The relationship between a stockperson and animals that they care for is important in terms of caring for the animal and avoiding situations that threaten animal welfare. In the case of lambs, it is known that very close relationships can develop, particularly if the stockperson spends a great deal of time with the young animal. This study was designed to determine if this relationship was due to the presence of the stockperson, their handling of the lamb, or an association between the stockperson and feeding of the lamb. Lambs were reared according to three different protocols from birth to 3.5 wk of age. In the first treatment the stockperson entered the lamb’s pen and remained there, in a crouched position, for 5 min. This treatment was applied 5 times the first week, and 2 times per week thereafter. In the second treatment the stockperson handled the lamb during the five minutes that they spent in the pen. In the third treatment the stockperson handled the lamb and encouraged it to eat from the feed bucket. At 3.5 weeks of age the lambs were tested in a test arena in which they were allowed to approach the stockperson. Handling, whether or not it included feeding, increased the lamb’s willingness to approach the human in the arena test. This is indicative of a stronger human-animal relationship. Feeding of the lamb by the stockperson had no additional effect on approach to the stockperson, but while in the presence of the stockperson these lambs were more likely to approach a feeding bucket. In general, handling affected the response of lambs to their stockperson.