redtailgal
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I need help with a smart alec goat.
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20kidsonhill
True BYH Addict
pretty much have to set up a small area in your barn in a corner, Something you can run him into and close him in to catch him. Tall enough that he can't jump out of and small enough that he can't keep running around you in circles. The more he is caught and haltered the better it should get, although we have had a couple that have never cooperated. Halter him and tie him near you when you are outside working.
A movable gate or wall coming directly off the corner in the catch pen can be helpful, if they are really hard to catch, walk the animal along the wall until they are in the corner with the movable gate and then swing the gate towards them to squish them into the corner, you need to close yourself into the gap as well and reach from behind them to halter them. My kids use this method to catch their show animals when they are first taming them. It is safer than the kids just running the lambs and goats around in circles and risking someone getting hurt.
A movable gate or wall coming directly off the corner in the catch pen can be helpful, if they are really hard to catch, walk the animal along the wall until they are in the corner with the movable gate and then swing the gate towards them to squish them into the corner, you need to close yourself into the gap as well and reach from behind them to halter them. My kids use this method to catch their show animals when they are first taming them. It is safer than the kids just running the lambs and goats around in circles and risking someone getting hurt.
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
I had a rescued Pygmy that was horrid in this way, too. When I caught her to brush her in the spring, she would scream like I was pulling her legs off one at a time. Then she would realize that it felt wonderful and would start leaning in and groaning. Then the next day I would start from scratch again, with the running and screaming. 
I recommend that you get Monty Robert's book (the first one, his autobiography) and maybe a video from the library and read about his Join Up techniques. I did this with my Pygmy doe and it really made a difference. I had to repeat it many times as she was not wild, but had been hit and handled very roughly before I got her (I saw the neighbors abuse her....I bought her from them.) I worked with her inside the barn so she would not be able to get too far from me.
She is now a sweet pet, and will come up and tug on your pant leg if you don't pat her quickly enough.
I recommend that you get Monty Robert's book (the first one, his autobiography) and maybe a video from the library and read about his Join Up techniques. I did this with my Pygmy doe and it really made a difference. I had to repeat it many times as she was not wild, but had been hit and handled very roughly before I got her (I saw the neighbors abuse her....I bought her from them.) I worked with her inside the barn so she would not be able to get too far from me.
She is now a sweet pet, and will come up and tug on your pant leg if you don't pat her quickly enough.
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redtailgal
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Hykue
Chillin' with the herd
Maybe he thinks he's winning if you have to chase him even a little before the game ends. Could you manage to just let him run away EVERY time for a while - ie. he starts running, you look bored and leave the pen? That probably wouldn't be very much fun for him, so he might learn that interaction with you was more fun when he was cooperative. You do have to be able to leave him be for a while, though, which might not be ideal when he has bands on.
One of my goats was really resistant to going into the pen when I had to move them from the barn to the pen through the open area (about 15 feet). She wouldn't come into the pen with me and the other goat . . . so I closed her out, and took the other goat down the hill into the pasture, where the uncooperative goat couldn't see us. She thought that SUCKED. She would try and try to get into the pen, I would go up (acting all surprised that she wasn't in already, mostly for my own amusement) and let her into the pen. It took about three times before she would nearly always just come into the pen willingly.
I'm hardly a goat expert, but if what he wants is for you to chase him, then every time he gets that just cements in his mind that running from you is great. It seems to me that the best long-term solution is to make sure he knows that that game is BORING when he tries to play it with you.
One of my goats was really resistant to going into the pen when I had to move them from the barn to the pen through the open area (about 15 feet). She wouldn't come into the pen with me and the other goat . . . so I closed her out, and took the other goat down the hill into the pasture, where the uncooperative goat couldn't see us. She thought that SUCKED. She would try and try to get into the pen, I would go up (acting all surprised that she wasn't in already, mostly for my own amusement) and let her into the pen. It took about three times before she would nearly always just come into the pen willingly.
I'm hardly a goat expert, but if what he wants is for you to chase him, then every time he gets that just cements in his mind that running from you is great. It seems to me that the best long-term solution is to make sure he knows that that game is BORING when he tries to play it with you.
Ariel301
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Olive oil, red wine, rosemary, and lots of garlic. Serve with gravy and mashed potatoes.redtailgal said:
I had a Nigerian mix doe that was like that when I got her. I had her in a small pen, and she would snatch grain from my hand (and if she could manage it, bite my fingers too) but she would not tolerate being touched. I would catch her every day and hand feed her treats and pet her for a while, but in six months of that I got nowhere with her. :/ We ended up giving her away to some people who wanted goats to clear the weeds out of their property.
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redtailgal
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greenfamilyfarms
Overrun with beasties
He would probably be tough after all that running around. 
We had a doe that was about the same way when we first got her as a 4 month old doeling. It took over a year to get her where I could actually put my hands on her. Now, she's 3 and I can go right up to her and scratch and pet her. Maybe his personality will change, too. I didn't do anything special except going out regularly and just walking around the pasture. As long as she knew I wasn't after her, she was fine. That made things easier, too, when it was hoof trimming time. I just walked around, gained her trust, and then grabbed her horns. No running around. I think it has something to do with their predator instincts - that's their first reaction to run away from something or somebody they don't trust.
We had a doe that was about the same way when we first got her as a 4 month old doeling. It took over a year to get her where I could actually put my hands on her. Now, she's 3 and I can go right up to her and scratch and pet her. Maybe his personality will change, too. I didn't do anything special except going out regularly and just walking around the pasture. As long as she knew I wasn't after her, she was fine. That made things easier, too, when it was hoof trimming time. I just walked around, gained her trust, and then grabbed her horns. No running around. I think it has something to do with their predator instincts - that's their first reaction to run away from something or somebody they don't trust.
If he's still acting up, try a collar and a loooong rope.
My first goats came from an "traditional African management system" i.e. virtually wild. I put collars on them and in the morning before I let them out, a long rope each(about 6 meters). Since they usually didn't run until I got close, I could approach, grab the end of the rope and close in.
In my case, the rope got shortened, then unnecessary within 2 weeks, as they realised I was no danger. With your smart alec, I suppose there's a chance he'll figure out how long the rope is and continue with his games, but may be worth a try.
Happy chasing ;-)
My first goats came from an "traditional African management system" i.e. virtually wild. I put collars on them and in the morning before I let them out, a long rope each(about 6 meters). Since they usually didn't run until I got close, I could approach, grab the end of the rope and close in.
In my case, the rope got shortened, then unnecessary within 2 weeks, as they realised I was no danger. With your smart alec, I suppose there's a chance he'll figure out how long the rope is and continue with his games, but may be worth a try.
Happy chasing ;-)
20kidsonhill
True BYH Addict
That isn't a bad idea, we do the same thing with a heifer we get every year, while we are still training her we just leave the halter and rope attached, so it is easier to get ahold of her. Otherwise it is quit a struggle catching her every day and rehaltering.timbuti said:
