Alpaca and owner are frustrated with each other

Orion (aka Mr. Squeaky Pants) has me so baffled. I can’t move him from behind, or the side. I tried the hip bump but he just squeaks and stays put. I can approach him easily but he turns his head away and leans when I halter him. I decided I would not put on his halter if he was squeaking or leaning, so I clicker reminded him of how to put his nose in the halter and that worked fine. But the next day he wouldn’t come near it.

The problem with videos is you can’t hear him squeaking.

I’ve been working with him a little bit most days, so I will give him a break.

I’ve been trying to just start over and have some squeak-free experiences. But he even squeaks when he takes a treat from my mini frisbee.

He does seem to enjoy a walk. I don’t think he squeaks at all when we are out walking. But I do have to get the halter on him to do that!

Squeaking means he feels unsafe or unsure. Doesn't it?

I told you he did so well with haltering the other day- but since he is acting afraid of everything. the sand pile (bolting) the van (shaking and not eating, and he WAS eating his feed in there just fine and relaxed), Chickens (bolting). Chickens???? They have been one of his favorite things all of his life!

I took him for a walk this morning and he was jumping when cars went by, and bolted TOWARDS a UPS truck when it went by. If I hadn't had a good hold on the rope he would have hit it.

I don't know how to NOT put him in situations he is uncomfortable with. I have to do things! I have to go in and clean the pen. He is uncomfortable with me walking by him (as evidence by squeaking), and he is uncomfortable moving away from me as I walk by (As evidenced by squeaking and NOT moving away).

I feel like over the summer I had successfully taught him when I mean for him to be still, and when I mean for him to move away. All of my alpacas understand this, and he especially excelled at responding to these cues. But now it’s like he has no idea what's going on.

I don't think his face fiber is causing vision problems.

Please watch the videos with Closed captioning ON for the text comments.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UujkTvSw0ac

Taking off halter. He’s lowering his head. Please turn on CC! - YouTube