How to Train Your Pet Goat to Follow Commands

Understanding Goat Behavior

Before teaching tricks, let us learn a bit about goat behavior. Goats seem to really stick with other goats by either following the lead or the folly of the other guy. They are also notorious for being nosy, fun-loving, and yes-on the obnoxious side of stubborn, which sometimes gives a little bit of chaos to your training attempts.

Let's talk traits:

• Nosiness: Goats are all about poking their noses into everything always on the lookout for new stuff to mess with.

• Buddy system: These critters love hanging out and getting snuggles. Give them props when they do good, and you're golden.

• Headstrong: Yup, goats have a mind of their own so take a chill pill and keep at it if you want to make progress.

Preparing for Training

Goat-training means a little setting up on your part: that is to say, making sure the prep for fun learning activity is complete for you and your soft buddy. You will need a great skill for training, a convenient tool, as well as the right state of mind. 

1. Choose a Calm Environment

Look, goats love to learn in a familiar place without too much distraction. Therefore an area has to be obtained that is calm enough to allow them to get full attention from you. That area could be a pen, half of a fenced yard, or just a comfy corner in your backyard. Just make sure it is goat-proofed, so the goat won't be wandering away or getting lost in distractions!

2. Get Your Gear Together

Alright, training a goat isn't like you gotta have a mountain of gear or anything, but snagging a couple of key items can oil the wheels:

• Snacks for Goats: Tossing your goat little bites that are good for them is super important when you're training. They dig munching on stuff like apple chunks, carrot bits, and just plain ol' popcorn. You gotta check that what you're giving them is A-OK and tiny enough to snack on in a flash for that instant "job well done" vibe.

• Lead or Gear to Wear: When you gotta grab your goat's focus and show 'em the ropes of doing what you want, strapping on a lead or some wear gear is super handy. Plus, it's ace for getting through to them with commands such as “come” or “follow.”

• Noise Maker or Simple Word: Lots of folks go for noise makers 'cause they’re spot on with the timing, but if that's not your jam just throwing out a chill word like “yes” or “nice one” will let your goat know they nailed it.

3. Be Patient

Training goats takes time, and they might not obey commands . You'll need patience and gotta be consistent while showing them new tricks. To keep your goat from getting too much, wrap up training in 10-15 minutes. Staying chilled out and upbeat matters too, cause goats pick up on how you feel.

Basic Commands to Start With

1. Teaching “Come”

Getting your goat to learn "come" is super useful for when you need them close. Here’s how you do it:

• Step 1: Kick things off by being a little bit away from your goat and have a snack ready in your grasp.

• Step 2: Yell out your goat's name and then say "come" in a nice way. Keep the snack just so your goat wants to head your way.

• Step 3: Once your goat makes a move for you, give them the snack and some good words.

• Step 4: Keep it up a bunch of times so they start to get what you're saying means what you want them to do.

• Step 5: Try upping how far you are from your goat when you're practicing.

2. Teaching "Stay"

Training your goat to "stay" can help manage them when necessary. This skill trains them to wait in one area until you say they can move.

• First thing to do: Get your goat to sit or stand looking at you.

• Next up: Have a snack ready, tell your goat "stay" .

• Following that: Should your goat hold still, give them the snack and some kind words right then.

• What if they budge: If they wander off lead them back and give it another go. Don't stop repeating until your goat gets the hang of it.

• Last step: Switch up the spots for practice and bit by bit make the "stay" last longer.

3. Instructing "Walk On"

It is fundamental to teach a goat the 'walk on' cue for a pleasant and relishing stroll, and walking through different sites.

• Step 1: Clip the leash to your goat's tack and bring your goat in with the idea they should walk beside you.

• Step 2: Say the words "walk on" whilst you begin to walk away. Lure your goat with a treat as it begins to follow you.

• Step 3: Give over some to them and applause, as they step along with you.

• Step 4: Continue practicing this in different areas, so that your goat learns to associate the cue with pacing beside you.

4. Teaching "Stand" or "Up"

To get your goat to rise or stand on its back legs, tell it to "stand" or go "up." Doing this trick is a blast and gives a feeling of triumph to your sessions.

• Step 1: Lift a snack above your goat's noggin to get them to stretch upwards.

• Step 2: The moment they get up or stand on their back legs, shout "up" or "stand" and give them the treat straight away.

• Step 3: Keep at it until your goat gets the hang of standing on cue.

Pro Tips for Trickier Training

1. Give Good Vibes 

Your goat is getting good at rewards. So every time your goat gets a trick, reward it with goodies-kinds words, or some snuggles. This will register the trick in the mind, and they will want to do it again and again.

2. Skip the Harsh Vibes

When your goat does something wrong, do not rough it up. That is too rough for frightening and makes even more difficult to teach. Just keep on encouraging the great things they do and nudging them away from the no-nos.

3. Keep Training Chill

You have fun dimensions with your furry buddy while training. No more stretching sessions; keep them short and sweet. They will definitely grow fond of treats and playthings in return for doing great; however, you should always profess love at the end. Keep your goat at the top and primed to know the next step.

4. Stay on Track

Regular practice is a must. Every training session should use the same words, movements, and prizes. If you mix up your commands or treats, your goat might get mixed signals and ditch the whole training gig.

5. Hanging Out

These furry buddies love company, which means training 'em with other goats or critters can up their game. Making friends is mega important. It builds trust and ups your training game. While you're teaching, let your goat mingle with other chill animals.

Training Trouble Spots

1. When They Just Won't Budge

Some goats might act all headstrong when you're trying to teach them stuff. If your goat’s giving you the cold shoulder, it’s cool to take five and hit it up later. Swap out the rewards – think their number-one snack – to get them psyched.

2. Getting Sidetracked

Curiosity and distractions often sidetrack goats. When training outside, other creatures or noises might mess with your goat's concentration. A calmer spot or fewer distractions during training might work.

3. Too Much Training

Goats can't concentrate for too long, so keep training short and sweet. About 10 to 15 minutes per session should be the target. Keep pushing it, and goats become cranky and uninterested in the training.

Fixing Training Hiccups

1. Ignoring Commands

Do not forget in case the goat appears to be ignoring orders, rewarding is a treat you should teach with; make it fun! Next, see if something irritates or completely freaks your goat out. If so, it may be necessary to change your training venue.

2. Wonky Behavior

You have to deal with the primary reason for the goat's mischief such as jumping and bonking its head on things or excessive nipping. Keep up your training work to eliminate the undesirable behaviors and give goodies for positive behaviors.