Jumping goat

[Kathy K]

good morning everyone,
I have a weather that like ps to jump up on me when I'm walking or sitting or just whenever. I raised him from birth. His Goat mama abandoned him in a field and I went out in the field and got him. I truly think he thinks I am his mama. However, he's 9 months old now and it hurts when he jumps on me. Yesterday he jumped up and his head hit me right in the face! OUCH!! How do I get him to stop?

 

[animalmom]

Well, you have a problem here that may take some work. He doesn't seem to respect your space.

I have Nigerian Dwarfs and while they are smaller than the average bear their hooves will still bruise me. When one of my boys gets out of hand, like jumping up on me, a big no-no, I start with a big "NO!" and push him down. If he tries again I knee him in the chest. This is usually enough for him to get the idea. I teach them from early on that it is in their best interest to keep 4 on the floor.

I've heard of using a water bottle and squirting them in the face with water. I've not tried this.

If a day or two later he is back at the jumping up on me then I reach under him and grab the two legs on the side away from me and bring him to the ground. He will struggle and twist, but I hold him there, on the ground, on his back, until he stops moving. Once he is calm I let him up. The stinker will trot away and glare at me, but later that day he is back being a love bug. This may seem mean, but it works.

Sometimes they just forget, or get excited and jump up but they still get reminded.

Patience, persistence - time and lots of love on your part will bring your jumper back into your good graces.

Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[Kathy K]

Thank you Animalmom.
I will try the water spray first. He's a pretty big guy for only 9 months. He has always climbed on me and his behavior is probably all my fault because he's a pet. Thank you ever so much for your help.

 

[Southern by choice]

For a really large goat that you may not be able to take down I recommend a prod. We have a long prod but the handheld may be better for your situation.

We had some really bad jumping goats that would jump on the gates as we would go through and it became dangerous. We used the prod on the gate and when they jumped up they got a shock... they learn, they forget, they learn again. It does not hurt them but teaches them. Not long ago my DD was trying to get through a gate and she was carrying something... with what the goats thought must be food for them anyway they hit that gate as she opened it (6ft high gate) and they hit it so hard the side pipe hit my DD in the head and knocked her out. Goats poured out of the gate almost over top of DD, my DH was 20 ft away and got to her quickly. She is an older teen so not small but it was still not good.
A big boer goat that loves you still needs to learn manners.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/producers-pridereg;-jolt-handy-prod-6-1-2-in-l?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Pearce Pastures]

It is definitely needed. He loves you so much but big goats can hurt. Well, so can little ones. I generally try to make sure NO goats think they can jump on me when we start them as kids, but your situation requires some more work.

I would at the start by taking in a broom handle or stick and when he jumps, yell NO very firmly at him and prod him away, pushing on his shoulder firmly with the stick. Goats are very smart and he just needs to know you are boss and do not like that. Give it a few weeks, maybe even do some sessions where you are just in the pen with him and work to get him to stay down.

 

[Marge23]

I tried the pulling the legs out and making them lay on their sides! My buck is small but he was getting bad about 'playing' with us and headbutting us, so i tried this. I gently put him down and he squirmed for a few seconds and i let him go and he just stood their and starred at me for a minute, but hasn't tried it since!!