https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:05:43 +0000 MyBB https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6794 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:36:57 -0600 Starting Over]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6794 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6026 Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:29:33 -0600 Moorefieldc]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=6026
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  20241101_145040.jpg (Size: 568.15 KB / Downloads: 1) ]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5775 Fri, 17 May 2024 11:07:52 -0600 Sunshinegoatherd]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5775 I’m considering getting packgoats for all my wilderness adventures, and was winding if anyone out there hikes long distances with Nigerian dwarf goats? Either for packing or just for milk? I like the convenience of a smaller goat but would not consider if they are not strong enough to hike as far as larger goats. 
I’d love to hear thoughts/ experiences!]]> I’m considering getting packgoats for all my wilderness adventures, and was winding if anyone out there hikes long distances with Nigerian dwarf goats? Either for packing or just for milk? I like the convenience of a smaller goat but would not consider if they are not strong enough to hike as far as larger goats. 
I’d love to hear thoughts/ experiences!]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5487 Sat, 11 Nov 2023 15:51:34 -0700 Dandelion]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5487
Cricket loves to go out on eating expeditions, but once she suspects that an outing is going to turn into a hike, she'll baaa and stand in the trail with a defiant look, and her kids Tito and Olive will walk halfway to me and not be sure which one of us to follow. Tito and Olive love hikes, but they were handled a lot as babies and given training, so they consider both of us to be "Mom." But Cricket didn't have the training, she ran wild as a young goat until I bought her and trained her to let me milk her, let me catch her, and ride in the car. I'm impressed really with how tame she's gotten, but she just does not have that urge to follow me into unknown territory on a long and grueling forced march, when she could be just hanging out in the safe yard and eating hay.

Any ideas on how to change Cricket's attitude about this? Maybe if I bring raisins in my pocket and give her some along the way (this worked to teach her not to play "chase" with me when I wanted to put her in the pen)? She isn't really an ornery or dominant goat, and isn't lazy, but I think she's just perplexed by why I would do something so stupid as to hike a mile when there's perfectly good food right at the trailhead.

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Cricket loves to go out on eating expeditions, but once she suspects that an outing is going to turn into a hike, she'll baaa and stand in the trail with a defiant look, and her kids Tito and Olive will walk halfway to me and not be sure which one of us to follow. Tito and Olive love hikes, but they were handled a lot as babies and given training, so they consider both of us to be "Mom." But Cricket didn't have the training, she ran wild as a young goat until I bought her and trained her to let me milk her, let me catch her, and ride in the car. I'm impressed really with how tame she's gotten, but she just does not have that urge to follow me into unknown territory on a long and grueling forced march, when she could be just hanging out in the safe yard and eating hay.

Any ideas on how to change Cricket's attitude about this? Maybe if I bring raisins in my pocket and give her some along the way (this worked to teach her not to play "chase" with me when I wanted to put her in the pen)? She isn't really an ornery or dominant goat, and isn't lazy, but I think she's just perplexed by why I would do something so stupid as to hike a mile when there's perfectly good food right at the trailhead.

  Cricket.JPG (Size: 407.88 KB / Downloads: 0) ]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5153 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 06:01:45 -0600 CaminhoDeCabras]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=5153
So we're based in Portugal where the 'classic' pack goat breeds are hard to come by.

We managed to find one guy with a herd of alpines and alpine crosses, but they did not look well cared for nor healthy. We decided to walk away from those as unhealthy goats are obviously no good for packing no matter what the breed.

The healthiest looking goats we found are all Portuguese natives - extremely hardy, eat anything, go anywhere types of goats. They have floppy ears to cope with the heat (which can get up to 40c or 104f in the height of summer) and some do get quite big and leggy, helping them range over the very rough terrain of boulders and prickly brush.

These breeds tend not to be super well standardised. Mongrel native mixes are common and are appreciated for their rusticity. They are more popular here than globally-known commercial meat and dairy breeds as they tend to fare better!

We've got a couple of kids of a very local type that has been kept here for hundreds of years. I am no expert in choosing pack goat prospects, especially in breeds that as far I know have never been packed and don't look much like any of your guys' goats. We picked a very big yellow boy (the shepherd, who is breeding for size and docility, said this kid would grow up huge and kept his brother as an up-and-coming breeder). This one was also very friendly and curious. We also picked a slightly smaller black boy (a week or two younger as well) who has what we thought was the nicest conformation of the kids available. We were looking for straight backs, long legs, straight pasterns, etc... His bucks were massive goats but all extremely tame and gentle. They all went out twice a day for several hours to graze up the mountain with the shepherd

One of my concerns is that I have heard that 'floppy ears don't pack' a lot, with reference to your American Nubians. Despite having floppy ears, these guys are very much a European breed. They have a slight North African influence, but are more closely related to other European breeds such as the various Spanish breeds and (more distantly) Swiss, French, Carpathian goats and even, supposedly, traces of Iberian Ibex. I have no idea if they have 'the right stuff' in terms of personality, but they are bred to be extremely gentle, rustic and willing/able to walk all day with a shepherd, so who knows. They are definitely very loving and follow us everywhere, also walking on the lead beautifully.

