I have come across a few people who know about alpacas and animal behaviour and do not recommend food treats. I guess I should really check what they mean exactly because food is a great way to train an animal even an alpaca. Training alpacas is a huge subject and not one I can cover in a single blog entry. Here are a few basics just on the topic of positive reinforcement.

Positive Reinforcement is possibly the easiest, most effective consequence for an owner to control. Positive reinforcement means starting or adding Something Good, something the alpaca likes or enjoys. Because the alpaca wants to gain that Good Thing again, it will repeat the behavior that seems to cause that consequence.


You might not be able to herd cats but they are fast learners.....and happy followers.

Examples of Positive Reinforcement:

The dolphin gets a fish for doing a trick. The worker gets a paycheck for working. The dog gets a piece of liver for returning when called. The cat gets comfort from sleeping on the bed. The wolf gets a meal by hunting the deer. The child gets dessert for eating her vegetables. The dog gets attention from his owner when he barks. The elephant seal gets a chance to mate for fighting off rivals. I am sure you get the idea.

Secondary Positive Reinforcers and Bridges:

A primary positive reinforcer is something that the alpaca does not have to learn to like. It comes naturally, no experience needed. Primary R+s usually include food, water, often include sex (the chance to mate), the chance to engage in instinctive behaviors, and for social animals like alpacas, the opportunity to interact with other alpacas.

A secondary positive reinforcer is something that the alpaca has to learn to like. The learning can be accomplished through Classical Conditioning or through some other method. A paycheck is a secondary reinforcer - just try writing a check to reward a young child for potty training!

Animal trainers will often create a special secondary reinforcer they call a bridge. A bridge is a stimulus that has been associated with a primary reinforcer through classical conditioning. This process creates a conditioned positive reinforcer, often called a conditioned reinforcer or CR for short. Animals that have learned a bridge react to it almost as they would to the reward that follows.

If you are interested in reading about animal training then one of the easiest to follow web sites is the Sea World site. If you have ever been to Sea World then you will know that what they do with Dolphins and Killer Whales in nothing short of amazing.

If you want to learn more about alpaca specific training then there is none better than Marty McGee Bennett.