When
we wrote that check to purchase our llamas or alpacas,
we signed a contract of care; we agreed to look after
them, not just look at them. In order to properly care
for these animals, we must be able to trim toenails, give
shots, administer worming medications, groom, move from
place to place for weighing, etc., and do it all as safely
and as stress-free as possible. This is where training
comes into play—if a lama is in serious trouble and our
interference escalates his stress, raising blood pressure,
heart and respiration rates, then there is an increased
chance that an animal that might otherwise have survived,
will die. Stress kills.
Unfortunately,
some people have the idea that training is “icing
on the cake,” not really necessary if we don’t
plan to show, pack or drive the animal. Training is
of the utmost importance if we are to have a civilized
relationship with the lama, a relationship that is compatible
rather than adversarial. We all love these animals and,
in our hearts, want to do the very best for them. Loving
these wonderful animals is a great place to start, but
it is only a start. Love is not enough to make them
safe and enjoyable, or even understandable. We have
to learn the rules of this “alien” culture
if we’re to have success in training (I prefer
“teaching” them).
One
of the most misunderstood words among trainers is “dominance”.
In our society, it has many negative connotations, and
rightfully so. For herd and pack animals, though, it
is the glue that holds them together. Dominance has
absolutely nothing to do with “beating an animal
into submission,” or being heavy-handed in any
way. Rather it is simply a matter of responsible leadership.
The “subdominant” animals look to the dominant
one for leadership and security. There are many terms
used to convey this simple concept “social order,”
“dominance hierarchy,” “pecking order,”
but they all mean the same thing. I try to stay away
from technical or academic terms as much as possible
(do you really care if you are using “classic conditioning,”
“shaping,” or “applied operant conditioning,”
or would you rather concentrate on helping your lama
learn to stand still for brushing?) Most people are
comfortable with “social order,” but balk
at “dominance hierarchy” due to the aforementioned
cultural bias against “dominance.” I say all
this to drive home a point—that we cannot work with
our lamas on an “equals” basis and hope to
have any success. The concept of equality does not exist
for a lama.
Within
the social order of a herd, every animal is either above
or below every other animal. It is a mistake on our
part to think that our llamas are trying to “be
the boss,” or as I often hear, “he wants to
be # 1 in our relationship.” The truth is that
he only wants to know what the heck his number is, so
that he knows how to conduct himself. The lama does
not need an equal or a playmate—he needs a boss. Not
a tyrant, not a dictator, but a benevolent leader who
is willing to assume the responsibilities of leadership
and look after the whole society (herd). This is what
gives the herd animal a feeling of security and safety.
Understanding this basic need of llamas and alpacas,
their knowing where they fit into the general scheme
of things, is of the utmost importance to anyone hoping
to successfully work with them safely and peacefully.
Think
about the last time your dominant female (or male) kicked
one of its subordinates into “submission.”
Still thinking...? All it takes is a twitch of the ears
or wag of the tail to get the attention of the others—actual
physical altercations are the exception, not the rule.
Leadership is understood and respected. Those animals
that are lower on the rung are not miserable, unhappy
“punching bags,” but content and well-adjusted
members of their society—because they have a leader.
Okay, have you had enough of that? Are you ready to
take on the job of leader? Will knowing that the lama
needs you in this role help you overcome your natural
reluctance to be “dominant”? Good, I was hoping
you’d say that!
Now,
what does it take? Simplicity and consistency. These
are the two most important words in training (teaching).
Let’s talk about consistency, and why it is so
important. Within the herd there are certain rules that
must be obeyed (“don’t steal my food,”
“don’t nurse me, I’m not your mother,”
“don’t breed me, I’m spoken for,“
etc.) These rules must be obeyed, unquestioningly, 100%
of the time; lamas understand this concept and willingly
comply with the rules. We have to expect and demand
the same. “You will never spit at me or even threaten
to spit at me” is very easily understood and accepted
by a lama. “You may spit at, or threaten to spit
at me, once in a while, if I’m doing something
you don’t like, or if you’re pregnant, or
if...” will only leave the poor lama in a state
of confusion and turmoil because of its inconsistency.
Imagine the following conversation:
“Okay
Mr./Ms. llama/alpaca, here’s how it is...from now
on, you are never to spit at me, or threaten to spit
at me, under any circumstances, understood?”
“What
if I’m feeling my progesterone one day—I can let
you have one then, can’t I?”
“Nope.”
“How
about if my testosterone levels are up and I’ve
just been fighting with another male; certainly that
would be an exception, wouldn’t it?”
“Nope.”
“But
if you were fooling with my tail and I didn’t like
it, surely you’d understand my needing to spit
at you then, right?”
“Nope”.
“Let
me see if I’ve got this straight—you’re saying
that I may NEVER spit at, or even threaten to spit at
you, under ANY circumstances, no matter WHAT?”
“Yep.”
“WOW!
THANKS! That’s EASY! No problem! I sure appreciate
you’re clearing that up for me—I just never knew
what to do before. Thanks, boss!”
“You’re
welcome.”
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