How to Shear a Llama

Shearing llamas once a year keeps them healthy and protects them from heat exhaustion.

Shearing is a very important part of llama care because the animals can suffer from heat exhaustion. Llamas are native to South America and are sheared once a year. It is best to start the task around March. It is helpful to bathe and groom your llama at this time as well. Making sure your llama is bathed, groomed and sheared can make a big difference in his health and well-being.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy-duty pet hair dryer/blower
• Brush
• Detangling spray
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Scissors or electric animal clippers

Instructions

Preparation

1. Restrain the llama and make sure it is comfortable. Keep the animal calm so you can run through preparation quickly and easily. Using the proper halter will keep the llama still during grooming. Make sure it is not too small so the animal has a hard time breathing, and also not too big so it can escape. Keeping the llama in a restricted gated area will help as well. Use the same restraining techniques when you shear the llama.

2. Blow out the llama's coat to remove all the dust and particles they acquire from rolling around in the dirt. Groom the coat with your chosen brush and a special spray to help remove knots and tangles. This may take a few days to complete.

3. Blow out the llama's coat again and prepare to shampoo the hair. You can use llama shampoo or a personal brand. Do this on a warm day so the llama is comfortable and calm. Lather, clean thoroughly and rinse.

4. Condition the llama's coat after it has been shampooed. Rinse and make sure all soap is out of the hair. Blow dry the hair to help start the drying process but let the animal air dry in the sun after.

Shearing

1. Blow out the coat one more time to make sure its clean. Clip off large knots before you start to shear.

2. Create a pattern you want to follow when you cut the hair. Use scissors or commercial electric clippers to shear the llama, starting from the top of its back.

3. Move in long sweeping motions if you are using electric clippers. If using scissors, point the instrument down when cutting. Make sure to leave some wool on the animal to protect its skin from sunburn and insects.

Shearing Styles

1. Cut only around the midsection between the llama's front and back legs to give it a barrel cut. This style is often used on smaller llamas or baby llamas (a baby llama is called a "cria"). This cut gives them quick relief from the heat without removing a lot of fleece. Cut the midsection and go a little further past the abdomen and under the back legs to give an extended barrel cut.

2. Give the llama an extended barrel cut and proceed to cut at an angle on the legs as low as you want to go. Cut around the tail and the llama's rear as well. This will give the llama a show cut which is mostly done on females who are pregnant and ready to deliver.

3. Remove all the fleece from the llama except from the head and neck to give it a lion or poodle cut. Cut around the tail and a small portion on the leg from kneecap to the ankle. This style allows air circulation to the middle of the animal and under the back legs.

4. Remove all the hair to give the llama a total cut. Do this for heavy-fleeced llamas and animals that haven't been sheared in a long time.

Tips & Warnings

• Take care of your clippers and make sure they are clean. Replace blades when you notice the clippers slow down or have a change in sound.

• If you are having a hard time and need help hire a professional to shear your llama.

References

• kRM Llamas: Shearing
• Llama Registry: Restraint of Llamas