A Security Goat and bread can be a fun communications puzzle.
I was inspired to write this after looking at Debra's Random Thoughts
blog post on visiting the The Jambbas Ranch. Debra shares a bit of
her family's experience visiting the Jambbas Ranch. I enjoyed
looking at the photos of the ranch and the goats. What triggered
me to post this note was what do goats think of when some
humans come by to visit? Goats have in many cases been rated as
smarter than dogs. Sorry Max the dog. I have heard this from several
sources. I can only guess what whirls in the minds of these very
I was inspired to write this after looking at Debra's Random Thoughts
blog post on visiting the The Jambbas Ranch. Debra shares a bit of
her family's experience visiting the Jambbas Ranch. I enjoyed
looking at the photos of the ranch and the goats. What triggered
me to post this note was what do goats think of when some
humans come by to visit? Goats have in many cases been rated as
smarter than dogs. Sorry Max the dog. I have heard this from several
sources. I can only guess what whirls in the minds of these very
independant creatures.
I speak of goat interaction and communication from personal experience.
I have had a number of visitors come by to see the
different humans and animals at my home. I am not sure who is
having more fun; the animals or the visitors! My collection of animals
are spoiled since they are the lucky recipients of my sourdough
baking experiments. So this means quite a bit of extra homemade
bread that they can enjoy. So if the oven is busy, a few people
dropping by can have the fun of sharing the extras with the different
creatures including one very specific security goat that has a "job" of
patrolling the neighbors property.
I have a goat that lived on my property, but lately has been moved
over to a neighbor's field at the owner's request. The owner was
given the full rundown of goat operations and caveats. Likewise he
has passed the same information to people visiting or working on
his property. However its only recently that he has discovered how
serious the goat is about monitoring the property. The goat is
usually terribly busy watching the open field and interrogating
visitors that cross the property line, However if we are lucky; he will
cross over the field to visit someone who has the appropriate food
offering. He does a much better job than a wireless and mobile
security camera. Works for peanuts and tin cans!
But what does he think when a stranger comes by with some
familiar smelling and tasting food? Does he think this is payment for
his job as a Security Goat? Is there some accounting system in his
brain that gives you a go past one goat for free access slip? I am
not sure.
What I do know is that he takes his job as a security goat very
seriously. He acts like a compass pointing in a goat straight line to
any one invading his security zone. He is at times bored with this
tedious job. So its with great excitement when someone crosses
"his" property.
This lately has been the case with contractors working on a new foundation
for a building on the property. I hate to say that contractors working in rural
areas should have some goat orientation training before working on open land.
Some people appear to have experience, others not as the security goat reports
their behavior. The worst way for you to get into a head butting
situation is to go ahead and challenge the goat. In my case, the
goat thinks that someone trying to chase him or other activities that
would scare the typical animal is just a form of playing. The most
humorous recent example was watching someone running towards
the goat and making professional boxing maneuvers.
Some people who work on my neighbor's property fare well with the
goat, including having the goat "help" them by poking around their
work. Others are not so fortunate and some cases literally butt
heads. Lucky for them the goat is a miniature goat, but he thinks he
is the size of a horse! :) My neighbor has grown to appreciate the
goat's efforts at protecting the property.
The visit to Jambbas Ranch is an entirely different thing. I have been
told they have entertainment goats rather than guard goats! :)
So if Abbie and Sarah come visit, just make sure they are prepared
with their sourdough bread offerings and they will be in good
company with the local security goat!
I speak of goat interaction and communication from personal experience.
I have had a number of visitors come by to see the
different humans and animals at my home. I am not sure who is
having more fun; the animals or the visitors! My collection of animals
are spoiled since they are the lucky recipients of my sourdough
baking experiments. So this means quite a bit of extra homemade
bread that they can enjoy. So if the oven is busy, a few people
dropping by can have the fun of sharing the extras with the different
creatures including one very specific security goat that has a "job" of
patrolling the neighbors property.
I have a goat that lived on my property, but lately has been moved
over to a neighbor's field at the owner's request. The owner was
given the full rundown of goat operations and caveats. Likewise he
has passed the same information to people visiting or working on
his property. However its only recently that he has discovered how
serious the goat is about monitoring the property. The goat is
usually terribly busy watching the open field and interrogating
visitors that cross the property line, However if we are lucky; he will
cross over the field to visit someone who has the appropriate food
offering. He does a much better job than a wireless and mobile
security camera. Works for peanuts and tin cans!
But what does he think when a stranger comes by with some
familiar smelling and tasting food? Does he think this is payment for
his job as a Security Goat? Is there some accounting system in his
brain that gives you a go past one goat for free access slip? I am
not sure.
What I do know is that he takes his job as a security goat very
seriously. He acts like a compass pointing in a goat straight line to
any one invading his security zone. He is at times bored with this
tedious job. So its with great excitement when someone crosses
"his" property.
This lately has been the case with contractors working on a new foundation
for a building on the property. I hate to say that contractors working in rural
areas should have some goat orientation training before working on open land.
Some people appear to have experience, others not as the security goat reports
their behavior. The worst way for you to get into a head butting
situation is to go ahead and challenge the goat. In my case, the
goat thinks that someone trying to chase him or other activities that
would scare the typical animal is just a form of playing. The most
humorous recent example was watching someone running towards
the goat and making professional boxing maneuvers.
Some people who work on my neighbor's property fare well with the
goat, including having the goat "help" them by poking around their
work. Others are not so fortunate and some cases literally butt
heads. Lucky for them the goat is a miniature goat, but he thinks he
is the size of a horse! :) My neighbor has grown to appreciate the
goat's efforts at protecting the property.
The visit to Jambbas Ranch is an entirely different thing. I have been
told they have entertainment goats rather than guard goats! :)
So if Abbie and Sarah come visit, just make sure they are prepared
with their sourdough bread offerings and they will be in good
company with the local security goat!
