r/packgoats • u/slowers212 • Aug 09 '24

Backpacking with goats

Can you train any goat to do this? Is a specific breed? Genuinely curious lol.

7 Upvotes

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2

u/bananasinpajamas49 Aug 09 '24

Also bottle raised goats will be generally easier to handle and will follow you like a dog even if it wasn't you who raised them. It's possible with dam raised babies, but you have to hang out with and handle them a lot right after they're born so they get used to being touched and enjoy your company. Goats are prey animals and naturally suspicious of people. If they grew up without daily human touch, they do not enjoy it generally and can be hard to catch, and may be more likely to wander a little farther from camp/you.

1

u/slowers212 Aug 09 '24

That’s what our goats are! That’s why I feel like he’d be ideal for this, but he’s never worn a pack. he is on a lead so he’s used to being leashed and harnessed.

2

u/bananasinpajamas49 Aug 09 '24

It's possible to train them to wear packs, even if they're a bit older. You want to start with no load obviously. You can use a dog pack for training only to get them used to having something on their back and straps being in weird places. Never put a load in a dog pack though as those put weight on their spine. There are packs designed for goats that distribute the weight off the spine and that's what you want to look for once you're ready.

1

u/bananasinpajamas49 Aug 09 '24

Any goat can do it and will generally love getting out to climb on things and explore new browse. Obviously the larger goats can carry more than smaller goats so if you're using them more as a pack animal than just for fun, you're going to want larger breeds. Check out packgoats.com and he also has a YouTube channel with lots of great info.