Llamas who are well-socialized and brought up by loving families are very friendly and pleasant to be around. They are extremely curious and will approach people easily. Only occasionally do llamas spit at each other or people. The habit of spitting is a defense mechanism. However, usually, a llama would prefer to run away than to confront their assumed aggressor, and is not always a frequent occurrence. That is believed to be due in part to their shy disposition.

The sound of the llama making groaning noises or going "mwa" is often a sign of fear or anger. If a llama is agitated, he will lay his ears back. One may determine how agitated the llama is by the materials in the spit. The more irritated the llama is, the further back into each of the three stomach compartments it will try to draw materials from, for its spit.

One of the principal labours to which the llamas were subjected at the time of the Spanish conquest was that of bringing down ore from the mines in the mountains. Gregory de Bolivar estimated that in his day as many as three hundred thousand were employed in the transport of the produce of the mines of Potosí alone, but since the introduction of horses, mules, and donkeys, the importance of the llama as a beast of burden has greatly diminished.