Buckling handling and care

Hi guys,

So we are likely bringing home our three this weekend, 1 adult wether, 1 adult doe and 1 buckling (2 months or so).

Should I be concerned about my kids handling the buckling? We are keeping him intact so breed when he's older. I don't know how likely he is to be too rambunctious with the (human) kids and learn bad habits that will be a problem when he's grown.

My daughters are wonderful girls with a great sense and respect for animals, we already have 3 dogs, 2 cats and a flock of chickens that they participate in the care of... I am more than willing to supervise all handling of the buckling if that is the better way to go, I just know they are going to constantly want to go play with the goats! For instance, we saw some Youtube videos of people clicker training their goats and now my youngest (12) wants to try and clicker train the goats to use the dogs' agility set that we have. They have both clicker trained dogs so they basically understand how.

The wether's purpose is to be buddy to the buck when he's grown and separated, but he is also supposed to be the "pet"--so I can always loose the girls on him :)

Replies

Kare May 25, 2011 at 7:19pm

I also have heard to be careful how you play with any goat, but especially a male goat. Don't play the way they play, butting heads. I have told my girls not to touch the area where the horns are. We pet/scratch our goats on their neck, their nose, their chin and their back. (they seem to especially like it if we scratch the top of their back near their tail) Running and letting the goats chase is fun for the girls and the goats and I can't see how that could bring any harm. We have held baby goats, both bucks and does in our laps and our arms and it does not make them agressive or overly friendly in my experience. We do not allow them to jump on us with their front feet. If they do, we use the dog training method of kneeing them in the chest and telling them "no". This one we are still working on, but they are getting the idea. It is harder for them to remember when I have treats in my hand, so I try not to give treats with nice clothes on. =)
Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres May 25, 2011 at 6:34pm
The two "things" that come to mind that I would avoid in youngster/goat play (and that's with ANY goat, not just bucks)
1. head play... (any pushing or rubbing should not be allowed)
2. "play" butting
3. jumping
As long as your buckling is disbudded or polled, you don't have to worry about horns and injuries that way, but goat heads are hard. Even a playful head butt can cause some damage. lol

The main thing about friendly bucks is that they STINK!! When they get friendly on YOU, even to rub you with their side, or come up for a scratch, you end up with THE STINK on you. lol
Juliana Goodwin May 25, 2011 at 4:29pm

yes, I think I have both rams and stallions on my mind with this question. IT isn't being handled too much that is my concern, it is that what if the kids let him engage in something that they think is "Cute" that turns out to be dangerous when he is older (although how dangerous can a dwarf goat be?)

Back to the horses again...I've known people who allowed foals to do things that were "cute" as a baby and caused the horse to be euthanized as a dangerous adult. Like trick training a foal to rear and then suddenly it's a 1200# animal who can't keep his front feet on the ground and he could kill you by accident in a heartbeat. (obviously a NDG isn't capable of that lol)

Or people who let their dogs engage in puppy play biting past an appropriate age and now you have an adult dog who nips and is labeled a "biter". Etc.

For one thing, the other two goats are grown and have been handled. The third is a baby AND a buck...so I am just trying to cross my t's and dot my i's, you know...plus I'm sort of a compulsive learner about anything new because I want to be sure I don't screw anything up.

but that's kind of my point...

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

If you're worried that the buck will be more aggressive as an adult if he is handled too much, I have never heard of that being a problem with ND goats. It can certainly be a problem with rams though. I have no idea why there is so much difference between bucks and rams, but rams are much harder to handle. My bull is even easier to handle than my little Shetland rams. ND bucks just tend to be annoying friendly when they mature and get stinky. They want to rub their head on you -- I'm thinking that they're trying to "mark" you because they have scent glands on the top of their head. They also do the same thing to trees and fence posts.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 25, 2011 at 4:00pm

If you're worried that the buck will be more aggressive as an adult if he is handled too much, I have never heard of that being a problem with ND goats. It can certainly be a problem with rams though. I have no idea why there is so much difference between bucks and rams, but rams are much harder to handle. My bull is even easier to handle than my little Shetland rams. ND bucks just tend to be annoying friendly when they mature and get stinky. They want to rub their head on you -- I'm thinking that they're trying to "mark" you because they have scent glands on the top of their head. They also do the same thing to trees and fence posts.