Goats are capable of extraordinary adventures and go where most other animals refuse to go. So what other adventures can our fuzzy friends pull off? Is swimming a skill attainable by even a goat?
Goats are naturally very capable of swimming and can often be found swimming from island to island. However, domesticated goats forget that they can swim after being domesticated, which can lead to them developing a fear against water and never learning to swim again.
So what can we do to help our fuzzy friends get back into the water? How can we prevent them from developing a fear of the water? And how does the wild goat differ so greatly from the domesticated goat?
Furry Olympic Swimmers? Maybe
The fact of the matter is that goats are more than capable of swimming out in the open water. Wild goats know from the very beginning what it takes to swim properly, and can be found swimming out in the wild. They have been found crossing large bodies of water in search of a specific food source or breeding ground.
Such instances show us how truly capable these goats are at swimming. Does that mean that they make better swimmers than we do?
Depending on the goat, wild goats are not necessarily fast swimmers. Most wild goats won’t be able to outswim you. They can however, swim over a greater distance when given a specific purpose. When found swimming across large bodies of water, it is most often in search of something that they need. Otherwise, our furry friends are perfectly content with staying on dry land.
Domesticating the swimming out of them
A domesticated goat is not nearly as capable of being able to swim as a wild goat might be. Similar to how a domesticated bird may never learn how to fly, a goat that grows up without learning how to swim may in fact develop a fear of water. Many of which develop an aversion to water that is strong enough that they won’t even be capable of touching water at all.
These fearless swimmers out in the wild, become quite the opposite when they are domesticated. Even though they may continue to seek out their usual adventures, water will most likely not play a part in their time. With such a comfortable home, they don’t even need to learn how to swim.
If you’re wondering whether or not you should train you goat, then consider what training your goat to swim will do. For what purpose will you be retraining your goat to swim? Will teaching them to swim help them in the long run? If after considering the reason, you feel that teaching them to swim again isn’t necessary, then consider not doing it all.
Retraining a domesticated goat that they can swim can be a long a painful process for both you and your goat. It will be especially difficult if your goat has developed a more severe aversion to water. With a stronger aversion to water, your goat will most likely react poorly to being forced to swim. Which may cause further issues with your goat’s fear of water, rather than giving them confidence in their ability to swim.
Tip: Don’t push your goat too hard too fast if you choose to train their fear out of them. It is more important that your goat is safe, happy, and comfortable with their current circumstances. Always consider their current state of happiness before attempting to teach them something that may be challenging for them to handle.
Why does this cause a fear of water overtime?
Goats react to water in the way that most cats do. As they do not like the feeling that comes from being wet, they will most likely run away from even the slightest raindrop.
As comical as it might be to think that such great natural swimmers would develop such a strong aversion to the water, we have to remember that this aversion stems from a fear or experience that is very serious for your goat.
Swimming as a natural born genetic
Having seen what are domesticated friends are capable of, it comes as no surprise to hear that a goat is capable of being able to swim such long distances. There are times when they seem almost indestructible by nature, overcoming every obstacle in their way.
Just as mischief is in their nature, being able to swim is part of who a goat is. Though a goat may develop an aversion to water, or forget that they are fully capable of swimming, the gene to swim is still in their blood. Given the chance, they would be able to do so again.
Can goats be retrained to swim in water?
Just as you would with any other animal, a goat needs to have their trust earned. You have to earn it before you start trying to throw your goat into the water. Even after earning their trust, putting them straight into a pond will not make their instincts kick in. You have to begin by working with their aversion to water long before even considering to put them into a large body of water.
Your goat needs time to adjust to the sensation of water, so start small. Begin with slowly adjusting your goat to touching their head with water. Do this over and over again until they’re no longer afraid or averse to the feel of it against their fur.
Tip: The method of adjusting them to water will differ according to the strength of aversion each goat experiences. If doing the previous step is too much for them, then beginning with an even smaller step towards water.
When introducing goats to water, the best thing to do is to consider doing so at a younger age. Slowly over time, as you introduce them to more and more water, they will eventually realize that they are capable of swimming.
(source: Can Goats Swim? – Animal Hype)