keeping goats fit

[Sanhestar]

Introducing to halter (or re-introducing) with clicker-training.

FIRST: introduce the clicker. For goats I strongly recommend introduction with protected contact = put the goat behind a sturdy fence and teach clicker manners first because you get a goat that mobbs even more without teaching manners.

Halter introduction:
present halter - goat shows interest - click & treat (CT)
present halter - goat sniffs halter - CT
present halter - goat shows continued interest - CT
present halter with open nose opening - goat touches halter - CT fed through opening in such a way that the goat must reach through the opening
Repeat last step as often as necessary until the goat leaves the nose inside the opening
Present halter with open nose opening - goat puts head inside - CT
Slice down the other movements, like putting the neck strap over, closing the halter, etc.

Teaching to lead:
introduce a target to follow (your hand, targetstick, small cone, etc.)
present target - goat shows interest - CT
present target- goat touches target - CT
present target a little bit away - goat makes a small step towards target - CT
present target a bit further away - goat makes another step - CT
now you have established a behavior where the goat will follow an object when you move without needing to pull the goat along on a lead rope.

Play with target, put a lead rope on the goat (but no pulling), a saddle, a halter, a load.

Make yourself a target = use your body as a marker for the goat where to walk. Click for walking next to you. Be specific, WHEN you click and be constant resp. teach individual commands for different leading positions.
Head next to you
Shoulder next to you
behind you

If the goat pulls, stop, wait, reward for assuming correct position.

Take into consideration that going outside, going away from the herd is stressfull and prey animals cope with stress by moving faster, hence the pulling when you take him out.

Keep your training close to herd/familiar surroundings for as long as he needs to trust you. This can mean that you will walk up and down a street for a week or so.

Pulling for food: stop, let him wait, establish a behaviour f.e. a look that he can offer to "ask" for a browse. This is right now a nuisance for you but you can turn it into a motivator. Allow browsing as a treat after offering a behaviour that you wanted, like standing politely or following quietly.