TTeam

the cutting edge by Marty McGee-Bennett

    TTEAM stands for the Tellington-Jones Touch Every Animal Method developed by Linda Tellington-Jones. TTEAM is a holistic approach to training and teaching animals. The teacher seeks to understand the llama/alpaca on many levels: physical, mental, behavioural and emotional.
Marty's whole approach to training is based on the premise that when an animal resists it is because the animal is fearful, is in pain or doesn't understand what is being asked. Animals can think and reason and they can't think and reason if they are afraid. Marty uses and teaches techniques that minimize fear and therefore minimize instinctive resistance. Her methods do not rely on desensitization, habituation or repetition.
    Marty has been a llama/alpaca enthusiast and owner since 1982. Marty mixes the techniques she has learned with her own brand of llama and alpaca sense. Far from resting on her success, Marty is always seeking to learn and expand her understanding of both the animals and students.

    These proven methods are practical, time efficient and rewarding for both you and your animal.  Understand the philosophy of TTEAM and how your approach to training can change the relationship you have with your llamas. Learn how to herd, catch, halter and train your llamas in a way that will alleviate their fears and create an environment of trust. Learn how to retrain difficult animals and eliminate behavioural difficulties that are frustrating and time consuming.

TTeam Books

 Llamas and Alpacas as a Metaphor for Life.
  New book The Camelid Companion

TTeam Videos

Getting Started with TTEAM (54 minutes)
Camelid Handling Secrets, Volume 1: Medical Management.
Teaching your llama to pack.

E-mail: marty@camelidynamics.com

Website:www.camelidynamics.com

Linda Tellington Jones TTEAM - TTOUCH

 New Zealand Agent

Vicky Tribe
Willow Farm
9 Blomfield Lane
RD4 Pukekohe
09 236 3333
kvnexus@xtra.co.nz

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The Mallon Method

First 24 Hours"--

Halter Training Basics"--

Fully (three-way) adjustable halters Useful Llama Items 800-635-lama (5262) or LLAMAS Store 800-401-5262.

E-mail John john@mallonmethod.com or call (800-594-7254) to sign up for your Personal Telephone Consultation. Private Lessons & Clinics Consulting

John Mallon - Gentling & Training Llamas

A must read artcle...

Llearning Llamas with John Mallon

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CLICK & REWARD

Clicker Training For Llamas!
How would you like to teach your llama to -
¨ Cross a field or pen and put his nose into the halter?
¨ Load into a trailer or van leadless, on your cue?  
¨ Retrieve his own halter and lead and bring them to you?
It’s all possible with clicker training!
       There are many different ways to work with and train llamas. 

     The newest training technology available to llama owners is clicker training.  Clicker training is simply slang for operant conditioning using positive reinforcement.  Jim & Amy Logan have applied the principles of operant conditioning to the training of llamas, thus was born Click & Reward, training for llamas.   
    Operant conditioning is the underlying method by which all animals and people learn.  It uses the skills, creativity, and participation of the llama to achieve the goal behavior desired by the trainer.   Operant conditioning was developed by behavioural psychologist B.F.Skinner in the 1940’s.  In the 1960’s it became widely used for marine mammal training.  Its principles were perfectly suited for the “hands-off” training required when working with dolphins and whales.  Dolphin trainers had to be very creative - how do you discipline an animal that can just swim away from you?   Marine mammal trainers began to concentrate on what the animals were doing right, rather than on trying to discipline them for what they were doing wrong.  By using positive reinforcement to shape those correct behaviours,  they were able to develop the consistency and reliability of behaviour that you see at oceanariums today.  
     The llama finds this type of training very enjoyable.  He knows that he is rewarded regularly with treats (grain or special feed is usually used with llamas) that reinforce his behaviour.  This reward is called his primary reinforcer. 
     This is simply something the llama really wants and is willing to work for.   The conditioned reinforcer is the clicker, which serves as a signal at the exact time of the behaviour, to let the llama know that he has performed the correct behaviour, and his reward is coming!  It is used as a “good boy” cue, but is much more consistent and reliable than any verbal “good llama” could ever be.  NOTE - The clicker is not used to call the llamas in from the field, or as a signal for the llama to actually perform a specific behaviour.  It is used only at the exact time the llama has performed the correct behaviour, and is always followed by the reward.  Once the llama has learned the behavior, and the behavior has been assigned a cue, these reinforcers (the grain and the click/reward) can be faded away.      
     One of the nicest things about clicker training is that it is effective on ALL organisms.  Over 140 different species have been successfully trained using operant conditioning.  Once one learns the basics of this type of training, you can apply it to train not only your llamas, but your horse, your dog, your pet hamster, and even the people in your life!   And because it focuses on the positive aspects of behavior (catch them doing it right!) it is a positive experience for both the trainer and the subject being trained.  
     The Logans have a variety of different materials available to introduce you to the concepts of clicker training, and which will allow you to train your own animals at home! 

 
Videos

Click & Reward Video Vol. 1, 55 min. which covers the basics and using clicker training for catch, halter, load, desensitize, obstacles, etc. 
Click & Reward Video Vol. 2, 90 min., covers all the details of training and how to get rid of undesirable behaviors such as kicking, spitting, and haltering problems. 
Harness the Fun!  75 min. teaches you the basic skills you'll need to teach your own llama to drive singlehitch. 

The Gentle Spirit Way

with Cathy Spalding

Behaviour and Training Clinics
for Llamas and Alpacas
(and the humans they own)

 Gentle Spirit Training is a combination of many different methods I've explored, and things I've discovered over the last 15 years of owning and working with llamas. My overall basis of philosophy and approach is strongly rooted from my years of work with Marty McGee and TTEAM. As "Gentle Spirit" implies, my methods are gentle and effective. You will come away from one of my clinics with new skills and a better understanding of how to train your own llamas and alpacas in stress-free ways. You and your lamas will enjoy better communication and more enjoyable relationships. Llamas and alpacas can be be a true joy to own when they are well trained. The start of having a well trained lama is an educated owner. You don't need to buy fancy equipment, or memorize difficult regimes, but you do need to communicate clearly and understand what your lamas are communicating to you. Some of the things you'll learn will be so simple and effective that you'll wonder why you'd never used them before. And the difference in how quickly your lamas respond is amazing.

 Attending a Gentle Spirit Training Clinic is not only a learning experience - it's FUN! Whether you are new to the world of lamas, or an "old timer", you will see the often remarkable changes that occur in a difficult llama or alpaca, as well as in our own personal understanding of lamas. If you have a llama or alpaca who won't lead well, or one that spits, kicks, has no self-control, is difficult to halter - bring them along! There is plenty of time for each participant to work with different animals of varied difficulty. Attended other clinics? Great! Augment your skills and knowledge.

Gentle Spirit Training
Cathy Spalding  E-mail cathy@gentlespiritllamas.com
Phone 360-438-1255   9 am - 5 pm PST
Fax 360-438-0483 anytime
5725 78th Avenue N.E. Olympia, WA 98516-9514

Alpaca and Llama Training Clinics the Gentle Spirit Way

gentlespiritllamas.com