PLAY DEAD!
..or "the statue game"

THE METHOD I'M USING

This is really just a fun thing! Llamas have such long necks that it's great to see them stretched along the ground with the chin hard down and the eyes looking heavenward hoping for a treat. The public love it too. But I dont keep them in that position for more than a few seconds. Training-wise, it's really just an extension of the kush (sit). From kushing, I trained my boys to lie simply by pushing them into the elongated position, clicking and rewarding. I added the cue "Play Dead" and very soon they were all doing it on verbal request. But they wouldn't stay like that long!!

 

 

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: Oscar has got this off to a tee. Actually, all five boys "play dead" to hand signal and seem quite relaxed for at least several seconds, with the exception of Toby for whom duration is a problem.

RECENT NOTES ON PROGRESS

Oct 9th 2008

Duration of "playing dead" depends so much on how much distraction is going on around the prostrate llama. I can get 10 seconds out of Toby now, so long as he is away from the herd. Actually, I'm feeling quite chuffed because I managed it in the Forest Car Park today, surrounded by strangers and the other llamas. Undoubtedly a one-off!

For Oscar,this position precedes the roll, and sometimes he goes into the roll off-cue..which is NOT what I want!!

 


Dillon playing dead for me