Nigerian Dwarf Doe Suddenly Turning Stubborn

[vlflower]

Hi! This is our first year with goats and love them to death. We got 1 doe this spring....She turns 1 in October. When we got her she was leash trained with no problems. We walked her constantly.

We brought home a younger brother and sister for her about 2 months ago. We went through the expected I'm the boss stuff and everyone loves each other. All of a sudden the last couple of weeks, she has become extremely stubborn when we try to bring her out of the barn and into their pen for the day. She will lay right down and refuse to move. My daughter gives up and picks her up to put her in the pen which I wont and can't do.

Any ideas on why the change in personality? I'm thinking maybe hormones combined with a bit of jealousy, which she shouldnt be jealous much since we give all of the goats one on one attention. I am going to begin the "training" process with treats as a reward to try and break this habit. Just kind of looking for any other ideas from pros lol.

Thanks a bunch.

Vicki

 

[lovinglife]

Are you taking her away from her buddies? Mine don't like to leave each other, they are getting better with routine though, just a thought.

 

[vlflower]

Nope....we have separate leashes for all 3. The brother and sister walk together and our brat we take out separately usually first. If we take her with the other 2 she butts them. But they are all going to the outdoor pen together and are in sight of each other the whole time.

My gut is telling me she is trying to be boss...I'm just not sure how to change that so we are boss again lol.

 

[treeclimber233]

When she lays down and refuses to go with you just pull harder on the lead rope. Drag her a little ways if you have to then release the pressure. Mine jump right onto their feet when I release pressure. If you don't she wins and will continue to just lay down. That is what I do. They learn pretty darn quick that not following you hurts.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Sounds like a goat being a goat to me

 

[vlflower]

So Miss Bratty is walking very nicely as long as we have a cup of her sweet feed with us. Our new morning routine is take her out with the sweet feed just ahead of her. When we get to the pen, we put the feed on the stump that they lay/play on. She munches while we get the other two and everybody has a morning snack!

Thanks so much!