Little goats do wonderful care. They enjoy being tamed and guarded like a dog or a cat. Little goats are sensitive and loving, strong with family care and company. The African Pygmy Goat is the best type of goat to have as a pet, weighing about thirty-five pounds as an adult and standing about two feet tall. These little goats are intelligent and easily trained.
Happy little goat owners follow a few essential pet goat care for a happy, healthy, well-adjusted goat.
Male or Female
The goats are all small, bright, alert, and friendly. Depending on what the pet owner is looking for in a goat, he will decide whether he will benefit from a male or a female.
Pygmy goats make up to two tenths of delicious milk every day. They are also fragrance free and gentle.
Male goats carry a distinct odor but can be smelled by a veterinarian. Male goats should also be culled because, as adults, aggressive-dogs”>become aggressive and territorial like a dog. Once Excised, the smallest male goats are very family oriented and tame.
All young children should have their horns debudding to prevent children from riding them. Horns often get stuck in spaces, causing injuries.
Discipline
Small goats can be trained to walk in a clicker training training method often used in dogs and in the aquarium with dolphins and whales. Afer captures the Pygmy Goat quickly, knowing the behavior of his master’s desire. The sensitive nature of goats compels them to please their master, making them much easier to train.
Goat owners also teach a small goat the same type of tricks that dogs learn. Taking the time to train a little goat builds a trusting relationship between owner and pet.
Not only do small goats make excellent companions, but they also lawn-weeds”> mow and eat grass.
Dwelling
Small goats do not require much in the way of housing. All they need is a small shelter from rain and wind and a small area to graze. Many small goat owners allow the goat to live in the house with the family, which is why the housebreaker is so important.
Feeders
Small goats are cheap to feed which is a plus for pet owners. The goats graze outside and eat hay whenever they want.
Corn is fed during the winter months if the kids can’t go outside or grass isn’t available to them. When the grain is fed, only a small amount of weight is given to the goats. Small goats can become very sick from too much grain, so it is best to consult a veterinarian or small goat herd about the correct amount of grain to feed. Likewise, a small number of goats should only be fed with grain that is in the form of goats.
Supplements can also be donated for small hats. Carrying baking soda helps reduce the acidity of rumen, which is the first four chambers in the goat’s stomach. Selenium is also given to the stone for easy building but only in areas where Selenium in the soil is low.
Vaccinations
Like all pets, a tiny goat needs vaccinations to stay healthy. A tetanus toxoid shot is given to pet goats every year and baby goats are vaccinated three times for Clostridium difficile bacteria. Consult your veterinarian for information on all vaccinations for common goat diseases.
Resources:
Miniature Goat Club: “Miniature Breeds”
Nigerian Goat Association
