What do you think about my goat's actions?

Question

We have 2 pygmy goats. Ones a boy, one is a girl. They both like to "play" with each other... as in butting each other. Its really funny to watch. Out of the 5 people in my family, and any strangers that come to see them, the boy likes to pick on me. He butts me the same way he does the girl. I does hurt sometimes, since they still have their horns and all. He won't do it to anyone else... my brother has tried to make the goat butt him, but he won't.

Do you think it is a sign of affection, or a sign of hate?

Answer 1

He is likely asserting his dominance over you. i.e. he knows he can push you around

Answer 2

he thinks of you as one of the pack if your want it to stop you need to show dominance  

Answer 3

If he's an intact buck, he may find you to be a challenge to his girlfriend, and his "playing" may get more aggressive as he gets older and sexually mature.

My bucks and my babydoll ram like to "scratch" their heads on my knee, which is harmless, except it can sometimes knock you off balance if you're not expecting it.  I don't see this as an aggressive move - it's more like they're marking their territory.  I am the bringer of the feed buckets, after all.

Especially if you've raised them since they were bottle babies, your goats will bond with you, and they tend to pick up on some people more than others.  Did you do the feeding or were you there primarily to play and interact with them?  They may see you as another goat instead of an owner.

Take it as a sign of acceptance in the world of goats, but you'll need to stop this behavior!  A goat that butts a person can be potentially dangerous, moreso if they haven't been disbudded.  Tell your brother to NOT encourage the headbutting - don't touch their heads, only scratch them behind the ears.  Another sign to look for of more aggressive play is when the hair along the ridge of their back stands up.  If he's puffing out, he may feel like you're intruding on his territory or challenging you.

If I've had a goat that thinks this kind of behavior is okay, I diffuse it by grabbing my hoof trimmers and giving them a hoof trim.  It puts them in a prone position and they don't like it, but it can let them know that you can control them (without hurting them) and it helps get your grooming out of the way.  You may also try working with him on a lead outside of the pasture.  Goats are pretty smart and he needs to know that you're capable of controlling him.

Answer 4

He's giving you a high 2 (similar to a high 5).

Answer 5

Affection, ours do that to us too. We have a few that only do it to one person.