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Camelidynamics: The training system that works.

Welcome to Camelidynamics.

Alpacas and llamas are among the most wondrous and mysterious creatures in the world. Yet handling and training them should be no mystery at all. Marty McGee Bennett has developed a proven and effective method to handle and train alpacas and llamas. This training system is Camelidynamics™.

Camelidynamics principles and techniques are based on TTEAM and the TTOUCH which have been thoughtfully adapted for llamas and alpacas. TTEAM (Tellington Touch Every Animal Method) is an equine training system developed by Linda Tellington Jones. Shortly after Marty McGee Bennett purchased her first llamas in 1981, she discovered TTEAM and knew it was the way she wanted to manage and train her own llamas.

She soon began teaching clinics and wrote her first book with Linda Tellington Jones, Llama Handling and Training, The TTEAM Approach. Since then, she has produced seven training videos, two audio CDs and authored two more books, including the critically-acclaimed Camelid Companion: Training and Handling Llamas & Alpacas which received the only 5+ (out of 5) Alpaca Rating from Alpacas Magazine.(pdf - adobe reader)

Since that time, thousands of people throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand have discovered the keys to handling and training alpacas and llamas with respect and results. They have learned through simple changes in their own behavior that their llamas and alpacas behave, respond and cooperate in an entirely different way. Countless testimonials from folks who have discovered this llama and alpaca training system through clinics, videos and books tell of how their lives with llamas and alpacas were changed forever after learning and applying the Camelidynamics training system.

Marty McGee Bennett combines an in-depth knowledge of TTEAM, an uncanny ability to read alpaca and llama behavior and the physical principals of balance and leverage. The result is the llama and alpaca training system that works. Through Camelidynamics llama and alpaca clinics, videos and books, you can learn this effective management, handling and training approach for llamas and alpacas.

Along with this system of understanding alpaca and llama behavior, Marty and her Zephyr Farm partner Perry McGee developed the line of gear specifically designed for safe and effective handling of llamas and alpacas. Zephyr llama halters, alpaca halters, leads, clip wands and toenail nippers & holsters are among the tools Marty has designed to effectively work with llamas and alpacas.

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CAMELIDynamics. Get close to your llamas & alpacas.

Put away your binoculars and get close to your llamas and alpacas. Attend a llama/alpaca training clinic, watch a video, readThe Camelid Companion. Learn the CAMELIDynamics training system, and you will learn how to behave in a way that makes your llamas and alpacas feel safe in your presence. A llama or an alpaca that feels safe is content to stand quietly as you work with him.Your camelid will do NOTHING and you will accomplish EVERYTHING!

How do you want your alpaca to respond when you approach to catch him? What do you want your llama to do when you put his halter on? What do we want our llamas and alpacas to DO when we are busy trimming toenails, grooming or giving an injection?

Think about it.

The answer to all these questions is ... NOTHING. We want our llamas and alpacas to stand quietly and patiently while we complete the herd management tasks we need. We want our llamas and alpacas to feel safe in our presence. We want our llamas and alpacas to interact with us humans calmly and confidently. From this safe place, your animals will trust you. From this trust, relationships build that last a lifetime.

When an alpaca or llama is frightened, the instinctive response is Flight, Fight or Freeze. How does a llama react when you try to corner her with your arms outstretched? How does a stud alpaca respond when you grab him around the neck for haltering? Chances are good they use one of these instinctive responses. Cornering, grabbing and holding are oft-used methods, but there is a markedly different way to work with your alpacas and llamas.

Llamas and alpacas feel compelled to use the flight or fight response when they feel they are in danger. Learn which of your behaviors llamas and alpacas find dangerous and threatening. Then, learn simple alternatives to these behaviors and you are on your way to restraint-free handling of your llamas and alpacas. No more grabbing, no more wrestling, no more cushing, no more spitting, no more chasing. Check the Camelidynamics Clinic calendar for 2007 clinics in your area.

law of camelidynamics
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Camelidynamics: Guiding Principles.

Training llamas and alpacas requires a clear value system. How do you want your work with llamas and alpacas to be? The guiding principles for working with alpacas and llamas the Camelidynamics-way are:

If this describes the way your want your relationship to be with your llamas and alpacas, regard Camelidynamics as the system for you. Find a Camelidynamics Clinic in your area or get The Camelid Companion, the comprehensive guide to training and handling llamas and alpacas. You'll be on the way to a better relationship working with llamas and alpacas.

CAMELIDynamics. Learn the laws of llama and alpaca behavior.

Whether you've had llamas or alpacas for 2 months or 20 years, you can learn and apply new skills that will change the relationship you have with your llamas and alpacas for the better. By learning the laws of alpaca behavior and llama behavior-The Laws of Camelidynamics-you can become an expert at handling your camelids in a way that they accept while you get the job done. Attend a Camelidynamics llama and alpaca training clinic, watch a Camelidynamics video or read the Camelid Companion.

Llamas and alpacas can think and reason. Yet they can't think and reason if they don't feel safe. Learning to see things from the animal's point of view allows you to work with llamas and alpacas in a way that they understand and feel safe. If your llama or alpaca feels safe and clearly understands what you want, they will cooperate. By recognizing the different indicators of alpaca and llama behavior, you can alter your behavior and get the best results.

To effectively handle llamas and alpacas, we need them to do two things: stand still or move. The trick is getting them to do one or the other exactly when you want them to. Accomplishing these tasks is all a matter of balance.

Keeping a llama or alpaca in balance keeps your animal still; causing a llama or alpaca to lose balance makes the animal move. Keep your llama or alpaca's head over the body-in balance-to handle the mouth, eyes and ears. Keep your alpaca or llama over their feet-in balance-so you can pick up a foot and trim it.

Balance is critical in getting your llama or alpaca to stand still, so changing balance is critical in getting your llama or alpaca to move. By selectively changing the animal's balance, you can lead your llama or alpaca in the desired direction-without pulling, without fighting-one step at a time.

The long neck of the llama and alpaca also creates a grand opportunity to use leverage in handling. With the llama and alpaca center of gravity positioned so far from the head, very little force is required for phenomenal results. Move the head of your llama or alpaca, and the body will follow. This is a proven method to directing the movement of your llamas and alpacas.

Learning Marty McGee Bennett's CAMELIDynamics, you will be able to apply these basics of balance, leverage and llama and alpaca behavior to achieve the tasks you need. Llamas and alpacas do have certain intuitions and past experience that result in caution around humans. This llama and alpaca training approach will help you understand how to earn your animal's trust and develop a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship with your alpacas and llamas.

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