How To Train a Goat With a Squirt Bottle

The #1 rule to training a goat is to never, ever physically discipline a goat by pushing them, striking them or hitting them. They think of you as one of them, so if you use aggressive behaviors toward them, they will respond to you in the same manner. We do not want that, so we use the squirt bottle as a training technique. 

Goats are like cats when it comes to water, they HATE it. This means that using the squirt bottle as a training technique is really easy. If a goat is doing something you don’t want and you want them to stop, use an associative command or phrase first. If they don’t listen, squirt them with the squirt bottle and they will scatter almost immediately. They will begin to associate that command with water.

A great example of how to use this technique is when it is time to feed. When you have a huge stack of hay in your hand, the goats will want to crowd and will try to take hay from your hand. If this is something you don’t want them to do then you simply say a command like  “Get back” or whatever you want – and then you squirt them. With repetition, eventually all you will have to do is say that command and your goats will not crowd you like they use to. 

Training is a “learn-as-you-go” process for goats. So, keep that squirt bottle handy and stay consistent with your commands. The results will follow seamlessly. 

For more information on how to train goats with a squirt bottle, you can check out this video on our YouTube Channel.