My training system is very simple and basic. For those who want to take their llamas to shows or other types of performance events a more elaborate training regimen will be necessary. I start my llamas training at birth. I dry them with a towel, iodine the naval, give a shot of selenium, weigh and sometimes measure height. The end result is, upon entering this world the cria is handled by a human for 10 or 15 minutes. I had a female, Cocoa, who would only allow me 60 to 90 seconds with her newborn before she started spitting the top of my hat. I had to wait a few days before I could continue. Over the next few weeks I will catch the cria, weigh it on a bathroom scale, run my hands over its body and grab their feet and flex its legs. At about two months of age when a halter will fit the important stuff begins. The first few times putting the halter on, there will be resistance. I like to let the youngster run around for a few hours after putting on the halter before doing anything else.

                  Next is introducing the lead rope. There will be resistance, jumping around, and maybe falling down. If it gets too crazy I have a post with a bungee cord attached and then tie the lead rope to the bungee cord. Let the youngster tire itself out with the post and not associate that with you. Leave the area and return twenty or thirty minutes later. Pull on the lead rope so the baby steps and then release pressure on the rope, pull and release, pull and release. Your llama will associate stepping with no pressure on the back of its head. If I can make ten to twenty steps with my llama I am happy. In the beginning short training sessions are the best. Do not overload your young llama. Once we progress to five minutes or so of easy walking, I then will go thru a mini obstacle course. I use a short jump over a beam, a four foot high go under beam, garbage cans set five feet apart making a S course, and as a final treat, stopping on top of the King of the Hill mound. The desired result is your llama trusting you wherever you go. My next step is venturing away from the herd.

                  Occasionally I have a young llama that will leave the herd for a neighborhood walk. Usually they will need a buddy. Our neighborhood has an occasional car, bicycle, horse, jogger mom with stroller, and barky dogs. That is plenty of stimuli in a thirty minute hike. Next phase is low elevation trailheads. I try to go during the week when there are fewer people. Do not take your juvenile llama to a popular trailhead the first sunny spring weekend. In the six to twelve month stage of training you will need to expose your llama to a saddle. There are many small training saddles that are easy to buckle on and flexible. One with detachable panniers is best. First time saddling it is best to be in a small pen in case your llama panics. I then turn the newly saddled llama loose in the herd. Usually they will run around jumping and kicking but soon figure out the saddle won’t harm them and is not coming off. The next day catch and saddle your llama and take it through the familiar obstacle course. It does not take long for your llama to become trusting in new learning situations.