Good Gawd, what is wrong with these animals??

[EndlessWire]

I have two Pygmy goats. They are my weed control guys. I have raised them since they were weaned. We have a long, friendly relationship -- but they are not trained very much. They are free range, free wheeling little guys that absolutely stick together.

They think my husky is their herd leader. They think that because she told them so. One day, she put one of them in his place, and after that, they follow her around like troops following a General.

I started bringing my dog inside the house at night. She doesn't like it, but when Mama says "in" -- you're going in. This is because it was cold at one point, and my dog is aging. But, my goats can't come in anymore (I brought one in when he was sick as a youngster.)

Well, my Gawd! Tonight I brought her in, and the goats went nuts! They ran around and around the house, looking for a way inside. They were both at once calling and calling. I felt really bad that they can't come in, but they're *goats*! They're goats! This isn't Animal Farm!

They have never done that before, but I can't detect anything else amiss.

I am just so nervous lately. Maybe we're going through a worm hole or something. That iceberg off the coast spooked me, but other than that, what?

[BeerBarrelPolka]

1. I Saw Your Title

and I immediately thought you were writing about Republicans...lol

[Skittles]

3. yes

I thought of Rick Perry and a fucked up "Mayor" in Texas

[BeerBarrelPolka]

4. Yep

Same here

[rusty fender]

8. Me too!

[EndlessWire]

11. LOL!

I've said that so many times!

[blm]

2. Can you put them in the garage with some straw beds?

[EndlessWire]

9. Well, not really.

Goats eat EVERYTHING. For example, while they won't eat tin cans, they eat the labels off cans. They will open cardboard boxes and eat that from around whatever is in the box. They will eat books. They eat all human food, all plants, flowers and anything else. They will root through garbage just as bad as a dog will. You can't leave anything sitting around. One time I found that they had disassembled my garden cart, why I don't know, but maybe they were bored.

So, if I let them in the garage, my dog would have to go with them, and they might eat the drywall inside. I have some boxes in there, and they would eat them.

I have a kennel for them. but the dog won't stay there. So, the goats won't stay there, either.

[dweller]

5. Do they have shelter at all?

My dad had a few goats, gave them a 3 sided with roof manger, they were fine it with some straw ... they were also lawn order pets

✌🏻

[EndlessWire]

12. Yes, they have fine shelter.

They have access to my front porch, which is why you see me sweeping in the morning.

No, they just want to be with the dog. But, they have never circled the house screaming for entrance like that! It was scary!

[dweller]

13. Maybe they detect

a coyote or some such animal ?


✌🏻

[EndlessWire]

21. ((Well, the neighbors are "Libertarians"...))

[dweller]

25. LoL

well, as long as they aren’t firing up the grill ...

✌🏻

[EndlessWire]

27. Hahahaha!! n/t

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. You might want to let those friends get back together

What feels cold to you may be perfect play weather to the husky.

See also:

https://www.habitatforhorses.org/goat-decides-to-guide-blind-horse-for-16-years-video/

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/animal-odd-couples-meet-the-odd-couples/8025/

[EndlessWire]

19. TY n/t

[BootinUp]

7. Poor wittle goats are lost without doggy daddy.

I’m sorry, cute story but a hassle for you. I think blm had a good thought.

[jcgoldie]

10. Goats have tremendous herd instinct

When they feel cut off from the herd they will scream and panic. I've been raising dairy goats for 2 decades and have about 70. I won't even sell a goat to someone who doesn't have any goats, they have to buy at least two because a lone goat will be miserable. I understand you said you have 2 but if they have bonded with that dog then they seem to feel like they are missing their herd.

Just a couple of examples how strong that instinct is for them... I had cattle for a long time and they spread out through the pasture grazing... goats move as a unit browsing never getting more than a few feet apart and going to the barn together for naps. When one is about to kid I separate her into a pen dedicated to the process, but most of the time I never put her alone, as that will cause too much stress. If you put a buddy with her then she will do her business without the panic of being separated.

[EndlessWire]

15. Yes!

That's exactly how it is! These two goats are brother wethers, and have never been apart. They do everything together. They have specific times that they graze in certain areas. But, they stay in the part where the dog is located. And, the dog is not Lassie. But, they keep her in line of sight.

Does this herd instinct increase with age? I've just never seen them trying to break down the door before. Of course, I'm making my dog stay in. Maybe I need to rethink it.

[jcgoldie]

18. They probably just are bonded and see the dog as the herd leader

I would just try to pen them up on the porch somehow that feels more secure to them when you have the dog in the house. Its not practical to have goats in the house because they cant control the pooping. I have a little bottle baby in here now for almost 2 mos whose mother wouldnt take her and its been too cold to get her out there in the barn with them. She's going to have a terrible culture shock at some point when she has to realize shes a goat and not people!

[EndlessWire]

20. LOL! n/t

[Celerity]

14. omg, so kyoooooooooooooooot!

[EndlessWire]

16. TY! n/t

[Hekate]

17. They need a shed where the dog can spend the night. If it is warm and protected, the old dog ...

...will be fine. The goats themselves will generate heat. Really. The dog will have company, and you’ll miss having the dog inside, but the goats will stop panicking. They need their leader!

[EndlessWire]

23. Well, now that I've introduced you to

my neurotic fur family, I might as well tell you: The dog sounds like an air raid siren when she's locked up. You have never heard such crying, howling and protesting in all your life. And because she's a husky, she can put special nuances in the pleading that will break your heart. She can practically talk, and I don't want to know what she is saying about me.

We're talking hours and hours and hours of drama queen behavior that quite frankly, broke me years ago. I am a failure as a disciplinarian. In fact, I exist to dole out the food.

[Hekate]

24. You made me laugh and laugh. Somehow, they all sound adorable, & so do you...

Best of luck!

[EndlessWire]

26. TY! n/t

[electric_blue68]

22. Pygmy Goats. Baby Pigmy Goats. SQUEEEE 🥰 That is all

[littlemissmartypants]

28. I rescued a goat once. Before I could get it back across the road to the owner and behind the fence

He ate a snicker bar's wrapper and started on the left leg of my slacks. It was indeed difficult to get my pants leg out of his mouth. I'm sure that I would have been pants less eventually had I not had the owner there to help me escape. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Just because the laughter was fantastic.

Good luck with your babies.

❤ lmsp

[EndlessWire]

29. Yep! TY! n/t