Clicker Training Goats

[HomesteaderWife]

I am curious to see if anyone else here has ever used clicker training with their goat friends? If so, what have you trained them to do?

Our two new additions are finally comfortable enough in their home and well socialized, and I want to begin clicker training with them. Something simple like a come-when-called sort of thing to start with. I've had experience with clicker training dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks but these will be the first goats!

My mother-in-law placed a challenge on me to teach one of them to "golf" - the plan is to teach the goat to first touch the golfball by having it on the end of a small rod as a "target stick" then eventually moving to them using their nose to push it a little bit forward. The end result would hopefully be having a little woodworking project, build a small mini-golf type thing with a little flag and cup at the end, and teach them to push it into the hole for a reward. The question is, which of the two girls will be most willing to do it!

Any other fun ideas on what we can teach them? I'm hoping it would be good for a potential future as milking does. Thanks kindly for any input!

 

[Alaskan]

That sounds like a hoot!

And here i am thinking only practical stuff...

Like don't headbutt, come when called, stand still on the milking stand, lift up feet on command for hoof trims, and do NOT bust through my fence!

 

[Mini Horses]

My experience has been only shaker training....shake the feed bucket! 😁

I assure you that goats are VERY smart, awesome memory and food driven. Milkers happily jump on a stand, they know feed is there! Also, they know their order in line. Do not change it!! I know it sounds strange but, anyone milking more than one will confirm this.

 

[misfitmorgan]

My experience has been only shaker training....shake the feed bucket! 😁

I assure you that goats are VERY smart, awesome memory and food driven. Milkers happily jump on a stand, they know feed is there! Also, they know their order in line. Do not change it!! I know it sounds strange but, anyone milking more than one will confirm this.

Can confirm, dont change order for milking. They know their spot in line and fight or have a fit if you try to go out of order.

 

[Dandy Hill Farm]

I have clicker trained goats!!

Goats are very, very smart and usually very food motivated (they can also be very stubborn). I have trained my goats to shake, spin in circles, walk backwards (for a little bit), "dance" on their hind legs, weave in and out of my legs while I'm walking, pull a cart, agility, and I'm sure there's more I just can' think of right know! Since you have already had experience clicker training other animals, goats will be a similar experience.

Start slow. Find something to use as your "target" (fly swatters work great). When ever the goats sniffs the target, reward with treats. Keep repeating until the goat understands what you want.

Then start to move the target around a bit so the goat will follow, let him/her touch it and reward. Keep repeating for a while.

Then you can place the target above an object the goat can jump on to.

Once you goat can do all that with ease, the possibilities of what to train your goat are endless!!

Training a goat can take lots of time, treats, and patiences - don't give up!

What breed of goats did you get?

I LOVE this website! There is SO much helpful information on training goats. https://www.workinggoats.com/?id=73

Hope this helps!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I’ll come back and respond to everyone soon, thank you so much! So far our two girls are very intelligent and one knows “back” and the other knows to “spin around” - very snack motivated! Can’t wait to see what else they will do- I’ll post a little short video soon