Can I keep a milk goat in the backyard with my dogs?

[elevan]

The options you stated in your OP...

Option A: Bad idea imo. Unless the dog is a trained livestock guard, I would never leave it unsupervised with livestock (goats) especially when you're talking 2 dogs. 1 is bad enough but 2 increase your risk.

Option B: Goats and chicken feed do not mix...bad idea unless you don't feed any feed to your chickens and they are free range only.

Might I suggest that you hop on over to the sister site www.backyardherds.com and do some research. Lots of goat enthusiasts there and all things goat can be read about. Ask as many questions as you like...that is part of the learning process.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Thanks, Elevan! I have been reading up on goats for a couple of years now and have pretty much pestered all the goat people I know to educate me.

I have an area that is about an acre that is all pasture at the moment. The game plan was to fence that area and put up a barn for the goats. I am saving up to do that. This question just came up as I was playing out back with the dogs. That area is about half an acre and already has a shed on it. If they could co-exist it would be perfect for the goats. The neighbor runs goats on his pasture and they seem fearless. My dogs are scared of them (whereas they are not scared of the cows and buffalo. Go figure.) It was just a thought and I was exploring the idea a little further with people that already have goats.
Since pretty much everyone has advised against it, I'll hold off. I obviously don't want stressed or injured goats. Some day I'll have enough for the barn and fence.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Can you get a large dog kennel to keep the goat in for now? Then you can let her out for supervised play time while you are home. Then you have time to work on something bigger and better.

My problem with keeping dogs and goats together (That haven't been raised together) is that goats are very playful little critters. This can get dogs very excited and they have the tendency to play too rough with goats.