ABC'S: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
CONCERNS & SOLUTIONS
A Question & Answer Forum For Animal Professionals
All content © by Diana L. Guerrero unless otherwise noted and may not be reprinted without prior written permission. All rights reserved. Click here for reprint permissions and fees.
Welcome to the ABC's! Animal Behavior Concerns & Solutions is an animal behavior column written by animal behaviorist and animal trainer, Diana L. Guerrero. This section is dedicated to animal training techniques for all animals and pets, and topics related to operant conditioning and reinforcement. This page is dedicated to clarifying a camel training question. This animal training topic appears in two parts. For pet training please visit the pet sections, see our pet behavior booklets in the shop, or click here for enrollment information for classes and teleseminars.
Camel Training Question: Part Two of Two
Question
We are working at our first attempt at training a camel. Can you
give us some guidelines and talk about how to address the friskiness? Be sure to start reading
at part one.
Answer
Last month I discussed some points that I thought were important
for successful camel training and safety. I am going to review and
outline seven points here and include some camel training resources.
Halter Training Tips
Take it slow and develop a good trusting relationship. You will
want the animal to be familiar with your smell, presence, and manipulation.
Favorite treats and activities can help achieve this quickly. You
will then want to train the animal to accept a halter and lead.
Let her see the halter when you give a favorite food, place the
halter in the food bucket, touch the halter to the animal's face,
etc. This can be trained much like you would a weanling or yearling
horse. You might use a neck rope first if you are more comfortable
with that.
Change Environments & Teach Manners
Expose the youngster to strange noises, objects, dress, and other
things in a safe environment to condition low intensity toleration.
Make sure you also include touch toleration. Include husbandry care
such as examination, brushing, etc. Later, after you have trained
the animal to lead, you can desensitize to other objects and events
by venturing outside of their environment. If you have a good solid
rapport they will be less likely to bolt. Teach consistent commands,
conditioned reinforcers, and release words.
Avoid Future Issues
You won't want pen-sour or herd-bound animals so early in your work
it is also important to teach the animals to separate out from one
another. This can include exit and entry through gates, stables,
and can eventually include loading and unloading behaviors for transport.
"A to B" work and stationing are other terms for some
of these behaviors. Having a background with equine training can
be helpful since traditional handling methods have been used successfully
with camelids.
Lead Training
Training to yield to the line is next. You will then want to consider
riding a horse while training the camel to lead. This gives you
a height advantage, some protection should the animal decide to
bounce, kick, or use the neck, and also gives you better leverage.
Many hoofed animals are less likely to resist if they are following
another animal. Teach this behavior instead of taking the animal
out on foot and before you teach the cush (down).
Teaching "cush."
There are a number of ways to obtain this behavior. Camels will
bend their front legs, drop to their knees, and then fold up their
hind legs. You can prompt this, approximate it, or capture this
behavior. After the behavior is established and stable (with longevity
until you release verbally), you can later also train them to carry
weight or to pull a cart.
Be alert to the natural history.
Young bulls can hit sexually maturity between three and four years
of age. During this time they can become more difficult to manage.
As in many animals, the impact of rut can influence the animals'
normal behavior and food drive.
Know the warning signs.
The ears of this animal can tell you a lot about what she is up
to! Watch for body tension and ear changes to avoid unpleasant interactions.
Camels will bite, kick with all legs, and spit when agitated. They
will also protest vocally. When fighting, camels will bite their
opponent's front legs and use their necks and front end to push
or crush the other. Handlers should also be alert to this behavior
risk.
Resources of Interest
American Camel Company
Route One Box 3648B
Sidney, Montana 59270
THE resource for camel related products (training items, tack, camel
milk, etc.,)
Camel Caravan Magazine
Route One Box 3648B
Sidney, Montana 59270
American Camel Club
185 Leavitt Road
Oswego, New York 13126
Click & Reward Training for Llamas (Videos)
Volume 1 & Volume 2
Rt. 3, Box 78
Chattaroy, WA 99003
Camel Training & Handler School &
Australian Camel Racing Association
Ask about the video packet for camel training.
PO Box 290
Camperdown
Victoria 3260
Australia
Are you a reader with a question? Be sure to submit it--and good luck in all your training endeavors!
About the columnist: Since 1978 Diana L. Guerrero has worked professionally with both wild and domestic animals. Guerrero has been affiliated with, and certified by, a variety of animal programs in the USA and Europe. Based in California, she writes, consults, and speaks. Information on her animal career programs, training courses, and her books {What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality (SkyLight Paths, 2003), Blessing of the Animals (Sterling, 2007), Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy (Guerrero Ink, 2007), Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals (Guerrero Ink, 2007)} can be found in this web site and in the shop. Questions for Guerrero should be submitted via the blog comments or membership forum.
