How often do you get rubbed?

[kuntrygirl]

I have what I think is turning in to a big problem. I am always rubbing and touching and talking to my sheep but my male sheep seems to be a little more spoiled than the girls. I can't sit on my back porch without him walking up to me and gesturing (rubbing his head against me and using his front leg to scratch me) to me that he needs and wants to be rubbed right then and there. When he does that I do scratch and rub his back and his chest but as soon as I stop, he rubs his head against me and signals for more rubs. Is anyone else having this problem with their sheep or goats? The girls will do it as well but my male is obsessed with wanting to be rubbed and scratched. And I have contact with him every day and several times a day, so they are NOT lacking any affection at all.

When I rub and scratch him, he literally closes his eyes and lays his head on my lap. If I let him he would want to be rubbed and scratched ALL THE TIME but I know I can't do that.

My question is, does anyone have a scratching post for their sheep or goats? Has anyone ever had this problem before with their sheep or goats and if so, what did you do? Why do you think he always wants to be rubbed and scratched every waking moment I am near him? I have contact with him in the morning before work, when I get off from work up until 8pm. I welcome any thoughts, ideas or suggestions on this matter.

 

[spectrumranch]

Is/was he a bottle lamb? how old is he now? going from your bio line- I assume he is a Barbados?

 

[nzpouter]

is he an entire ram?

 

[kuntrygirl]

To answer all of the questions............. Yes, he is an entire ram. He was not bottle feed. He is about 1 1/2 year olds. He is a barbado sheep. I got him when he was about 6 months old and I was not able to touch him at all. He would run like the speed of lightening away from me. It was like a project trying to get close to him and touch and pet. It took him MANY months to get accustomed to me to where he was not scared. I worked with him day in and day out. It was a project of mine that I was determined to do. The people that I bought him from swore that I would NEVER tame him. Well guess what???????? HE IS TAME!! lol. He is not afraid of ANYONE. He will walk up to company and rub on their leg. Most are amazed that he does that. I hope this information helps out any.

Thanks for your replies so far.

 

[hikerchick]

He just loves you.

I have a pygmy wethers just like that.

 

[chixie]

my adult nanny goat does this all the time.. I rescued her from an auction

 

[CaGoatLady]

Your ram sounds like a few of my goats and my two Barbados. First of all, I know with goats, they have a scent pad on top of their heads that they like to rub on things to "mark" them. But, I know with mine, and it sounds like with yours, they would do it all day if you'd let them, so while it might start out as marking, I think it might just feel good.
What I did with my big, head goat, Newton, was something like the dog training method of "Nothing In Life Is Free". I trained Newton, as an adult, that the only way I'm going to scratch or rub him is if he GENTLY AND ONLY ONCE, gives me his front paw, then I'll do it. If he's a little to forceful, I ignore him. But, my BIG Boer goat, Walter, likes to rub his head on me and go through my hair and then he lies down right next to me and rests his head on me; he'll lie down wherever I do and would never step on me, plus, he protects me from the others coming near while we're having our nap time.
I also used the NILIF method when I bottle fed my baby Barbados ram. I think your babies just love you as much as mine love me and vice versa!

 

[mekasmom]

All my goats do that. It doesn't bother me. If I know someone is coming over who is squeamish, then I simply put them away. My inlaws are terrified of them. The goats would never hurt them, but I simply pen them if the inlaws show up.
The goats are loose most of the time, just grazing near the house. Whenever anyone goes out the door they come running for a scratch/treat. It's just the way they are, kind of like dogs running to greet you.
If I get tired of petting them, I just push them away and go about my business.

 

[spectrumranch]

We raise hair sheep- mostly Desert Painted. The reason I asked if he was bottlefed- is most tame rams become aggressive after they mature. There is always the exceptions.

When the rams are bottlefed, they have no fear / respect for people, when the hormones kick in- they want to gain control. We've had people drop off rams that were cute tame babies but then turned into little bulldozers on legs. They will ram people, put dents in cars, etc

Seeing your boy was wild growing up- hopefully he still remembers to respect people.

Randy www.spectrumranch.net & www.sosranch.net

 

[Katy]

I'd watch him.....that is the kind of ram that turns on you. I'd never turn my back on a ram or bull that is that comfortable with a human. Those are the ones that kill and grind their owners into the ground.