Posted by Malinda on December 28, 2001 at 23:54:17:
In Reply to: Pushy llama posted by Vern on November 28, 2001 at 15:48:38:
Hi Vern,
I hope you may have gotten answers elsewhere in the time that has passed since you wrote your message here...
I am concerned about you and your llama. He sounds like he is on the road to being a serious threat to you or your family members. "Berserk" or "abherrant" males usually grew up getting lots of attention.. Bottle feeding can do this. They lack the slight shyness toward humans and tend to think of us as their own kind. A berserk llama will not only jump up on people- they will attack when they get older and more territorial- just as they would another llama. Please don't put yourself or anyone in that position. I don't mean to say every bottle fed llama will do this- but there is no reason to bottle feed a llama unless absolutely necessary. Your guy could have been raised by his mom but got too much attention- either way his behaviour at this point is not good.
It would be best to put him in the hands of an experienced llama handler to try retrain him. He definitely needs other llamas to bond with but he sounds like he is much farther along than I would be comfortable with dealing with myself (I've had llamas 3 yrs) and it sounds like you are fairly new to llamas.
I would have emailed you but didn't have your address.. Let me know if I can help in any way.. Perhaps find some llama breeders near you?
Malinda