I'd love to know your thoughts on their looks. They are around 3 months old now and will be castrated soon. They were raised in a barn until we got them (not ideal, I know) and so I know they do need to put on some muscle - but do you think any raw potential is there at all? They are perhaps a little more swaybacked than ideal (or maybe I'm being paranoid) but no goat has ever been bred to pack in Portugal and we would eventually be looking to improve on this type of genetics in future through a breeding project.

We're hoping to get a couple more of different native breeds and see which work out best, so this is very much experimental!

Pictures here! ---> https://imgur.com/a/DTdKDnl]]>
So we're based in Portugal where the 'classic' pack goat breeds are hard to come by.

We managed to find one guy with a herd of alpines and alpine crosses, but they did not look well cared for nor healthy. We decided to walk away from those as unhealthy goats are obviously no good for packing no matter what the breed.

The healthiest looking goats we found are all Portuguese natives - extremely hardy, eat anything, go anywhere types of goats. They have floppy ears to cope with the heat (which can get up to 40c or 104f in the height of summer) and some do get quite big and leggy, helping them range over the very rough terrain of boulders and prickly brush.

These breeds tend not to be super well standardised. Mongrel native mixes are common and are appreciated for their rusticity. They are more popular here than globally-known commercial meat and dairy breeds as they tend to fare better!

We've got a couple of kids of a very local type that has been kept here for hundreds of years. I am no expert in choosing pack goat prospects, especially in breeds that as far I know have never been packed and don't look much like any of your guys' goats. We picked a very big yellow boy (the shepherd, who is breeding for size and docility, said this kid would grow up huge and kept his brother as an up-and-coming breeder). This one was also very friendly and curious. We also picked a slightly smaller black boy (a week or two younger as well) who has what we thought was the nicest conformation of the kids available. We were looking for straight backs, long legs, straight pasterns, etc... His bucks were massive goats but all extremely tame and gentle. They all went out twice a day for several hours to graze up the mountain with the shepherd

One of my concerns is that I have heard that 'floppy ears don't pack' a lot, with reference to your American Nubians. Despite having floppy ears, these guys are very much a European breed. They have a slight North African influence, but are more closely related to other European breeds such as the various Spanish breeds and (more distantly) Swiss, French, Carpathian goats and even, supposedly, traces of Iberian Ibex. I have no idea if they have 'the right stuff' in terms of personality, but they are bred to be extremely gentle, rustic and willing/able to walk all day with a shepherd, so who knows. They are definitely very loving and follow us everywhere, also walking on the lead beautifully.

I'd love to know your thoughts on their looks. They are around 3 months old now and will be castrated soon. They were raised in a barn until we got them (not ideal, I know) and so I know they do need to put on some muscle - but do you think any raw potential is there at all? They are perhaps a little more swaybacked than ideal (or maybe I'm being paranoid) but no goat has ever been bred to pack in Portugal and we would eventually be looking to improve on this type of genetics in future through a breeding project.

We're hoping to get a couple more of different native breeds and see which work out best, so this is very much experimental!

Pictures here! ---> https://imgur.com/a/DTdKDnl]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4941 Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:12:04 -0600 Stringinit]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4941
I have had goats for 5 years now and have hundreds of miles on my goats. I live in northern California it can be hot and dry. There is no shortage of water in our area small creeks, lakes and ponds. My goats will go days without drinking water. I always stop and take breaks right near water and my boys just do not drink while on the trail. I have always figured they don't need or want water because they are getting enough through browsing. 

I was hiking in an area where water was more infrequent and it was unusually hot and dry. My boys hadn't had any opportunities to drink water so I made a detour to a lake nearby as I approached it I could see my boys were going to have a hard time accessing the waters edge so I pulled out a sandwich baggy and filled it up and offered it to my boys each had drank probably a quart or more of water. I was surprised.

The next weekend I was hunting one of my normal areas where water was easily accessible many times through the day and yet none of my boys drank from any water source. At the end of the day we stopped at a creek to filter water and I offered my boys water from the sandwich bag and they drank probably another quart each.  The next day as we crossed every creek I offered my boys water from the sandwich bag and they drank everytime. 

Having realized this I felt horrible for not offering them water all these years even though they had easy access to water everyday.

And as a side note my boys work ethic had picked up noticeably and breaks were way less frequent. They have worked harder and faster since I had begun offering them water.

