THE METHOD I'M USING

Desensitisation is one of these words I keep seeing in llama books and, so far as I can tell, it simply means "the llama allowing itself to be touched without protest". This is something which is highly desirable in all parts of the animal as it helps so much in grooming, nail-clipping, shearing, haltering... oh the list in endless.
Do llamas like being handled? I'm not sure. Sometimes I suspect they never really get beyond passive acceptance. My method has always been to frequently handle those parts that are already acceptable. Obviously this is mostly done in the process of GROOMING and gradually... maybe over a period of weeks... working along to the sensitive areas, with much praise and frequent treats, so that the entire process becomes as pleasurable to the animal as possible.
But it's the VERY sensitive areas which are the problem and this is where I play my "Statue Game". (I borrowed the name from Jim Krowka of Lost Creek Llamas.) It has convinced many-a-person looking over the fence that I am completely and incurably eccentric...for it goes something like this:

Putting my hands on, or perhaps actively handling a sensitive part, such as the ears or under the tail, I begin to recite the words "Quite still". Initially, I'll probably only get the "Qu.." of "Quite" out, before the llama shifts, but this small moment of stillness is rewarded. (It is hard using a clicker with your hands full of llama, so I quite often "click" with a vocal signal followed by the treat.)

Gradually, over maybe fifty steps, I'll repeat the exercise in exactly the same spot, each time asking for a little longer stillness before the reward is given. As things progress, I ask the llama to freeze and hear "Quite Still" for a slowly increasing number of times before the click sounds. Get me?

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