Marty McGee Bennett
08-07-2005, 08:15 PM
Hi, Marty!
First, a great compliment to your methods---I've become actively involved in Southeast Llama Rescue, even though I live in northern Wisconsin. Since September, we've taken in over 36 llamas. In many of those cases, even though they were terrified when they got here, using just the very minimum of your methods has calmed them, created a space for them to be able to think and act positively, and go on to their adoptive homes with great attitudes!
Now to my dilemma: two of the above rescues were a mom and cria. Unfortunately, mom was bred at 7 months. Amazingly both she and her beautiful cria are doing well health wise. Trust, however, is an entirely different matter. I'm working hard to put any weight on mom, as she and baby were at the bottom of the feed chain where they were, and when they arrived here, my vet had a fit. Amazingly, mom had milk. As I feed up mom, baby is doing even better, of course. They now know that going into a stall <my place is a former horse facility, desperately needs remodeled, but......> when I come in will get them food, and they've quickly decided which stall is "theirs". After 2 months work and patience, mom will now come up, after she's eaten, and nibble a bit of feed from my hand. I don't raise my head, but peek through my lashes to watch. The big problem is that, much as I would love to work with them, starting with the catch rope and going from there, it's so darned cold I can't stay out there long enough, unless I'm dressed like the Michelin Woman! They do watch me gently touch and greet each of the other girls in that barn, and although some <other rescues> will probably never completely quit flinching, all the others will come up, accept a soft touch, then run out for hay, if the weather's passable.
Will the delay--probably another 6--8 weeks--until the weather is warm enough, really be harmful to training these two? Is there anything I can do in the meantime?
Baby is purportedly about 9 months old, but looks like she's about 4 months, stature wise. Has yet to "steal" grain from mom. I'm trying to figure out a way, with a portable panel, to create a creep feeder for her, so she could at least try. Suggestions?
Every time I go out on a rescue, I realize just how much I've learned from you and your techniques. After the last one, my team of volunteers stopped for hot soup at a local eatery. We started talking about giving shots, and I showed them your technique for SQ, that I'd been using that day as we stuffed one llama after another into a trailer, to get them out of a truly ugly situation. Despite the fact that none of the llamas really had anything between the skin and the skeleton, they all were successfully vaccinated and given a shot of Dectomax, without a problem <love that "jam them in" technique!>
Thanks! If you have any suggestions, please let me know. My copy of Camelid Companion is in heavy use--and looks it! <G>
Absolutely no worries waiting it may be better... I think that being around you and not being grabbed will be just what the doctor ordered. These animals don't forget they are not afraid. Remember all you really need from them is to do nothing... to give up their repertoire of fear responses.. so that you can do you handling job. Just leaving them alone is fine. When you do begin to work with them make sure to use the wand and the rope this is just what they need.
First, a great compliment to your methods---I've become actively involved in Southeast Llama Rescue, even though I live in northern Wisconsin. Since September, we've taken in over 36 llamas. In many of those cases, even though they were terrified when they got here, using just the very minimum of your methods has calmed them, created a space for them to be able to think and act positively, and go on to their adoptive homes with great attitudes!
Now to my dilemma: two of the above rescues were a mom and cria. Unfortunately, mom was bred at 7 months. Amazingly both she and her beautiful cria are doing well health wise. Trust, however, is an entirely different matter. I'm working hard to put any weight on mom, as she and baby were at the bottom of the feed chain where they were, and when they arrived here, my vet had a fit. Amazingly, mom had milk. As I feed up mom, baby is doing even better, of course. They now know that going into a stall <my place is a former horse facility, desperately needs remodeled, but......> when I come in will get them food, and they've quickly decided which stall is "theirs". After 2 months work and patience, mom will now come up, after she's eaten, and nibble a bit of feed from my hand. I don't raise my head, but peek through my lashes to watch. The big problem is that, much as I would love to work with them, starting with the catch rope and going from there, it's so darned cold I can't stay out there long enough, unless I'm dressed like the Michelin Woman! They do watch me gently touch and greet each of the other girls in that barn, and although some <other rescues> will probably never completely quit flinching, all the others will come up, accept a soft touch, then run out for hay, if the weather's passable.
Will the delay--probably another 6--8 weeks--until the weather is warm enough, really be harmful to training these two? Is there anything I can do in the meantime?
Baby is purportedly about 9 months old, but looks like she's about 4 months, stature wise. Has yet to "steal" grain from mom. I'm trying to figure out a way, with a portable panel, to create a creep feeder for her, so she could at least try. Suggestions?
Every time I go out on a rescue, I realize just how much I've learned from you and your techniques. After the last one, my team of volunteers stopped for hot soup at a local eatery. We started talking about giving shots, and I showed them your technique for SQ, that I'd been using that day as we stuffed one llama after another into a trailer, to get them out of a truly ugly situation. Despite the fact that none of the llamas really had anything between the skin and the skeleton, they all were successfully vaccinated and given a shot of Dectomax, without a problem <love that "jam them in" technique!>
Thanks! If you have any suggestions, please let me know. My copy of Camelid Companion is in heavy use--and looks it! <G>
Absolutely no worries waiting it may be better... I think that being around you and not being grabbed will be just what the doctor ordered. These animals don't forget they are not afraid. Remember all you really need from them is to do nothing... to give up their repertoire of fear responses.. so that you can do you handling job. Just leaving them alone is fine. When you do begin to work with them make sure to use the wand and the rope this is just what they need.