CAMP MANNERS
*Please feel free to print out these tips.
Once at camp the goats are usually left
loose. Teaching them camp manners is simply teaching them what things they
are not allowed to do or areas they are not allowed in.
If you have properly trained your goats
to respond to the "NO" and "BACK" commands as talked about in "Barn Manners"
then most of your camp training will be easy.
Be prepared to reinforce the "NO" or "BACK"
command if necessary. The squirt bottle is good, but you may not always have
it when you need it. A well aimed pine cone or small rock will work just
as well.
Rule Number One: Don't ever chase a goat
away from the scene of its crime. You can not catch it and the goat knows
it. Just making it leave the areas is not a correction. In the goat's
way of thinking it won the confrontation and you may actually be teaching
the goat to play games in which it tries to see how much stuff it can get
out of the bag before dancing away just our of reach. To the goat this is
fun, but to the humans in camp it leads to thoughts of goat murder. A correction
is made by contact with the goat. Anything you squirt or throw that
contacts the goats is the same as if you touched it. Be careful if you throw
something to make sure it isn't going to hurt the goat. Pain is not necessary
only the verbal command and something to contact the goat and make it move
away.
Rule Number Two: When teaching camp manners
, NEVER feed a goat people food. Once a goat gets a piece of your bread or
some of your potato chips you will be mobbed everytime you eat. It is annoying
for guests when the goats are pushing and shoving them, hoping for a hand
out and potentially dangerous for children. Save the people food for people.
If you are eating and a goat steps up for a sniff or nibble of your lunch
tell it "NO" or "BACK" and make the goat back off. Squirt it or push it back
with your foot. Don't pet or scratch your goat while you are eating. The
goat will learn to go else where or at least keep its distance when you are
eating. With a little thinking, you can adapt this training to include the
whole cooking area. If you have an extra persistent goat (usually one that
has been fed) then you may have to tie it while cooking and
eating.
A little fore thought on your part can stop
a lot of problems before they happen. If you leave panniers with great smelling
stuff in them laying around, out of your area of control; then don't be surprised
when the goats start poking into all of the bags pulling out clothes and
food. Especially with new goats in camp always keep the food under your
supervision. Do not allow any goat to sniff around any pannier bags.
The bags should be an "off limits item" at camp. Using the command of "NO",
point at the goat and back it up with a squirt or pine cone if necessary.
BE CONSISTENT, don't let a new goat get away with any negative behavior without
correction being made. Remember don't chase a goat away.
At night the food should be pulled into
a tree in a "bear proof" manner. If there are no bears in your area then
put the food inside the tent, or tie the goats up.
As far as the tent is concerned never allow
any goats inside. Goats are one of the few animals that enjoy being inside
and once in, they will charge in every time the door is open. If you are
sleeping on the ground without a tent, then rely on the "BACK" command and
a few well placed corrections to teach an acceptable zone around you so that
you are not getting stepped on or peed on while you try to sleep.
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