Lead training advice needed

Squeaky McMurdo · #1 02/04/13, 03:43 PM

Well, the week away from her mama ended up dumping tons of snow, so I didn't get to work on training Lily to lead as much as I wanted.

She is STUBBORN! I would rather not have to pick her up to carry her from point A to point B so any advice, hints, tips, whatever you want to throw at me would be appreciated. I made her a halter of her own and it seems to help a little, but after 1 step she wants to be done for the day.

It would be wonderful if I could have her walking on a lead by the end of this month so I don't have to drag her or carry her when it's her turn to visit a buck.

Otter · #2 02/04/13, 03:59 PM

I do it the same way as horses.

I am a post.
I do not pull or drag. If they want to throw themselves backwards or on the ground or have a fit, I stand there and let them. I do not give, nor pull, one inch.
Eventually, they will decide to stop hurting themselves on the rope. It is stupid, and gets them nowhere. The very instant they put slack on the rope (this may not be a step, it may just be a lean), there is praise and scritches and even treats.

Then, I call them to me and walk. I do not mince or coax or take little steps, they are used to walking with me and they can walk at a normal pace. I am a good person to be around. They have 2 choices. They can come with me and do nice things and get scritches and treats or they can throw a tantrum that they are on lead.
If they throw a tantrum, I am a post. I don't fight back - I don't want them fighting me, I want them knowing that fighting ropes is a Really Dumb Idea. They will learn that from the rope.

At first, it may take us 20 minutes and they'll have a raw spot to go 20 feet, (not my bottle babies, they learn from the moment they set foot here) but eventually they figure out that the closer they stick to me, the nicer life is, with or without a lead, and that fighting ropes is really stupid and pointless, as is headbutting walls.

Squeaky McMurdo · #3 02/05/13, 10:33 PM

Well what do you know...today she acted like she has been walking on a lead her entire life. She even followed me over the snow bank when before she refused to walk anywhere but on the walkway where the snow melted off.

Goats. Is this some part of the Doe Code I had never heard of? Lol.

In summary
Day 1: OMG the very world is ending and I'm going to die because I am attached to a rope. Make owner drag me while I do a back flip off the garage door. The only way to get back to my pen is if she carries me there.
Day 2: She still wants to kill me, I'm sure this rope is a hangman's noose and there is an invisible gallows in the snow covered driveway. As long as I don't walk in the snow I suppose it's fine to walk on the pavement to get to the porch where she will feed me. I won't like it though!
Day 3: Whoopdeefriggindoo I can walk on a lead. Why are you so surprised. I *have* been doing this since birth you know. It's not like I'm doing anything special. I will however accept any grain you choose to give me for no apparent reason.

GoatJunkie · #4 02/06/13, 08:40 AM

That is hysterical!

In case anyone else may find this useful, my milk doe was not keen on walking on a leash when I first got her. However she did not mind my holding her collar to walk her. Go figure!

It also helps to walk a difficult goat with another goat who walks well on a leash. The herd animal mentality works wonders.

bluefish · #5 02/06/13, 08:57 AM

I've just always tied mine to something fairly close to me while I'm out doing something. They learn the rope isn't going to negotiate with them and the lesson seems to carry over fine when I'm holding it. It usually takes a few times, but has worked well for me.

It's a bit late for yours, but another thing I've seen people do if they have bottle babies is they tie each kid up and feed each individually. The kids looked like they learned real quick. The set up I saw used to those double ended leash things that are about 1'-2' long, collars on the babies and eye bolts attached to the side of the pen and the right height. It only took a minute to hook up 10 kids.

Squeaky McMurdo · #6 02/06/13, 09:22 AM

Ah yes I left that part out. I did try to walk her with Cocoa but her twisting antics kept getting them tangled and then she would throw herself on the ground dragging them both down.

She actually has always had impeccable manners when it comes to being tied to something. It was the walking part she didn't like. We'll see if she remembers all this later today.