Books I have read and liked [Book page]

LOST IN OUR BACK YARD FARM
Westfield, Massachusetts

I like to read more than I like to go outside when it is cold, and it gets cold in Massachusetts, so I read alot.

Below are some titles I would recommend. You can purchase them through Amazon.com, at least the last time I checked. This page is new and I have more information and books to add to it as soon as I go thru my bookcase and pick out the good ones.

Caring for Llamas and Alpacas : A Health and Management Guide If you buy only one book about llamas, this is the one. It covers so many basics that you just have to have it !! It used to be called "Caring for Llamas : A Health and Management Guide". Then "Alpacas" was added to the title in a later printing. I have both copies someplace. I will have to check and see how much changed between the two versions, but I don't think it was much. Don't have a picture yet

Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care

Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids If you like heavy duty books, this is the one. It covers lots of stuff you hope you never need to know about, as well as lots of stuff hard to find you really should at least have available to you if you need it. If you don't want it for yourself, and your vet is more familar with horses and cows than llamas, get this for him for Christmas. It will bring him up to speed on these llama critters.
Lots of big words, not light reading. I would recommend reading it through, not to understand it all, but to know what is in it. You will grasp some basics, and maybe later you will remember that something you need to know more about was in there and you can read up better on that particular thing.

Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas Inside information about this book... If you go to page 286, look at the pix of the llama that is used for "The End" of the book (the pix really fits). Anyway, that llama is the daddy of "Haiku", one of my cuties. Except for size, they could almost pass for twins, especially from the point of view that this picture was taken from.

The Camelid Companion I havn't finished this book yet, and I havn't made up my mind about it yet. I have never taken a session with Marty... I do want to some day! I have spent a fair amount of time with John Mallon and have learned many of his methods. Sometimes they diverge on subjects. More often, I sway towards John's methods than what I know of Marty's. Sometimes I go my own way and don't see anything wrong with that either. I Liked "Llama Handling and Training: The Team Approach" by Marty a lot, so I am not down on her. If you want to read books by Marty, my suggestion would be to start with "Llama Handling and Training: The Team Approach" first.
One thing I can say from reading Marty McGee Bennett's books is that she DOES make you think of things from a different perspective... that of the llamas. Sometimes all you have to do to deal with some llama training situation is to look at things from the llama's perspective - then the solution you are looking for is much more obvious.

Llama Handling and Training: The Team Approach This book I like a lot. Having spent a half dozen or so days (and a few partying nights) with John Mallon, I feel that the approaches in this book can sometimes put a little different twist on things I learned with John. Sometimes the two "trainers" clash to the extreme in their methods, and this is fine with me because some llamas didn't study with either of them! Having a totally different backup plan can be quite handy. Marty's instruction on massage methods are something that seem to be unique to her style, and something that I have repeatedly found usefull in desensitizing llamas to an extreme level. Personally, I feel wierd if I can not touch any of my llamas absolutely anywhere at any time, and Marty's methods are helpful in getting me and the critters to that state of desensitization. After all, the last thing you want to do is have to deal with a llama that is untouchable nutcase when he is in some sort of trouble and needs to be touched NOW! Don't have a picture yet.

Animals : Our Return to Wholeness If you want to put you rmind into a different perspective about people and animals, read this book. What is real, what is not, I do not know... no one can know, but the perspective one can get from reading this book sure does seem to help when you interact with your llamas. Sound confusing? It is. Ya gotta read it, I guess.

Veterinary Parasitology: Reference Manual If you really want to understand parasites, and worm with intellegence rather than guessing, you have to start looking at poop. This book tells you all about basic procedures for fecal floatation techniques. Once you see some little "critter", the book will tell you what you have found. Not limited to llamas, covers many animals, and even people!
By the way, if you want to do fecal examination, and need a microscope, I found a source of very high quality refurbished scopes. Try Mel Sobel Microscopes They have all types, from simple to fancy. For poop, you don't need something real complicated. A three turret monocular, with magnifications of about 40X, 100X, and 400X will get you where you need to be. I got a refurbished Bousch and Lomb 3 turret, with mirror light source, for $150 plus shipping. The scope is excelent... just like new!

