FOOT WORK ...I HATE it ! ! !

THE METHOD I'M USING

Before I begin I want to say that handling llamas' feet, particularly back feet can be a complete nightmare. Some llamas are easy, many will become easier with practice, whilst some will remain absolutely impossible. And there are those that are easy for a time and then suddenly decide that their feet are off-limits to humans. I have had experience of all these things. If you are reading this and having foot troubles..you are not alone! And added to all this is the frustrating fact that invariably the llamas that hate having their feet handled the most, are the very ones that invariably grow long toenails. And the ones that never need their nails trimmed ( and there are lots of these ) are a dream.

 

For the llamas that I have needed to do and have had success with, my method has been a desensitisation exercise. I've literally played my "Quite Still" Statue game.Picking up the feet, so useful if you want to clip the toenails yourself, really comes with handling, if it's going to come at all. If feet are sensitive, it really is a question of starting at the nearest point to the foot (not necessarily the leg!) that the llama is really comfortable with, handling that part..and gradually working closer and closer to the foot. It can take hours, or days or even weeks. But whilst there is progress, it is worthwhile continuing. Mouth-operated clickers can be useful here! Also litter-pickers! I dont know if they use them in the States, but everyone in UK will know the long litter-picker with graspers one end and handles at the other. One can lightly grasp the lower leg of the llama with these. Here again, I've played my Statue Game,clicking and rewarding for several seconds of toleration of the grasp.

The aim with the back leg is to lift the leg up so the cannon bone is vertical and to cradle the foot, pads uppermost, in one hand whilst holding clippers in the other.

In my work I have tried to make a verbal as well as a hand-cue distinction between keeping the foot down when the lower leg is being brushed ("Standing") and lifting it off the ground ( take lower leg and "Givvus a foot").

 

There is another method method for toenails which I'm currently using. It is not nearly as good as picking up the feet, but when all else fails...! It really consists of clipping the nails whilst the foot is on the ground. I am using it for Oscar and Toby's sensitive rear feet. I began by using my Statue Game to keep the foot on the ground whilst I lightly tapped the nails with a stick. Much clicking and rewarding for not moving! Then I progressed to tapping the nails with the (closed) nail-clippers. From there, little by little. I began to take tiny pieces of nail away.

If you can add anything to my work or have any questions or comments, please e-mail me.

HOW WE'RE DOING

The story so far: All five llama boys and my alpaca, will readily allow all their front feet to be picked up. Thomas, David and Dillon will just about allow all four. David and Dillon are beginning to raise the front feet to verbal command. Oscar is fine with his front but I am having trouble with the rear. Mary-Ann is fine with her front but the rears are still tricky. Maggie is a nightmare! I dont think the girls would ever lift to verbal only....they're girls! The alpaca is rapidly improving with his rear feet, and a dream with the front ones.

April 19th 2011

RECENT NOTES ON PROGRESS

In October '10 I wrote:

Oh dear! What an admission! I have just had the vet in to anaesthetisise Oscar, because I simply could not get his back feet up and his toenails were curly! I have been shamed into putting in a lot of work with his back legs since then, but it is far from easy..he does not like it. And to be honest, I hate it too.

Jan 21st 2012

I'm still working at it! I seem to do nothing but footwork these days. I've decided to chicken out of the rear feet handling with the two difficult ones, in favour of clipping on the ground. The front feet are relatively easy.

I think the thing that I really dread is clipping and finding I've cut into the quick and it's bloody! The quick seems to grow in relation to the toenail. Surprisingly, though, the llama doesnt seem to mind the quick being nicked. I would!