Try giving your goats water from a bowl or just a sandwich baggy. You might be surprised]]>
I have had goats for 5 years now and have hundreds of miles on my goats. I live in northern California it can be hot and dry. There is no shortage of water in our area small creeks, lakes and ponds. My goats will go days without drinking water. I always stop and take breaks right near water and my boys just do not drink while on the trail. I have always figured they don't need or want water because they are getting enough through browsing. 

I was hiking in an area where water was more infrequent and it was unusually hot and dry. My boys hadn't had any opportunities to drink water so I made a detour to a lake nearby as I approached it I could see my boys were going to have a hard time accessing the waters edge so I pulled out a sandwich baggy and filled it up and offered it to my boys each had drank probably a quart or more of water. I was surprised.

The next weekend I was hunting one of my normal areas where water was easily accessible many times through the day and yet none of my boys drank from any water source. At the end of the day we stopped at a creek to filter water and I offered my boys water from the sandwich bag and they drank probably another quart each.  The next day as we crossed every creek I offered my boys water from the sandwich bag and they drank everytime. 

Having realized this I felt horrible for not offering them water all these years even though they had easy access to water everyday.

And as a side note my boys work ethic had picked up noticeably and breaks were way less frequent. They have worked harder and faster since I had begun offering them water.

Try giving your goats water from a bowl or just a sandwich baggy. You might be surprised]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4868 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 16:10:01 -0600 blackie's maiden]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4868
Also, little water training at this stage which is major issue for.us and our goats.]]>
Also, little water training at this stage which is major issue for.us and our goats.]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4819 Mon, 16 May 2022 11:28:57 -0600 Woodsyfeller]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4819 Seems like that would be the best of both worlds. Has anyone done both and been successful?]]> Seems like that would be the best of both worlds. Has anyone done both and been successful?]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4806 Sun, 01 May 2022 23:48:56 -0600 Rocky723]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4806 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4780 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 15:46:38 -0600 Woodsyfeller]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4780 I was diagnosed with throat cancer in March 2020. Fast forward to today after treatments and surgeries I can no longer speak verbally. I have a feeling I will be stopped and asked a lot of questions walking down the trail. 
I would like to print up some flyers that explains pack goats . Their positive aspects and list some websites to get more info.  The trail is heavily used in some sections. 
Does anyone know of a website that has a FAQ already posted i could copy from or info you feel is important to pass on.]]> I was diagnosed with throat cancer in March 2020. Fast forward to today after treatments and surgeries I can no longer speak verbally. I have a feeling I will be stopped and asked a lot of questions walking down the trail. 
I would like to print up some flyers that explains pack goats . Their positive aspects and list some websites to get more info.  The trail is heavily used in some sections. 
Does anyone know of a website that has a FAQ already posted i could copy from or info you feel is important to pass on.]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4776 Sat, 09 Apr 2022 09:02:07 -0600 Woodsyfeller]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4776 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4772 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 08:40:26 -0600 Woodsyfeller]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4772
What i would like to know is has anyone trained their goats to whistles or hand commands? Is there someone who i can refer to on this subject specifically or is this a whole new frontier when it comes to training goats.]]>
What i would like to know is has anyone trained their goats to whistles or hand commands? Is there someone who i can refer to on this subject specifically or is this a whole new frontier when it comes to training goats.]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4731 Mon, 07 Feb 2022 01:18:43 -0700 Rocky723]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4731 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4654 Fri, 12 Nov 2021 14:04:44 -0700 dragonmaker]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4654 https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4653 Fri, 12 Nov 2021 09:10:42 -0700 dragonmaker]]> https://www.packgoatcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=4653
Now they want to nuzzle my hand all the time. I haven't trained tricks for goats, only manners, which I expect without treats as rewards. I don't mind goats nuzzling me gently as a general rule, but they're trying to do the trick to get a treat. I want to teach them that doing tricks for me when I'm not asking it might get a smile, but I'm not always going to have the treat bag for them for tricks. For a dog, "ring bell=go outside" is one I want them to do any time they want so they won't pee in my house. I don't need a goat to carry or pull or dance on their hind legs every time they see me just because they want a treat. 

Do I just ignore them for doing a trick if I'm not asking them to do it? or should I acknowledge in some way?]]>
Now they want to nuzzle my hand all the time. I haven't trained tricks for goats, only manners, which I expect without treats as rewards. I don't mind goats nuzzling me gently as a general rule, but they're trying to do the trick to get a treat. I want to teach them that doing tricks for me when I'm not asking it might get a smile, but I'm not always going to have the treat bag for them for tricks. For a dog, "ring bell=go outside" is one I want them to do any time they want so they won't pee in my house. I don't need a goat to carry or pull or dance on their hind legs every time they see me just because they want a treat. 

Do I just ignore them for doing a trick if I'm not asking them to do it? or should I acknowledge in some way?]]>