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 We have 4 female Pygmy Goats,
all born April 2007 who we bought in September 2007 from White Post Farm in
Nottingham. The girls were fantastic as they had been raised and weaned
together, so have very good manners and are very easy to handle. The only
problem was the biggest female Blossom has very noisy seasons, so we were
advised that a wether (castrated male) would help put them all at ease (which
has worked).
So in December 2007 we found Nym at a nearby farm. He was born in January 2006
and seemed perfect. He led very well and happily hopped in the car and was great
on the journey home. We were told that he had been returned due to his former
owners’ breakup. He was very overweight but we have lots of playthings and room
so this wasn’t an issue!
He settled into the herd quickly, but pretty soon he started bullying the
smallest female, Buttercup. In the following months it got so bad that one day
he wouldn’t let her in the shed when it was pouring down all day. When I
returned from work she was soaked and shivering so I had to wrap her up in
towels as she was close to pneumonia. He then turned on the other girls and
within a few weeks was pushing them all around and dominating everything. He
also took to destroying their shed / fencing / gates by bashing them with his
horns.
We placed a kids playhouse facing the shed and this eased things, as the girls
had a retreat. We had a quiet few months and thought the problem was solved.
However roughly 6 months since we bought him he started trying to push me
around. I didn’t pay much attention at first, as it wasn’t that bad….at first!
As the months went by, up until December 2008 when we called in Debbie we tried
everything to ease this new problem, such as herbal products, tying him up,
using water filled spray bottle and ignoring him. Nothing worked for long (I
will say they did work for a while, perhaps a week or so). Feed times and
bedtimes became something I dreaded and so did the females. Several times he
knocked me over and caused me constant bruising and injury. My experience is
mainly horses and cats, so I didn’t really have a clue what to do with this
clever goat! It came to a head in December 2008 when nothing had worked and we
were scared there would be no choice but it either take him back or have him put
to sleep. We don’t give up easily as all our cats were rescued and it has taken
years to gain trust. 
I rang the RSPCA for advise and they gave us Debbie’s number. After contacting
her Debbie called me back and we had a long in depth discussion. I was hopeful
as she mentioned that at 3 years old he is still not too old and she would work
with him. A few weeks previously he attacked my youngest sister Rosie (aged 10)
and bruised her. He also attacked my mum several times and it was very
upsetting. Me and my partner Paul agreed we couldn’t carry on.
Debbie has been twice now, and we do keep in touch via email and texts. Through
the methods she’s has shown us both in the days she visited, life is a lot
easier. On the most recent visit we discussed lead training with Nym and I am
happy to say he behaves excellently on the lead, and seems to enjoy it! He is
changing, and although he has off moments he is becoming a happier goat as he
understands I am head goat so he doesn’t have to worry. I advise anyone with
goat problems to give them this last chance and not give up. At times we really
wanted to, and spent many hours discussing what to do. I am very happy with the
goat he is becoming and am very glad he came to us as we didn’t give up hope!
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