What does your camel know?

[camel2]

Hey all,

I'm just kinda wondering what your camels are trained to do.

The ones I've worked with where trained to willingly load in a trailer (ok that's kinda simple but hey its still a behavior), be led with riders (commercial), kush, and one gave 'kisses'.

I'd love to hear what everyone else does with their camels. I started wondering after I saw the clicker trained kush video!

Thanks!

[camelsinfrance]

My camels all say bonjour - on the voice command, they lift their left legs high off the ground, and Ceefa ( my little camel) takes a curtsey.
I'm now just training her to pick up rubbish - the idea being that I put some items on a table, and she takes them off and puts them in a dustbin.
One of my llamas is just mastering the art of going to get me a flower, and bring it to me and get on one knee - we manage MOST of the behaviour and are just working on stringing it together.
We have a pig that dances and sits, and a goat that does an assult course!!!
Lets hear more ideas... PLEASE

[camel2]

Does anybody get the 'Animal Finders Guide'? They had a couple of pictures from petit farms of their dromedaries pulling a cart and pulling logs. It was pretty cool to see pics of working camels in the U.S.

[camelsinfrance]

Just for the hell of it...
Yesterday I taught our smallest camel to pick up the garbage!
SHE LOVED IT! Though obviously thought it was a bit beneath her at first, afterall, she came to France for the sun and the wine...
I'm hoping to video it soon...
What she does is pick up pieces of paper ( that I've dropped) - not any old garbage, then she gives them to me... CLICK REWARD!!
She took about an hour to learn this trick and has been hassling me ever since to play some more!!

[camelsinfrance]

PS - where can I get the animal finders guide??

[CoO]

You can find the guide at www.animalfindersguide.com. It is a fun periodical to read; lots of animal advertisements. The website has limited information. You must subscribe to get the best information, or to receive it in the mail. I usually pick up a copy when I go the Lolli Brothers exotic animal auctions in Macon, Missouri.

Camel2, I wish I could tell you something about buying a camel from the Lolli auction, but I can't. I'm interested in buying a female bactrian, so I've attended the last four auctions. Unfortunately, they don't get many female bactrians, but they usually have lots of dromedaries for sale, and plenty of camel owners to talk to. I wasn't in the least bit interested in camels until I happened to go to one of their auctions one year ago. I took notice of a seven month old (I think that was the age) bactrian in a stall with one flopped-over hump. It was love at first sight. He was just the sweetest thing! I've been trying to learn as much as I can about bactrians since that time. Anyway...back to the auction....like you, I've wondered about the quality of animals they sell, too. I think you just have to know what you're looking for, and talk extensively to the owner and other camel owners. They're usually very friendly people, and love to talk about the animals.

Camelsinfrance: I would absolutely LOVE to visit you! I find your work with camels fascinating. Perhaps some day...