People driving by stopped asking about my goats. It seems they want to buy one for their grandson. I cringed. Goats as pets often does not end well for the goat.
Many people think of Nigerian Dwarfs or Pygmies as pets. Perhaps these work out better than my Nubians as they are small. I have no experience with them.
Nubians get big. I have a six-year-old wether. His back is over three feet up and his weight is well over 200 pounds. Yes, he is a pet, although I kept him as a lead goat which role he rarely fills.
Goats Can Be Dangerous
My Nubians are as much pets as livestock for me. Even so, I have one doe who is spooky. If she panics, she will climb right over the top of me. She is at least twenty pounds heavier than I am and has four feet ending with hard hooves.
Long ago I knew a woman with a commercial goat dairy. One of her bucks, a Toggenburg (another big dairy breed), broke her leg is three places. Newly out of the hospital, she tried to stop him from deliberately killing another buck. She went back in the hospital.
I have had a broken hand, numerous bruises and almost lost an eye from my goats. The goats involved were not mean nor did they try to hurt me. But they did.
Goats As Pets
Goats are herd animals. They need another goat for company. People wanting a pet goat often think they can get only one and wonder why the goat cries. A baby Nubian can be heard for a quarter mile.
A goat is not like a dog. Yes, they love petting. Yes, they will follow you around to see what you are doing. Getting shoved can leave you on the ground.
In addition, goats eat fruit trees, gardens, stand on vehicles. They are curious and get into everything.
Horror Stories
Goats take lots of good care. Pet goats often don’t get the proper food or care. They get abused and turn mean. They get sick and die. I know of all of these things happening.
Will I sell my kids as pets? I would rather not.
