What do Goat Owners Say about Goats as Pets? ABOVE: Two Anglo-Nubian young goats. Whether it's a pygmy goat, a dwarf goat, a goat in a sweater, or a standard barn goat, each are special in their own little, or big, way. Rose says, â Goats are perhaps the best AND worst homestead pet there is! If you donât do this within the first few months of their life, the meat tastes like dirty socks. However, goats can be happy and content in a backyard. This is why the smallest goat breeds are the most popular in urban and suburban areas. Goats and sheep are two popular backyard livestock options available for your small farm. Pygmy goats breed year-round, which means kids are available at any time of year. Often depicted as cute and gentle, many folks have an affection for these animals. They can also be trained, just like any other pet. Kinder Goats as Companions iStock/Thinkstock It depends on the goat. Why Goats Get a Bad Rap Hereâs where I have to chalk up your possible aversion to the caprine as stemming from a number of popular misconceptions about goats. They can take a lot of work, knowledge, and patience to raise properly, keep healthy and productive. Goats love to bum rides off of their barnyard friends. Moreover, they are the best companions for the kids and elderly alike. Goats are famous for being escape artists. No doubt, pygmy goats are good pets in most of the cases. The reason for this is the fact that they are friendly, easy to handle, social, and love to play. Itâs true that raising sheep and goats is comparatively less complex than some other livestock options, but goats and sheep sti For pets, your best choice is probably 2 wethers. 6. Goats make a great farm pet, but not as great of a condo pet. Goats are browsers, like deer, & do not graze like cows or sheep. Any of the mainstream breeds are fine for pets (Anglo Nubians are my fave cos of the funny head shape and massive ears), but Saarnens or British Alpines are also fine. No heat cycles, calmer, quieter, less overall worries, and as a bonus- cheaper to buy. Goats are as smart as dogs and my goats & dog (shepherd collie mix) became best buddies. One reason female goats donât make the best pets is because if they are not being bred, they may have trouble maintaining a healthy weight. Goats such as the pygmy (smallest meat breed), Nigerian Dwarf (smallest dairy breed), and the pygora (smallest fiber breed) are going to be your best bets. 7. Goats really don't care about anyone else. Fortunately, castrating goats is easy and â although it doesnât look like it â pretty painless. 4. I think this lady has some valid points, but I would talk with other owners of Nigerians before accepting one opinion. If they do allow goats, more than likely they will have a size and/or weight limit. 5. 2) Goats can be loud. Goats are great for milk, meat, fiber, and more. How much space does a goat need? According to Rose Dutra Duncan, homesteader and owner of the website Wholesome Roots, goats make wonderful outdoor pets. Learn more about why goats are a great addition to the small farm or homestead. Goats make great pets. Goats can be great pets for kids! Kinder goats, a breed that was created by crossing Pygmies to Nubian goats in the mid-1980s, have found a place in the pet-goat market as well. Will a goat love you back? Due to their rectangular-shaped pupils â not to mention wily personalities â goats have been portrayed as devilish in both art and literature. About 12 years ago I sold three does to a teenage girl, and she kept in touch with me all these years. I used to load a goat & a dog into the car, crank down the windows & take them for a ride, dog poking out of one side & goat poking out of the other. Pygmy goats arenât the only goat breed that make good pets. Whether Pygmy Goats are a Good Pets. Goats love to partake in crazy parkour stunts. And trying to coerce an intact billy goat to diligently eat weeds all day without busting out of the fence is a laughable thought at best. But, happy goats wander less so spend time with it and give it plenty to do.