Alpaca Farm | History | Alpaca Facts | Farm Basics | Alpaca Books | Resources

We have used the following books listed and
recommend them as excellent reference material on alpacas.
We have found some of these books to be a necessity around the farm.

If you're just starting out this is a great inexpensive little book for anyone new to raising alpacas or llamas.  Great information on buying, raising, caring, and selling.  Perfect for the inexperienced small farm or hobby farm.

This is "The Complete Alpaca Book" and it  has everything and anything you ever wanted to know about alpacas.  As a fully comprehensive book on alpacas you will find it a very valuable resource.  Over the years I have continually used this book as a reference.  I highly recommend this book to all alpaca owners.

"This book is a guide to llama health care practices, first aid procedures, and general management.  It was designed to help you distinguish between situations that need to be watched for a while or that you can treat, versus cases that need immediate veterinarian attention.  It is not meant to replace the veterinarian, but rather to alert you as to when you need veterinary assistance."  Highly recommended to new alpaca owners.

"... is the only comprehensive veterinary medicine text on South American camelids (llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos).  It covers camelid biology, toxicology, diseases, congenital and hereditary conditions, and neonatal development, as well as management, nutrition, and care and handling..."  An excellent reference book for llama and alpaca owners as well as veterinarians.

"This is a book about training, and handling alpacas and llamas..."  An extremely helpful book for anyone wanting to know more about alpaca behavior.  After reading this book maintenance care is so much easier to do.

"The birth and care of the neonatal llama and alpaca is one of the most exciting (and sometimes harrowing) experiences faced by new camelid owners.  The objective of this book is to help you through this period by giving you some idea of what to expect and what your role should be in the process..."  A must for everyone breeding alpacas!

If you are new to spinning this is the best book to guide you as you learn.  Chapters include Using the Hand Spindle, Spinning Wheels, Spinning on the Wheel, Fiber Preparations, Drafting and Spinning Techniques, Plying, and Finishing, and much more.

Whether you're new to spinning or a seasoned spinner... this book is a must!  Maggie is a wonderful teacher and with the combination of her pictures she makes learning how to spin so much easier.  She teaches drop spindle and the wheel.  I wish I lived in Colorado... I would definitely take her spinning classes!

There isn't much information out there on livestock guardian dogs.  I found this book very helpful in understanding the dog's role as a guardian.  I never owned a working dog before so this book was very important in helping me to let go and let our dogs work.

Cesar's Way
The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
by Cesar Millan "The Dog Whisperer"

I saved the best for last.Cesar is amazing...  I absolutely love this guy!  He has an incredible understanding of dog behavior and it has been extremely helpful in understanding not only my dogs but all of the animals on our farm.  Not only a must for every dog owner but a must for every owner of any kind of animal.  Body language, pecking order, etc.... watch your animals and learn!  When I get some extra time I will devote a page to tell about our guardian dog, Leila, and how Cesar's book helped us.

These are great halters, they are adjustable so they fit better than most halters out there.  They come in different sizes and colors.  If you are getting a halter for an alpaca be sure to get the yearling size.