Are they any good as pets ?

Have you saw anybody out with one on a leash recently????

You'd have give them a front door key as an alpaca flap would be the size of a door.

it depends what you want from a pet.

they're not all that keen on being fussed, and many will spit and kick

they're more of an animal which is kept for a purpose, such as cows

but that said, i would quite like to keep a highland cow as a pet - but it's not going to happen

Maybe you should consider a dexter highland

They're meant to be good guard animals. Don't know what the postie'll make of it though

I'd love some, and have a paddock, but they are about 4k each You can of course sell the wool, and it's very expensive. They don't spit at their friends, are more intelligent than most herbivores, and yes, I have seen one on a lead They can be quite friendly I am told, a bit like goats. Might be useful for trolls in the same way, perhaps?

guess you saw the farm program last night on tv. they are gorgeous critters...until they get the close shave then they just look daft

ive heard of people keeping them as pets, as they only spit when they feel threatened as far as i know.

I'd have one but I'd need a large field and other such large animal facilities. I would love to see one on a lead, grumpiest pet exercise session ever.

Think I'd see if I could put some work in at places that already had them so I knew what I was taking on.

I saw that but on that programme, and what I've heard about them is that they don't actually like handling so more suited to being admired than cuddled.
You can halter train them though.
They guard flocks from predators like foxes, by kicking out, rather than take on the local postie
However Llamas can be better at that because they're bigger.

The more you look for Alpacas the more you'll see - there are lots in Cornwall just by the railway lines - on the 'up' line near St Austell there are 4 in a small paddock which must be kept purely for wool as they are not guarding anything.
Their paddock has a mound in it - when they arrived they used to stand on the mound and watch the trains go by like their heads were magnetized by the metal - most cute.

Ostriches are incredibly common too - first field south of Lostwithiel there are some really big ones...2 miles south of Totnes there are lots of babies.

First time I saw them I thought I'd lost my marbles - was walking behind County hall Truro heading for Penweathers and spotted one looking at me through a hedge !

I love alpacas, beautiful animals.

There's a few down the road from us

My favourite pic!

Pretty white one

This may be a bad thing to say and I fear I may be becoming a troll BUT anyone else wondered if they are tasty?