Packing With Llamas

Llamas on the Trail : A Packer's Guide

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Caring for Llamas and Alpacas : A Health and Management Guide If you buy only one book about llamas, this is the one. It covers so many basics that you just have to have it !! It used to be called "Caring for Llamas : A Health and Management Guide". Then "Alpacas" was added to the title in a later printing. I have both copies someplace. I will have to check and see how much changed between the two versions, but I don't think it was much.	Don't have a picture yet
Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care
Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids If you like heavy duty books, this is the one. It covers lots of stuff you hope you never need to know about, as well as lots of stuff hard to find you really should at least have available to you if you need it. If you don't want it for yourself, and your vet is more familar with horses and cows than llamas, get this for him for Christmas. It will bring him up to speed on these llama critters. Lots of big words, not light reading. I would recommend reading it through, not to understand it all, but to know what is in it. You will grasp some basics, and maybe later you will remember that something you need to know more about was in there and you can read up better on that particular thing.
Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas Inside information about this book... If you go to page 286, look at the pix of the llama that is used for "The End" of the book (the pix really fits). Anyway, that llama is the daddy of "Haiku", one of my cuties. Except for size, they could almost pass for twins, especially from the point of view that this picture was taken from.
The Camelid Companion I havn't finished this book yet, and I havn't made up my mind about it yet. I have never taken a session with Marty... I do want to some day! I have spent a fair amount of time with John Mallon and have learned many of his methods. Sometimes they diverge on subjects. More often, I sway towards John's methods than what I know of Marty's. Sometimes I go my own way and don't see anything wrong with that either. I Liked "Llama Handling and Training: The Team Approach" by Marty a lot, so I am not down on her. If you want to read books by Marty, my suggestion would be to start with "Llama Handling and Training: The Team Approach" first. One thing I can say from reading Marty McGee Bennett's books is that she DOES make you think of things from a different perspective... that of the llamas. Sometimes all you have to do to deal with some llama training situation is to look at things from the llama's perspective - then the solution you are looking for is much more obvious.
Llama Handling and Training: The Team Approach This book I like a lot. Having spent a half dozen or so days (and a few partying nights) with John Mallon, I feel that the approaches in this book can sometimes put a little different twist on things I learned with John. Sometimes the two "trainers" clash to the extreme in their methods, and this is fine with me because some llamas didn't study with either of them! Having a totally different backup plan can be quite handy. Marty's instruction on massage methods are something that seem to be unique to her style, and something that I have repeatedly found usefull in desensitizing llamas to an extreme level. Personally, I feel wierd if I can not touch any of my llamas absolutely anywhere at any time, and Marty's methods are helpful in getting me and the critters to that state of desensitization. After all, the last thing you want to do is have to deal with a llama that is untouchable nutcase when he is in some sort of trouble and needs to be touched NOW!	Don't have a picture yet.
Animals : Our Return to Wholeness If you want to put you rmind into a different perspective about people and animals, read this book. What is real, what is not, I do not know... no one can know, but the perspective one can get from reading this book sure does seem to help when you interact with your llamas. Sound confusing? It is. Ya gotta read it, I guess.
Veterinary Parasitology: Reference Manual If you really want to understand parasites, and worm with intellegence rather than guessing, you have to start looking at poop. This book tells you all about basic procedures for fecal floatation techniques. Once you see some little "critter", the book will tell you what you have found. Not limited to llamas, covers many animals, and even people! By the way, if you want to do fecal examination, and need a microscope, I found a source of very high quality refurbished scopes. Try Mel Sobel Microscopes They have all types, from simple to fancy. For poop, you don't need something real complicated. A three turret monocular, with magnifications of about 40X, 100X, and 400X will get you where you need to be. I got a refurbished Bousch and Lomb 3 turret, with mirror light source, for $150 plus shipping. The scope is excelent... just like new!



Packing With Llamas
Llamas on the Trail : A Packer's Guide