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Marty McGee Bennett's Long History of Training Llamas & Alpacas

alpaca head work

Marty McGee Bennett has been leading the way in training and handling alpacas and llamas since the early days of the North American camelid industry. Marty's approach to llamas and alpacas has evolved over the years and includes her extensive TTEAM and TTouch training with Linda Tellington Jones. Marty was the first and only practitioner TTEAM-certified specifically for training llamas and alpacas.

Marty McGee Bennett has been a fixture in the alpaca and llama business almost since there was an alpaca and llama business. It was in 1987 after meeting Linda Tellington-Jones when Marty dedicated herself to bringing Linda's work, known as TTEAM (The Tellington-Jones Equine Awareness Method which was later renamed the Tellington Touch Every Animal Method), to the alpaca and llama community.

marty and llama

Marty's interest in camelids started out in the fiber business in 1981. Because so many training and management issues are directly impacted by fiber, one can't fully understand a llama or alpaca until understanding their fiber. This gives Marty an extensive and complete knowledge base from which to draw in working with the animals. In fact, Marty is the only camelid trainer today that is also a professional fiber artist. Marty taught custom spinning, weaving and knitting of llama wool, but since CAMELIDynamics has become her priority. During the 1980s, Marty raised llamas in New York with former husband and now business partner Perry McGee of Zephyr Farm. It was then she began to develop her signature way of teaching people how to have a better relationship with their llamas and alpacas while still getting the job done. These methods evolved into CAMELIDynamics, a safe, respectful and effective approach to handling and training camelids.

In addition to teaching Marty has been actively involved in the llama and alpaca business, organizing conferences and serving on the boards of major associations. She was a founding member of GALA the Greater Appalachian Llama Association, served two terms on the International Llama Association Board, is currently a member of the Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association (AOBA), and the COLA, Central Oregon Llama Association.

Her wisdom of llama and alpaca behavior is sought by many industry publications. Marty is a regular columnist or contributes to:

Marty also writes for several newsletters and on-line publications, including:

In 1996 she traveled Patagonia to gain an understanding of the wild roots of these great animals. She participates in personal growth seminars to improve her teaching and presentation skills. Particularly, though, Marty is continually educated by the people, llamas and alpacas she works with year after year.

Marty has changed the lives for countless alpacas and llamas and their people by teaching owners to understand and relate positively to their charges as well as get the management job done in a kind and reasonable way.

Marty's Teaching: Clinics, Books, Videos

Marty spends her time traveling around the globe teaching her special brand of animal understanding, CAMELIDynamics, to people who wish to move beyond the limits of traditional training. Marty recently presented her training and handling ideas to standing-room only crowds in Peru at the 2004 Alpaca Fiesta. The reception by the local handlers was fantastic and the grand champion huycaya male was sporting a Zephyr Alpaca Halter as he accepted his ribbon.

champion wearing a Zephyr Alpaca Halter

Return engagements to Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom as well as clinics in the U.S. and Canada make her the most sought after and respected trainer in the alpaca and llama business today.

Marty conducts 10-15 llama/alpaca training clinics each year and continually seeks to expand her understanding of both the animal and human students with every clinic. Take a look at her Clinic Calendar.

With three books and seven video tapes to her credit, she is always innovating and updating her training methods. Her most recent book, The Camelid Companion, has received exceptional reviews from the llama and alpaca industry. Alpacas Magazine editor Dave Belt gave the Camelid Companion the first and only 5+ alpaca rating and wrote:

"I truly believe the Camelid Companion is the most comprehensive, articulate and sensible reference tool to have ever been written about camelid behavior..."

Download a pdf of the Alpacas Magazine review of Marty's book.


adobe reader

Her thoughtful book, Llamas & Alpacas As a Metaphor for Life, has entranced hundreds of people who love llamas and alpacas with funny, charming and heartwarming stories, complemented by the beautiful photography of Sandy Flanagan. Marty's work with llamas, alpacas and people has such a profound effect on her human students that she was also featured in the book published by Crossing Press called Healing Spirits Marty is one of twelve "healing spirits" interviewed.

Marty's Work with Veterinary Professionals

Marty seeks to give back to the animals and the human community of llama and alpaca enthusiasts that have given her so much. She offers free training to veterinarians, vet students and veterinary schools. She has taught animal handling seminars at more than half of the veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States including Cornell, Purdue, Texas A & M, Colorado State University, Ohio State University and Oregon State University. These animal professionals and students learn a holistic, balanced approach to handling and treating camelids.

Veterinarians that are interested in attending a complimentary Basics Camelidynamics Clinic should email marty.

Marty is the only trainer featured in The Veterinary Clinics of North America Series, the industry standard for animal care text books. Her veterinary videos produced with llama veterinary legend Dr. LaRue Johnson and the amazing and indefatigable Dr. David Anderson are transforming the way veterinarians handle camelids. Take a look at Marty's vet videos.

the bennetts

When she is not on the road teaching, Marty McGee Bennett lives with her husband Brad Bennett, and their family of four leggeds on their small ranch in Bend, Oregon. Contact Marty.