are dogs goat killers?

[Kori]

i need as many answers as possible, but i want a miniature goat for christmas to keep the pasture down, and really just to in a way replace my horses. my father said that we are not getting one because dogs will dig into the pen and kill them jus for nuthin. ? maybe i can convince them!

[ra66]

Kori,
To try to answer your question is hard. Some dogs do chase goats ; some dogs leave them alone, and yes occasionally dogs (usually more than one) kill goats. Your problem with a goat is not the dogs getting in but keeping that dad gum goat in your pasture. Goats are curious critters and escape artists. My experience was with regular size goats. We have 4' field fence and then 2 strand bard on top and metal gates and my goats still got out so then we placed 2 strands of hot wire )1 - 6" off the ground and the other 14 inches off the ground - we had to get rid of them. They would not stay in. Yes, they had plenty of feed and weeds/grass to eat - they just would not stay in.

I realize you miss your horses, and have that desire. I am not familiar with the reasons for having to sell your horses, but you may try to ask you parents if you could volunteer at a rent a horse facility, or horse barn. I wanted to learn about horses and my parents refused to let me have one (we lived in the big city). As soon as I could drive I called up a man and asked if I could volunteer to help at his rent horse for an hour string - it ended up in a three year part time job (my school came first). I actually worked with some very nice horses. Some of these horses were so well bred it would make you sick trying to wonder how they ended up as rental horses. The horses ranged from Sonny Dee Bar, Roman Strawman, Doc Bar it was amazing. Others were just grade. A friend of mine actually bought one horse for $600 and later that year we found out his brother was featured on Western Horseman. Front page cover. (many years ago) It is something to mill over. Good luck.

[Sillythaople]

That's right! Goats are really hard to keep in, but not impossible--they can be a real headache though. There was a vet out here that couldn't keep her goats in and they were a nuisance--almost getting hit by cars and eating the neighbor's plants--until one day the deputies rounded them up and took them to auction!! They had no other choice since she couldn't keep them in.

And your dad is also right. I used to have pygmy goats in high school and college and a couple were killed by dogs... And one of them was killed by A dog, not multiple dogs. Full size goats are usually brought down by a couple to several dogs---a friend of mine at another ranch just lost their goat to two German Shepherds... So, yes, dogs will kill them, usually for fun. I saw on your other post that you might have found a job mucking stalls--it's an awesome job, especially for a first job, but you know, I mucked out stalls all the way through college WITH two other jobs just to relieve stress.

Pygmy goats are a blast and I know you would love one if you got it. One of mine accompanied me everywhere when I rode my horse and she would load up in the back of my truck with the dogs on command (so they can get along with dogs but not always and a lot of the time, it won't be your dogs that kill them but some other dogs). She also walked on a leash so when I came up here for college, everyone knew me because of her! She was cool. I wish you luck in whatever you end up doing, Kori.

[Kori]

thanks you so much, i love this website just to talk about my horse experiences. i guess getting a goat sounds kind of troublesome. mom and dad said i just need to wait to have my own ranch, but i cant wait that long!!! im only doing ridin lessons once a month, but i guess i should be thankful for that. i have 7 more months till i can drive, and that seems like forever, but when i can, im gonna get a job and board a horse at the stables im takin lessons at. uh i just cant wait!!!!

[CricketCowgirl]

YES THEY DOOOO!!!!!!!!!! The lady that we bought our goats had her first 3 does killed by 2 neighbor dogs!!! what type of fencing do you have? the dogs that killed this ladys goats actually got onto a wood pile (I believe) and JUMPED the fence... I dont think there so likely to dig(although they might).. Is it only your little guy in the pasture, or does he have any companions?

[CricketCowgirl]

PS Goats are a lot of fun (this april we are expecting 4 goats to be kidding out!!!) We love them, but they dont take up a lot of room, they dont eat a lot (esspecially compared to a horse, although we have them too and LOVE them, I just got a free x race horse to re train, a towering 16+ hands!). And, not that much in the way of maintenance... Good luck on driving! I get my permit in Jan...cant wait! :)

[Kori]

well i was jus thinkin of gettin a mini, but ill be kickin some dog A** if they killed my goat. i love my pets like family, and i dont mean to get rude, but i totally wouldnt be happy. we have a wire fence. and if i got one it would be a baby mini, and we have a lab and a golden retriever, plus eight neighbor dogs. i guess getting a goat wouldnt be the best idea. well i guess ill just have to wait to get my liscense and jus buy another horse. :(

[SLUride]

If you are thinking about getting a goat I suggest putting up some page wire, the stuff with the squares, that is great fence to keep goats in and dogs / coyotes out but it is dangerous for horses so be careful.
I used to have an Iketa (Japanese Bear Dog) who didn't look twice at my other goats who were normal size but he did kill my miniature goat. It was very sad but maybe you would not have to worry so much if you got a Nubian or Alpine or Boar breed of goat, they are bigger and just as fun and friendly.

[taylor riley]

well it just depends on the dog.we have 3 dogs that will do anything to get to our goats, but we just use strong wire on the outside of the fence, and the chicken fence around the outside and than we dug 3ft of dirt from the inside and below the fence and filled it up with cement, so when the dogs do try to get in, they can't unless they just get the courage to try to jump 14ft of a fence! so it just depends... because their are some dogs that are trained to protect goats from wolves, cyottes, and other dogs that are trying to kill them!

[carmor07]

We have 2 labs that would not bother our goats that we got the kids for easter last yr.(they were just tiny)Then a neighbors siberian(sp)Husky killed both in one night and just left them.That dog better hope it never sees this place again.My daughter told their nephew what happened and they tied that hell dog up.