THE METHOD I'M USING
Clearly this is part of the desensitisation exercise. Individual llamas differ, but the feet aren't usually as sensitive as, say, the ears and anus area of the llama. Having said this, the back feet can be tricky not least because it puts the llama off-balance. Picking up the feet, so useful if you want to clip the toenails yourself, really comes with handling. 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. Mouth-operated clickers can be useful here!
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"). At this time of writing I am aiming at having the llamas lift their feet off the ground (usually no more than one at a time!) to verbal command only..
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 boys will readily allow all four feet to be picked up. 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 and Maggie are fine with their front but the rears are still tricky. I dont think the girls would ever lift to verbal only....they're girls!
April 10th '08
RECENT NOTES ON PROGRESS
I have put some time with all five boys and their foot-handling. It's something I need to keep up, particularly with the rear feet.. All five raise their front ones readily - almost to verbal command, (Dillon and David actually do ) provided I am close to the foot.The rear ones are more difficult, but then the balance of a llama is strange compared to, say, that of a horse.
It does seem, also, that grasping the foot is taken as a cue for raising it and it looks as though I will have to stick with this and work at the "staying grounded" for grooming, with (hopefully) the different feel of the brush.