Problematic behavior in llamas
and misdirected territorial aggression
Do you have a llama whose behavior scares you?
You're not alone.
Llamas don't behave like the animals we grew up reading about or interacting with, and so scary and dangerous behaviors often develop without the handler or owner even knowing that something is wrong ... until it is really wrong. The good news is that you CAN do something about these behaviors if you are willing to seek qualified help.
If you've been looking for clues to your llama's frightening behavior, you've probably found many references to the so-called Berserk Syndrome or Berserk Male Syndrome (BMS) and it's supposed irreversability. "Berserk" simply means "crazy," and it also implies absolution of blame for handlers and owners. But, barring acquired brain damage, llamas never "go berserk." Their frightening behavior is completely natural, understandable, avoidable, and alterable ... if you take the time to learn about it.
Tragically, the "berserk" label is quickly placed on any llama that does something puzzling or makes someone nervous, and many, many perfectly normal llamas with easily-addressable problems are misdiagnosed and suffer at the hands of terrified, uninformed owners ... AND veterinarians. Remember that veterinarians are medical specialists, not behavioral experts or trainers. They can only act with the information they're given, and they get most of their non-medical "information" from other llama owners, who also don't have the qualifications necessary to evaluate the validity of what they are repeating.