Marty McGee Bennett
08-02-2005, 05:26 PM
Marty McGee-
I recently sold a pet quality male to a farm whose owner I've always thought was one of the better trainers here in the area. They have taken a number of our "problem" males in recent years and always have made great pets out of them. However, this most recent fellow spits violently whenever he is approached. We never noticed this behavior on our farm when he was here. We gelded him shortly before delivering him, and I am wondering whether that fact could have changed his behavior in this direction. Is this a possible explanation?
regards,
John
My first thought when an animal changes his behavior when sold is that the new owners are tentative and inexperienced but you say this is a person that has some experience with not only males but problem males. It could be that the gelding was sufficiently traumatic that he is now defensive about being approached... was the castration particularly difficult in your experience?
Many things changed at the same time he was neutered, he moved and he is being handled by new people so it is hard to guess what aspect is causing the problem and of course it could be all three! My guess is that the most likely reason for the behavior is that this guy is overwhelmed and will probably settle down shortly.
My advice to the new owners is to use a catch pen and catch him with a wand and a rope. Please refer to the GUILD LIBRARY at http://www.camelidynamics.com/guildForum/forumdisplay.php?f=15 for more detailed resources on this. To ignore the spitting and to take this guy out and about for walks away from the rest of the animals. If he is being picked on by the herd it may be useful to put him in a smaller group for awhile so that he can form some alliances before having to cope with a large number of new animals.
I recently sold a pet quality male to a farm whose owner I've always thought was one of the better trainers here in the area. They have taken a number of our "problem" males in recent years and always have made great pets out of them. However, this most recent fellow spits violently whenever he is approached. We never noticed this behavior on our farm when he was here. We gelded him shortly before delivering him, and I am wondering whether that fact could have changed his behavior in this direction. Is this a possible explanation?
regards,
John
My first thought when an animal changes his behavior when sold is that the new owners are tentative and inexperienced but you say this is a person that has some experience with not only males but problem males. It could be that the gelding was sufficiently traumatic that he is now defensive about being approached... was the castration particularly difficult in your experience?
Many things changed at the same time he was neutered, he moved and he is being handled by new people so it is hard to guess what aspect is causing the problem and of course it could be all three! My guess is that the most likely reason for the behavior is that this guy is overwhelmed and will probably settle down shortly.
My advice to the new owners is to use a catch pen and catch him with a wand and a rope. Please refer to the GUILD LIBRARY at http://www.camelidynamics.com/guildForum/forumdisplay.php?f=15 for more detailed resources on this. To ignore the spitting and to take this guy out and about for walks away from the rest of the animals. If he is being picked on by the herd it may be useful to put him in a smaller group for awhile so that he can form some alliances before having to cope with a large number of new animals.