lost creek llamas

Home What's new About us Statement of ethics Llama care, management and resources Llama FAQ Llama literature Basic care Castration Spaying About breeding llamas Handling young llamas Misdirected territorial aggression How old should llamas be for training and work? Training Packing with llamas Selecting a llama pack Packing with females Driving llamas in harness Driving halters Driving harnesses Carts for llamas Showing llamas Performance classes Halter classes Fiber from llamas Llamas as guardians Rescue and rehabilitation Classic performance llamas Our breeding program Classic llamas at stud Classic llamas for sale Communicating Our llama family Just for fun Cria photos Training consultation Performance llama analysis Research Projects Other llama sites           If you don't rescue ... DON'T BREED!                                               If you don't rescue ... DON'T BREED!

Llama Care, Management, and Resources The more you look for information about llamas, the more conflicting "facts" you'll uncover. We know -- we've been there (and still are on some subjects)! For basic care and medical information for the average llama owner, there's no better book than Caring For Llamas, by Claire Hoffman and Ingrid Asmus. It's ownership is required for purchase of one of our llamas, and it's the only book we universally recommend. Unfortunately, much of what's in print conflicts with other sources -- and that's because each writer's experience, often presented as "how it really is," is only a small piece of the big picture. Quite frankly, there is so much to know about llamas that one person can't experience it all. Another unfortunate problem with much of the information available -- both in print and verbal -- is that it is investment driven. As such, it ignores or badly misguides the average owner, particularly those who care about well-being of their llama friends first and foremost. We don't expect our experiences to represent the whole picture. Instead, we strive to do three things in our information gathering and dispersal: First and foremost, we measure everything against the long-term well-being of llamas. We look hard at everything we do in that light before proceeding with the assumption that we are probably on the right track. Second, we present information only on what we are actively involved with -- general llama health, llama behavior, and those aspects affecting selection and use of classic performance llamas. We also state the circumstances under which we have found something to be true, and the obvious limitations of that item's application to another llama, handler, or farm. What is sauce for the goose isn't always sauce for the gander when individuals are involved -- and llamas (and their people) are individuals. Third, we conduct our own carefully controlled research into aspects that have not yet been explored, and also into a number of aspects that have been minimally investigated (complete with unsupported extrapolations) and have come to be considered by many to be "fact." In the case of the latter, we carefully investigate the nature of the original research or observations, and we provide an explanation of the limitations we uncovered therein when presenting our own findings. Please continue to search out information from other sources. We don't seek to squelch what others have to say. Even those who espouse poor or even cruel practices may have some valuable observations that can be very useful when applied under different circumstances. Those who care enough about their llamas to continue seeking out more information and making their own observations eventually find that they agree with us more than they disagree -- and they thank us (we know their llamas do, too). Llama FAQ sheet If you've been cruising the llama sites on the web or the association exhibits at llama functions, you've seen a lot of these. You'll also probably find that this one is somewhat different. Annotated list of lama literature When we started our research -- two years before the purchase of our first llama -- there was one magazine and one book available. Then people discovered that any book that appeared to be about llamas enjoyed hot sales around the llama community, regardless of quality or accuracy. Now the choices are so numerous that newcomers are overwhelmed: What is available, which books are the ones I need, which would be nice to have, and which aren't suitable at all for my situation? This list can help you answer those questions! Care and Management Basic care for llamas When we first put up this website, nearly all other llama sites had basic care pages, and so we decided to concentrate on providing more difficult-to-find information instead. However, the times (and llama sites) have changed, so we developed this basic care page grounded in sound llama health practices. Selection questions: appropriate gender and age Suitable ages to begin basic training, showing, packing and driving Castration -- why and when Spaying -- reasons and options Mental and emotional aspects of adult llama management practices Assessing and maintaining ideal body condition The joys and special care of older llamas Keeping your special llama companion young for a long life The straight scoop about breeding llamas Appropriate initial breeding age -- females Appropriate breeding management and initial breeding age -- males Stupid and not-so-stupid reproduction questions Choanal atresia Other heritable defects Basic guidelines for handling young llamas Behavior problems and misdirected territorial aggression (and the "berserk" myth)   Visit the Llama Web Veterinary Information Page to browse through information related to llama medicine, list of veterinarians with experience working on llamas, and a list of abstracts from veterinary journals. Equipment Selecting a llama halter Selecting a llama pack Have a question that's not addressed here? Need clarification? Email us! Return to Lost Creek Llamas home page