Chat
09-01-2015, 11:19 AM
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I'd share something funny about Sputnik. We sold his twin brother, Snickers, about a week ago. The two hadn't been super-bonded since they were babies, so I didn't worry that Sputnik would miss is brother, and he didn't. But I had no idea removing Snickers would change Sputnik's personality. Sputnik has always been the least friendly of our goats (he loves treats, but he doesn't love people), and he's never liked being scratched, rubbed, or touched at all really. But the day after Snickers left, Sputnik turned a new leaf. He now comes when he's called (before he only came if he thought I had treats), and he even lets me pet him a little now. He doesn't stand still for ages to be scratched like most of my other goats, but he no longer bolts away the second I lay a hand on him. I think I've pet him more in the past week than I have in the previous several months. Sputnik also had no friends while Snickers was here, but now he and Finn are forming a friendly bond. It seems that having a good social life in the goat herd is helpful for improving his social skills with people.
The other day I also saw the first true glimmer of hope that Sputnik might make a good working goat. He's always been so skittish that I haven't been confident that he would make a good trail goat even though we've never had problems getting him to follow us, and he even has less than the average goat's fear of water. But I've always wondered if he might quit when the going gets tough. Our bridge encounter the other day was typical. It is a steel grate bridge where you can look through and see the river below, and the grates are large enough for a goat's hoof to slip through if he turns sideways. There are also several much larger holes where the joints of the bridge are, and any goat's hoof could go through if he's not careful. Finn paused only a second before he marched confidently across, skillfully placing each foot right where it should be. He never tripped once.
Sputnik was another story. He stepped cautiously onto the bridge, but in his timidity he did not walk in rhythm and one of his feet slipped through the grate and he tripped. He wasn't hurt, but he crouched low to the bridge and froze. He was afraid to go forward or back and afraid to stay where he was. I went back to to offer emotional support, and with a little encouragement he crept trembling across, placing each foot hesitantly in front of the next with his belly close to the bridge. He leaped off the other end and I thought he might kiss the ground.
It was on our way back that Sputnik gave us an enthusiastic sign about his working potential. I'd been thinking about the bridge as we headed back, and I was sure I'd have to either drag him across (not safe) or take him through the river. But as we approached the dreaded span, Sputnik shocked me by charging ahead of our group with a look of steel on his face. He paused for a breath, then immediately stepped onto the bridge ahead of us all. He kept his eyes focused on the other end and never missed a beat has he resolutely placed one foot ahead of the other in grim determination. His jaw was set and his face was a picture of concentration. He was determined to prove to himself that he could do this. I couldn't have been more pleased. This was our first sign that he has the guts and resolve to be a good packer, and that he's not a quitter.
The other day I also saw the first true glimmer of hope that Sputnik might make a good working goat. He's always been so skittish that I haven't been confident that he would make a good trail goat even though we've never had problems getting him to follow us, and he even has less than the average goat's fear of water. But I've always wondered if he might quit when the going gets tough. Our bridge encounter the other day was typical. It is a steel grate bridge where you can look through and see the river below, and the grates are large enough for a goat's hoof to slip through if he turns sideways. There are also several much larger holes where the joints of the bridge are, and any goat's hoof could go through if he's not careful. Finn paused only a second before he marched confidently across, skillfully placing each foot right where it should be. He never tripped once.
Sputnik was another story. He stepped cautiously onto the bridge, but in his timidity he did not walk in rhythm and one of his feet slipped through the grate and he tripped. He wasn't hurt, but he crouched low to the bridge and froze. He was afraid to go forward or back and afraid to stay where he was. I went back to to offer emotional support, and with a little encouragement he crept trembling across, placing each foot hesitantly in front of the next with his belly close to the bridge. He leaped off the other end and I thought he might kiss the ground.
It was on our way back that Sputnik gave us an enthusiastic sign about his working potential. I'd been thinking about the bridge as we headed back, and I was sure I'd have to either drag him across (not safe) or take him through the river. But as we approached the dreaded span, Sputnik shocked me by charging ahead of our group with a look of steel on his face. He paused for a breath, then immediately stepped onto the bridge ahead of us all. He kept his eyes focused on the other end and never missed a beat has he resolutely placed one foot ahead of the other in grim determination. His jaw was set and his face was a picture of concentration. He was determined to prove to himself that he could do this. I couldn't have been more pleased. This was our first sign that he has the guts and resolve to be a good packer, and that he's not a quitter.