.

 

1.  Handle your animals as much as you possibly can.  This does NOT cause overly aggressive behavior.

2.  If an animal chest bumps you or charge you and rears, discipline it - immediately.  You have only 3 seconds to convince that animal it has made a FATAL mistake - but you can't hurt them, just scare them to death.  After three seconds, love on them like nothing happened. Alpacas are VERY intelligent and learn quickly from both their successes and their mistakes.  Have you ever see a new male go up to the boss male in a herd (or even females, for that matter)?  It only takes ONE TIME and one time only for that animal to learn not to do that again.  That's how they need to respect us, we need to be herd-dominant.

3.  Never, ever, back up when a more aggressive animal approaches you unless you are in fear for your life.  That only creates the idea in their head that they are dominant and you are submissive.

4.  If you have any problems beyond this or are afraid of any animal, send it to a professional for training ASAP.  Don't wait until its developed such bad habits it will take months to fix them.  And have that professional work with YOU and that animal afterward so you know how to fix their individual problem yourself should it ever occur again.

5.  Beserk or aggressive animals CAN be fixed, they don't need to be put down.  If you caused the problem inadvertently, you should try your best to find someone who can fix it.  Don't tackle it yourself and admit when you need help because you can get hurt by these guys and its not worth it. 

 

If you want to email me privately about this, no problem - I just won't put out one training method as a solution for any animal I don't know, no responsible trainer will.  After years of dealing with these types of animals, you have to learn to make snap decisions as to what method to use in specific circumstances and if you don't react immediately or react in the wrong manner, you can make the situation a lot worse.

 

Susan Olson

Alpaca Loco

Riverside, CA 

 

 

 

In a message dated 11/2/2013 6:10:07 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, mrsaldrich@mindspring.com writes:

 

Susan,

 

If you're OK with sharing, what have you done to rehabilitate the aggressive ones that has shown good results?  Maybe you can help some of your fellow breeders to nip things in the bud!

 

Cindy Aldrich

Shepherd's Purse Alpacas

Mount Airy, Maryland

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