Every year people eagerly wait for the weather to change from the cold and rain of winter to the warmth and sunshine of summer.
One of the most anticipated activities of this period is without a doubt going to the beach or the pool and taking a swim.
Swimming is one of my favorite activities and I am looking forward to when I can do it again.
This got me thinking, do goats like to swim and can they swim?
Historically, goats have been taken on ships as sources of meat and dairy, so they are no strangers to water.
Do goats like getting in water or swimming, can goats swim in the ocean, and what breeds of goats can swim?
Let’s get started!
Can goats swim?
Yes, all goats are able to swim.
They are all able to swim from birth and swimming is an essential skill that goats in the wild would need to have in order to survive and find new food sources while roaming in their natural habitats.
Not all goats like to swim, however, and most domesticated goats will avoid swimming.
Goats in the wild, however, will not hesitate to swim if they are trying to get to new grazing grounds and are required to swim across a body of water.
Wild goats are also able to swim for longer times and over longer distances.
Swimming is a physically demanding activity that requires the use of a lot of muscles.
Domesticated goats do not possess the adequate level of fitness required for any intense type of swimming.
They have, after all, never needed to go in search of their own food or fend off predators.
Their physical fitness is, therefore, a lot lower than that of wild goats.
Can mountain goats swim?
Yes, mountain goats are able to swim.
While this might be a bit surprising (due to the fact that mountain goats live in the mountains!), when in search of new grazing grounds or food sources, goats are sometimes required to travel across water bodies in search of their next meal.
As a result, mountain goats are adapted to swimming and are able to travel large distances if they need to.
Can mini goats swim?
Since goats have been domesticated, their swimming ability has most likely deteriorated due to a lack of a need to swim, especially when compared to goats in the wild which have to search for their own food in order to survive.
This is especially true for the smaller breeds of goats such as the Pygmy goat and the Nigerian dwarf goat.
While still able to swim, they are not big fans of the water and will avoid it at all costs if it is possible.
Do goats like to get in the water?
Goats and water have a difficult relationship.
Simply put, they don’t really like water.
This is due to a couple of reasons.
The first is due to their natural survival instincts.
Goats are known for their climbing ability and their natural habitats are normally on mountains, cliffs, and inclines.
Wet surfaces, therefore, mean poor footing, which can lead to slipping and injury.
Goats have evolved to associate wet hooves with danger and thus, don’t particularly like getting wet from either above or below them.
Secondly, goats are naturally mountainous creatures.
Their natural habitats are areas that tend to have little water and they strive in drier conditions.
Goats, therefore, will avoid water if given the opportunity and prefer to be in areas that closer resemble their natural habitats.
Goats much prefer to go for a hike or a walk than to go for a swim!
Is it bad for goats to get wet?
Like with most animals, getting wet isn’t going to harm your goat or put them in any type of danger, they just don’t like it!
If a goat does spend too much time in water, however, it can become susceptible to hypothermia and should, therefore, be monitored when in water/swimming.
Can goats swim in the ocean?
The answer to this question is yes, goats can swim in the ocean as long as it isn’t too rough.
As stated above, goats have been taken on ships for a long time throughout history as sources of meat and dairy, as well as ways to get rid of unwanted food.
They were chosen as companions due to their smaller size making them easier to manage while still being able to provide essential resources.
Occasionally, they would fall overboard, however, and would need to tread water/swim for a while until they were recovered.
Can goats swim as well as dogs?
While goats are excellent swimmers when they need to be, they are not better swimmers than dogs.
At a basic level, dogs actually enjoy being in the water and will not avoid it, unlike goats.
Some breeds of dogs were born to swim, such as the Labrador retriever, and it is sometimes even said that dogs are as good at swimming as the average human!
Can you train goats to swim?
As mentioned above, most goats do not like water and will do their best to avoid interacting with it in any form.
That doesn’t mean, however, that it is impossible to train goats to swim.
Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to train goats to do a lot of things, including tricks and walking on a lead, and swimming is no different.
You must first gain the trust of your goat.
To train a goat to swim you first need to get them to the water and this can only be achieved if your goat trusts you.
You need to patient, however, as it will take time for your goat to trust you enough to allow you to take it to the water.
Secondly, you need to train your goat to not be afraid of water or the training process will be longer and much more difficult.
Once over the fear of water, the goats natural swimming ability will take over.
It then becomes a matter of practice and consistency.
Can goats swim in a pool?
If you own a pool and have a pet goat then it stands to reason that you would want your goat to swim with you, just like if you had a pet dog.
The answer to this question is yes, goats can swim in pools.
Another question to ask would be do they want to?
If your goat is comfortable in the water and doesn’t mind swimming, then by all means take them into the pool with you.
If, however, they are afraid of water or are averse to swimming, then you shouldn’t force them into the water with you as this could become dangerous for both you and the goat.
Instead, work with your goat to get over its fear of water and slowly train it to swim and be comfortable in the water.
In conclusion, yes, goats can swim, even if they don’t particularly like to.
Goats have been swimming for a long time and have even been ship companions.
While water isn’t necessarily harmful to goats, they tend to avoid it at all costs and won’t go anywhere near it given the choice.
Despite this, goats are actually excellent swimmers and can swim long distances if they need to.
Wild goats are, however, better swimmers than domesticated farm and pet goats.
This is due to their need to search for their own food and encounter water bodies while traveling.
They are better swimmers due to necessity rather than desire.
If you have goats as pets, it is possible to swim together with them in a pool or in the ocean.
This is, however, only possible if they are comfortable in the water and with swimming.
It is important not to force your goats to do anything they are not comfortable with and, when trying new things for the first time, easing them into it slowly and with patience.