CAN'T CATCH GOAT
*Please feel free to print out these tips.
This is an aggravating problem whether it is at home
or on the trail. A goat that will not let you catch it usually has not been
bonded properly as a kid or has some reason to fear you. The fear may only
be a figment of the goats imagination but it causes real problems. To change
this behavior it is necessary to understand the reason for the behavior.
Is the goat new to you and just moving away because it is not familiar with you
or is it moving away because it is afraid for some reason? Maybe the goat
just does not like anyone touching it because it has not been properly bonded
to people when it was young.
If the goat is just nervous because it is new a little
grain for a treat and some gentle scratching will take care of the problem.
If it is afraid, then try to figure out why. Always treat the goat in a friendly
manner and give it treats when you are around. Most goats will start to look
forward to seeing you and walk up to see if you have something for them.
Pet and make over them as much as you can. If the goat continues to be
standoffish, refusing to let you touch it or tries to pull away when you
have a hold of it then use the following method. It will seem like you are
making things worse at first but I can assure you that it will work.
Put the goat in a small area about the size of a
corral. It should be large enough so that the goat thinks it can run and
get away from you. If the area is too small the goat will stop in the corner
and not receive the conditioning necessary. A field will work to, but will
require a lot more moving around on your part. Next, force the goat to run
away from you by waving your arms and hollering. The goat will usually run
around the perimeter of the corral allowing you to walk in a circle near
the center. You will be able to walk in a small circle while the goat will
have to really move out to stay ahead of you, as it runs around the outside
perimeter. If you are in a large field the goat will move in a large circle
around you. Keep the goat running without letting it stop. If it tries to
stop move close hollering and waving your arms to force it to move. The goat
will soon get tired and want to stop. Keep it moving until it is breathing
hard through its mouth. Since you are not able to force a goat to stand still
you are forcing it to move. It accomplishes the same thing. It teaches the
goat that it is subject to your will. Once the goat is tired and wanting
to stop then make the goat change directions and run the other way. If it
turns so it faces away from you then chase it around and make it change
directions again. If it turns so it faces you then abruptly stop chasing
it and talk softly and encouragingly to the goat. Walk very slowly toward
the goat talking softly as long as it is facing you. If it turns away then
make it run until it turns to face you again. When it faces you, stop chasing
and walk slowly forward again talking softly. If it turns, make it run. Repeat
as many times as necessary until the goat stands for you to walk up and pet
it. Pet it a couple of times talking softly to encourage the goat then walk
away. By walking away you are showing the goat that it had nothing to fear
from you and all you wanted to do was pet it. Walk to the other side of the
pen then walk back to the goat. If it turns away, make it run and repeat
everything again, stopping when it faces you until you are able to walk up
and pet it. Repeat this several times until the goat stands reliably.
A day or two later repeat the lesson but only chase
the goat until it turns to face you. The goat knows that you will chase it
until it stops so it is not necessary to run it as much as you did on the
first lesson. You will find that the goat will turn to face you after only
a couple of laps around the pen. On following days the goat will respond
faster and faster turning to face you as soon as you holler and raise your
arms. It seems weird to holler at a goat to make it face you but it works
very well. You can continue the lessons to make the goat come to you by hollering
until the goat moves a step toward you before you stop and talk softly to
it. Next time make it take two steps toward you before you stop, gradually
working the goat to make it come all the way to you before you stop and talk
softly to it. Remember to do it in small steps. Don't try to make the goat
learn everything all at once.
This has been adapted from a successful horse training
method and has been used by countless people to dramatically change the behavior
of an animal. Once the goat has learned it, you will be able to catch it
no matter where it is. Even loose in the woods the goat will turn to face
you rather than go through the stress of being chased again.
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