Goats - Wethers or Does?

[GAhen]

Quote:
That is so cool...I love that your wethers have a job.....
How do you train them??

 

[gila_dog]

They certainly do have a job. I used to backpack a lot, but as I get older I get (a little) wiser. Now they carry all that stuff. I just carry my wallet, camera, and truck keys.

They really don't need to be trained to carry their packsaddles. They pretty much just ignore them. And hiking around with them is easy too. Wherever I go, they go. I don't need to put a leash on them except around roads and parking lots.

What takes some training is getting in the trailer, staying out of our camper or tent, staying behind us on a trail, and such. They are very intelligent animals, and it's not hard to teach them things. A squirt gun is a very handy training tool. If they are doing something I don't like (invading my space at camp, for example) I just make "the sound of death", which is like CH CH CH! and squirt them in the face. That's all it takes (til next time).

Here's a pic from a trip in Colorado last summer.