So, as long as you are fully aware of what you are getting into with goats as pets, then yes, pygmy goats are great pets.
They are friendly and loveable, and they don’t have the enormous bulk of many other breeds of goat.
Keeping them still involves a lot of work and knowledge, though, so let’s look into how to keep pygmy goats.
Are pygmy goats high maintenance?
The answer to this really depends on your perception of high maintenance.
Comparatively speaking, when considering all pets, they are somewhat high maintenance.
Despite their size, they’re still goats, and you’re going to have to treat them as such.
They aren’t cats.
Firstly, they’re going to need a fairly large outdoor space.
They’re small, but they’re still grazing ruminants.
They need to forage and hunt for food on a fairly large space of land, otherwise, they won’t be getting their full range of enrichment.
You’ll need to maintain their own indoor space, small as it may be.
You’ll need to keep it stocked up with straw for sleeping and hay for eating.
They should each have their own individual space to sleep.
So, as you can see, even though they’re the size of some dogs, they’re still a good deal higher maintenance than dogs.
Some who don’t have large plots of land keep pygmy goats and take them for regular walks—this could be an option, but they need a great deal of walking.
So, can you keep pygmy goats in the house?
Do pygmy goats make good house pets?
No, is the simple answer.
Goats are not house pets, no matter how small they are.
They need to be outside, grazing and foraging, and indeed with their own herd.
This is perhaps the number one thing about keeping pygmy goats that you’ll need to consider.
No species of goat should live on its own.
They all need members of their own species to be fully happy.
I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want multiple goats running around my house.
The other thing is that they’re not really house-trainable.
You can’t train them to go outside to pee or poop, so you’d be cleaning up after them constantly.
For your own sake and for theirs, do not keep pygmy goats in your house.
They will be restless and unhappy.
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Are pygmy goats loud?
All goats are quite loud to a degree.
They tend to yell and scream at each other, bleating like sheep often do.
You might think pygmy goats don’t have much capacity for being loud, but this is far from true.
They have just as impressive a voice as any other breed.
This is the other thing to keep in mind for your own sake.
Even if they are happy, they will be screeching and bleating.
If you don’t think you could handle this, then goats in general probably aren’t for you.
Think about your neighbors, too.
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Are pygmy goats good with dogs?
It depends, really, but generally yes.
It is really going to be down to the dog’s behavior and disposition.
They will, naturally, be wary of a dog at first.
These are exactly the animals that would have preyed on their wild ancestors.
If your dog is relaxed and laid back, and does not get too excited, then it should be fine with goats.
They will take a long time to get used to one another, but if you handle the initial interactions well, it should be no problem.
How much does it cost to buy a pygmy goat?
Again, it’s going to vary a lot.
One thing we can certainly say is that pygmy goats have rapidly become one of the most popular breeds widely available, and indeed the idea of goats as pets has gained a great deal of traction in recent years.
So, with that in mind, for a registered and purebred pygmy goat, you can expect to pay around $500.
More if it has particularly desirable coat patterns or other sought-after features.
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So, the simple conclusion is yes, they’re great pets.
That doesn’t mean they’re for everyone, though.
Despite their smaller size, you still can’t keep them in the house.
Furthermore, goats are always happier as part of a group—you can’t just have one.
Goats, in general, are also not like cats or dogs.
They are often much more independent and in need of very different care.
All that said, though, the main point is that you are prepared for whatever might come your way and there will be no shocks.
Then, they are great pets.