Hearing Our Herd....

Page 3

They Are Talking To Us All The Time

An often-repeated phrase throughout the alpaca and llama communities is: “They are so stoic. Once they show they are ill, they are really ill.” Gaining a better understanding of their many subtle cues as individuals and as they relate within a herd or grouping, adds an important dimension to our skills as herd managers and trainers. Does what we see or think we see mean that it is? Perhaps… and then again… perhaps not. The better we become at “reading” our herd, the quicker we can respond to the possibilities. It is important to consider the positioning and surrounding circumstances in which particular cues are noted. Behavioral cues can mean different things at different times with different animals. What if we note something but it seems fairly insignificant? While it may seem a trivial cue, the fact that it was noted at all is significant. We should always take that small bit of information as cause to pause and consider the possibilities. Our alpacas and llamas are actually very expressive. They are “talking” to us all the time. However, as we know, they can be quite subtle in their communication! If we are not in the habit of “hearing our herd” then indeed, we often add significant credence to our belief in “Once they show they are ill, they are really ill!

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Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.

-- Vernon Saunders Law

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