Chat
02-07-2022, 08:45 AM
Phew! I was afraid from the title that your goat was walking on the backs of his heels, like he had a physical problem. I'm glad to know it's a training issue because that's easier to fix. 
Having your front/lead goat walk on your heels is a pretty common problem with youngsters. It can stem from insecurity or from dominance. Either way, you need to establish yourself as leader by making him stay out of your personal space. My favorite trick is to grab an evergreen or leafy branch about 12"-18" long and wave it behind me while I walk. It whacks the goat in the face if he's too close. Pretty soon I can just carry it by my side, but if I feel him creeping up on me I give a backwards twitch and whap him in the face. Once a goat has learned to walk just out of range of my branch (but still too close), I start throwing in some sudden stops and even reverses. He won't expect it and because he's too close he'll run right into my swatter.
Sometimes instead of stepping back from your space the goat will get mad and run around in front of you. If he cuts you off too close, smack him with the branch and give him a verbal reprimand as he goes by. It won't hurt him but it should startle him. He eventually should learn not to pass you at all, but if he does, he must pass at a safe distance. A goat should always be afraid to pass you too close because as he gets bigger, passing close can get very dangerous since he could catch you with a horn or knock you down a hill with his pannier. Once a goat has successfully passed me, I don't try to run ahead and catch him to put him back in place. Instead I walk behind him until he stops (they always do), and at that point I grab his collar and move him behind me very deliberately and tell him "good boy." Sometimes I'll give him a scratch or a cookie once he's back where he belongs.
Good luck!
Having your front/lead goat walk on your heels is a pretty common problem with youngsters. It can stem from insecurity or from dominance. Either way, you need to establish yourself as leader by making him stay out of your personal space. My favorite trick is to grab an evergreen or leafy branch about 12"-18" long and wave it behind me while I walk. It whacks the goat in the face if he's too close. Pretty soon I can just carry it by my side, but if I feel him creeping up on me I give a backwards twitch and whap him in the face. Once a goat has learned to walk just out of range of my branch (but still too close), I start throwing in some sudden stops and even reverses. He won't expect it and because he's too close he'll run right into my swatter.
Sometimes instead of stepping back from your space the goat will get mad and run around in front of you. If he cuts you off too close, smack him with the branch and give him a verbal reprimand as he goes by. It won't hurt him but it should startle him. He eventually should learn not to pass you at all, but if he does, he must pass at a safe distance. A goat should always be afraid to pass you too close because as he gets bigger, passing close can get very dangerous since he could catch you with a horn or knock you down a hill with his pannier. Once a goat has successfully passed me, I don't try to run ahead and catch him to put him back in place. Instead I walk behind him until he stops (they always do), and at that point I grab his collar and move him behind me very deliberately and tell him "good boy." Sometimes I'll give him a scratch or a cookie once he's back where he belongs.
Good luck!