Marty McGee Bennett
08-02-2005, 05:55 PM
Hi Marty,
I have been an alpaca owner for the last three years. Recently I tried haltering and leading a yr old female. She takes the halter well but then she puts her head to the ground and will stand like that. She will let me gently raise her head and then keep it up, and also allow me to stroke her neck and head but as soon as I apply a gentle tug on the lead rope she drops her head to the ground again. I have looked in some of your books but I do not see this behavior addressed. I am open for any suggestions as I would like to show her this fall.
Thanks,
Janet
I would try a couple of new things with this girl.
1. check halter fit. This is critically important and the behavior you describe is frequently related to improper halter fit. A halter with rings on the noseband allowing you to lead from the side ring will also help. When the point of attachment is on the side of the halter rather than under the chin it is more difficult for the alpaca to resist backwards by balancing off of the lead rope.
2. Try leading her in a long narrow aisleway with a long lead. Frequently alpacas that are new at being led are so nervous with a human attached to them standing at close range that they are just overwhelmed. A very long lead gets the human far enough away that the alpaca can begin to think instead of just react.
3. Perhaps the most important shift to make is the way you use your lead. Most handler put too much pressure on the lead. Pretend you are leading a hummingbird or a butter fly. Lead with your hand open and never put steady pressure on the lead rope. Use a ratchet-like signal to invite your alpaca to take a step and as soon as the alpaca takes a step even a very tiny one, put total slack in the line for a moment before beginning again with signal to encourage another step.
I have attached two photos. One shows the long long narrow aisleway and the other what steady pressure on a lead rope looks like.
Please refer to the GUILD LIBRARY at http://www.camelidynamics.com/guildForum/forumdisplay.php?f=15 for more detailed resources on this.
I have been an alpaca owner for the last three years. Recently I tried haltering and leading a yr old female. She takes the halter well but then she puts her head to the ground and will stand like that. She will let me gently raise her head and then keep it up, and also allow me to stroke her neck and head but as soon as I apply a gentle tug on the lead rope she drops her head to the ground again. I have looked in some of your books but I do not see this behavior addressed. I am open for any suggestions as I would like to show her this fall.
Thanks,
Janet
I would try a couple of new things with this girl.
1. check halter fit. This is critically important and the behavior you describe is frequently related to improper halter fit. A halter with rings on the noseband allowing you to lead from the side ring will also help. When the point of attachment is on the side of the halter rather than under the chin it is more difficult for the alpaca to resist backwards by balancing off of the lead rope.
2. Try leading her in a long narrow aisleway with a long lead. Frequently alpacas that are new at being led are so nervous with a human attached to them standing at close range that they are just overwhelmed. A very long lead gets the human far enough away that the alpaca can begin to think instead of just react.
3. Perhaps the most important shift to make is the way you use your lead. Most handler put too much pressure on the lead. Pretend you are leading a hummingbird or a butter fly. Lead with your hand open and never put steady pressure on the lead rope. Use a ratchet-like signal to invite your alpaca to take a step and as soon as the alpaca takes a step even a very tiny one, put total slack in the line for a moment before beginning again with signal to encourage another step.
I have attached two photos. One shows the long long narrow aisleway and the other what steady pressure on a lead rope looks like.
Please refer to the GUILD LIBRARY at http://www.camelidynamics.com/guildForum/forumdisplay.php?f=15 for more detailed resources on this.