Question on biting/playing

[CamelPA]

Hi, I know a girl that says she got bit on top of the head by a camel the other day, I told her that it was here own fault because she wasn't paying attention. She was washing it and I have seen her work around the camel and she kind of lets her guard down. I also said that the camel was more playing then biting, cause if he wanted to he could have done some real damage. Am I right that if you get bit by a prey animal that it is proably your own fault? Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are . Thanks.

[kjay]

Sure hope you get some answers here. It's a very good question, and I'm eager to read some opinions. If not, I'll add my 2 cents worth later.

Oh, by the way, do you know the extent of her injury and what she was doing (besides washing) and where she was positioned when this happened?

[camel4ever]

Hi, I know a girl that says she got bit on top of the head by a camel the other day, I told her that it was here own fault because she wasn't paying attention. She was washing it and I have seen her work around the camel and she kind of lets her guard down. I also said that the camel was more playing then biting, cause if he wanted to he could have done some real damage. Am I right that if you get bit by a prey animal that it is proably your own fault? Just wondering what other peoples thoughts are . Thanks.

You are very right. Camels are not predators, still camels (and all other animals) are not inanimate objects therefore they can react to an unpleasant situation.You must keep your focus all the time on the animal whenever you perform some activity on/close to him, the more so if the animal is big and can cause damage. Why somebody would wash a camel is behind my comprehension. She deserved to be bitten.

[camel drover]

You are very right. Camels are not predators, still camels (and all other animals) are not inanimate objects therefore they can react to an unpleasant situation.You must keep your focus all the time on the animal whenever you perform some activity on/close to him, the more so if the animal is big and can cause damage. Why somebody would wash a camel is behind my comprehension. She deserved to be bitten.

camels for ever our camels get in drainage ditches and in our stock ponds (Amphibious camels) and role in the mud to the point there is 3 to 4 inches of mud and crud and goook all in there hair that will not wash out!! we use a pressure washer ( wide spray pattern NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO HURT THEM) and the camel love it they will stand perfectly still slowly turning to get washed and cooled down! i was getting ready for a show the first time i used this at a car wash on the way to a show one fine spring day! i went down to catch my camel and shaZAM that camel was coverd in mud! i was freaking out knowing i was going to miss my curtain call at the church !!! just another option now we use it pretty regular now

[camel4ever]

camels for ever our camels get in drainage ditches and in our stock ponds (Amphibious camels) and role in the mud to the point there is 3 to 4 inches of mud and crud and goook all in there hair that will not wash out!! we use a pressure washer ( wide spray pattern NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO HURT THEM) and the camel love it they will stand perfectly still slowly turning to get washed and cooled down! i was getting ready for a show the first time i used this at a car wash on the way to a show one fine spring day! i went down to catch my camel and shaZAM that camel was coverd in mud! i was freaking out knowing i was going to miss my curtain call at the church !!! just another option now we use it pretty regular now

ok of course in this case it make sense! Apologies. I have seen camels rolling in mud but in desert areas it is a rare event and in any case water is too precious to be wasted. Camels are not afraid of water, in some countries they go out at sea to graze on mangroves and stay there also during high tide with sea water reaching up well over their belly.
By the way how is your little midget camel?

[sinbad]

sultannaplesflorida.jpg
Here is a Picture of Sultan one of our camels during a fashion shoot!


More than likely the camel "nipped" (I say "nipped" because she lived)her in the head because the camel doesn't see her as its leader. It sounds to me like she needs to do more ground work getting it to move its feet, etc. Never let it into her space etc. She also needs to spray the hose nearby the camel first (so that it knows it is comming) and then apply water to its legs moving up its body. A camel that is new to a bath may kick at the water or shift and guard one side or the other. I like to use long handled brushes putting the soap (coat & mane) on the brush and then lathering up the camel. After a few baths I will use my hands to do the tail, back of the head etc. Don'tforget a good rule of safety is to always have a sharp knife everytime you tie a camel, wear a hat (in case they do try and bite your head), and never forget were your body is positioned in relation to the camel and the wall etc.

Thank you to all for washing your camels! At least not all of them stink and are a reflection upon owners that do not want to provide the best exhibition of them as possible! I can't tell you how many jobs we have missed out on because someone else provided a stinky, untrained camel that went to the bathroom all over the floor and the owner didn't clean it up!

[CamelPA]

Sure hope you get some answers here. It's a very good question, and I'm eager to read some opinions. If not, I'll add my 2 cents worth later.

Oh, by the way, do you know the extent of her injury and what she was doing (besides washing) and where she was positioned when this happened?
Last edited by kjay; 07-28-2010 at 09:01 PM.


Thanks to everyone for all the imput. It gives me some fuel when I talk to the people that handle these camels, I can show them what all the "pros" suggest.

Hey Kjay, She only got some slobber in her hair and I'm not sure about her body position while washing and what else she was doing. I am trying to get the point across to the handlers that you can't get to relaxed around camels, and I agree she needs to do some more ground work with the camel. I'm trying to get some lessons set up. Thanks again.

[kjay]

Good luck, CamelPA — My situation is probably quite different from anyone else's because I spend an inordinate amount of time with the camels I work with and have done so for going on eight years. They're showered with a whole lot of attention and care and I've found that establishing this relationship of trust is extremely helpful. I've still been kicked and bitten (in my earlier years), none of which was their fault, though. I've learned to be aware of them at all times because even a bite from a huge horse fly, for example, can catch them (and me) off guard, possibly resulting in a quirky accident. I understand that not everyone can spend so much time with their camels, but I swear by it. Training, by the way, is obviously a HUGE factor.

[CamelPA]

I agree with you 100% Kjay.
Our animals get all kinds of loving from everyone that comes in contact with them, but the handlers just don't get a lot of time to help train. I am in charge of about 10 horses, 8 Donkey's, a few llamas/alpacas, a Highlander steer, some goats including a 215lb one that pulls a cart, and 4 camels. Plus I have to give lessons,(in certain months) to anywhere from 5 to 10 people.
I am trying to spend more time with the people who are working with the camels in the show and teach them more about camels and to try to build relationships with them, but right now it's kind of tough. The economy has been rough and we aren't allowed much overtime right now. We are working on getting the handlers more time to help train.
I am greatefull for all the info on this web site, I print it out and let them read it and I try to get them to apply it. Thanks again for all the input.

[camel drover]

Attachment 491
Here is a Picture of Sultan one of our camels during a fashion shoot!



Thank you to all for washing your camels! At least not all of them stink and are a reflection upon owners that do not want to provide the best exhibition of them as possible! I can't tell you how many jobs we have missed out on because someone else provided a stinky, untrained camel that went to the bathroom all over the floor and the owner didn't clean it up!

i have even washed my camel on capital avenue on the street in the middle of the day in Nashville tn while parked at the sheraton hotel (nicest room i ever slept in) I got him out tied my camel to the trailer, hooked a house to the side of the Sheraton hotel retrieved my handy dandy "street key" (square faucet handle for public buildings) from the truck and promptly STOPPED TRAFFIC! while i washed my camel! this was big fun when we worked with Larry the cable guy in 2008!!!