Neighbor's Dog Attacked One of My Goats

[Bailey Guns]

My neighbor has a fairly large shepherd mix dog. The dog roams freely. He's around livestock all the time, including a goat for a while (since gone) and cattle/calves. He runs from my Corgis when they try to play with him. I've never seen him act aggressive...but he's still a large dog. My goats roam around and stay very near to the house and barn. I've thought about the dog and considered the safety of the goats but, honestly, I figured he was around calves and the other goat and never seemed inclined to hurt them at all so I pretty much didn't think he was much of a threat. Well, I was wrong...

I went out to put the goats up. I heard an odd noise coming from the pen. I ran out there and the dog had my largest goat, Annie, on the ground inside the shelter and was biting her neck. This dog is probably 85 to 100 pounds, Annie is less than half that. I thought Annie was dead but apparently she was just unconscious or nearly so. The dog saw me after I yelled at him and immediately released and looked terrified. I kicked him pretty good in the ribs and that sent him howling and packing. Annie didn't look good. About a third of one ear is torn off, multiple bite wounds on one upper rear leg/neck/front leg. Very little bleeding externally, no bleeding from nose or mouth. Her tongue was oddly colored and wrinkled like a raisin...something weird I noticed. Doesn't appear to be any broken bones (as in completely broken) but not sure about fractures or anything like that.

It took a while but she seems to be improving. She still can't stand and is in obvious pain. She's calmed down and her really rapid breathing has returned to normal. Her bleating sounds were very hoarse and odd-sounding but that seems more normal as well. Tried to get her to take some water but she wasn't interested. She did nibble a bit on some straw that I put around her to make her a little more comfortable and keep her as warm as possible. Probably get her to a vet tomorrow.

I talked to the neighbor. We're on very good terms and have done each other some pretty substantial favors. But... While talking he tells me this dog has tried to attack another neighbor's goats at least twice before. That sure would've been nice to know before tonight. He also told me he'd do what he needed to do to make the thing right...and I sincerely believe he will. I told him I was definitely going to take the goat to the vet...wouldn't get crazy but I at least want the goat to be evaluated, get some antibiotics and whatever else. Obviously I wouldn't spend a ridiculous amount of money on a goat but I'm at least gonna try to get her well. If that costs (him) a few $$, too f**kin' bad. I told him this goat isn't "just a goat" to me...she's like a pet...just like a dog. He's also said he has a family member that's gonna take the dog.

I use one of my Corgis to round up the goats and send them to their shelter every day. The goats see Izzy and just head for the shelter now...not much herding needed. I'm speculating that Rocko (the neighbor's dog) wandered over, the goats saw him, and started running for the pen. Probably just triggered a predator thing in him and he chased them. He must've chased her for a bit because the chain-link gate to the fence around the house had been pushed inward...it only opens outward from the yard. So one or both of them hit that closed gate hard. He chased her around a bit and then got her cornered in the pen. Luckily the little goats are OK.

I can see I'm going to have to re-evaluate how and where I let the goats graze. And that really pisses me off that now I feel like they're in danger on our own damn property. I know there's always a danger from wild predators like coyotes. And my Corgis always alert me when something is on the property. They have a fenced area they can roam at any time and they're surprisingly good watch dogs. But they're accustomed to seeing and smelling Rocko...he's not a stranger so they don't react to him the same way they would something like a coyote.

It seems most people think I should've shot the dog. Well, I didn't. I didn't have a gun, it all happened too fast and the dog immediately ran back home, and I was more worried about Annie. I certainly wasn't gonna go to the neighbor's property and kill his dog and I hope no one else would do that, either. And, I have to live next door to this family, I'm hoping, for the remainder of my life. We've become good neighbors (aside from this) and help each other out when help is needed. I'm not going to jeopardize a good relationship over a knee-jerk reaction.

Anyway, mostly just venting. I'm pretty certain that issue will be dealt with and won't be a problem in the future. It's just infuriating the way some people don't take proper care of animals. I know we live in a rural area but why would you let a dog that you know has a propensity to chase livestock continue to roam? As usual, this is more of a people problem than a dog problem.

[BladesNBarrels]

Just my opinion, but I think the neighbor responded well.
He offered to compensate for the damages to the goat, transferred the dog to a relative, and apologized.
I can't think of anything more he could have done.
Unfortunate incident, but life happens.
I hope Annie recovers rapidly and you and your neighbor can laugh about this in the future.

[Martinjmpr]

The saying that comes to my mind is "good fences make good neighbors." IIRC you have some parts of your property fenced and some unfenced, yes? So if you know the dog is running around, I guess maybe the goats need to stay in the fenced portion. Kind of sucks that you have fence IN your goats rather than having your neighbor control his dog, but you can only control what YOU can control.

[clodhopper]

How neighbors deal with unruly animals often depends on where you live. For example, you keep goats as pets and have significant emotion tied into that animal. I keep goats as livestock. Sure, they all have names and I have my favorites, but I slaughter/process/eat my goats. I have dealt with the same situation and in my world, the goat was euthanized (later butchered) and the dog was roped and returned to the neighbor. Neighbor bought a replacement animal and delivered it to my corral. Done deal. I would have done the same if an animal of mine entered neighbor's property and caused damage. Shooting a dog only has a place if you cannot get the dog to stop and a bullet is the only choice to stop an attack. You said the dog immediately backed off. In that case shooting the dog only results in two dead animals and turns one owners loss into two owners loss. Animals are not people and are subject to urges with no logic to balance. Incidents can happen, but if the offending animals owner does nothing to resolve the problem and the dog becomes a repeat offender, the bullet comes back into play. I have feelings for the dog as it doesnt understand and the owner is not doing anything to train/restrain and the dog has to pay the price.

I am with BladesnBarrels, the neighbor seems to be doing what they can considering the situation. Try to separate your emotion from your neighbor and his dog. What happened to is hard, but it definitely is no reason to lose an amicable relationship with someone you will likely share a property line with for a long while. What would you do if in his shoes and use that to evaluate his actions going forward, not what has already happened.

[JohnnyEgo]

What a weird day this is. I am killing time in the airport, and the #1 post on Arfcom is a guy who shot his neighbor's dog that got into his chicken coup. Then I come here. Similar circumstances, better outcome on all parts here. Sorry about your goat, glad to hear the goat and the dog are still alive and you resolved the situation by actually talking to your neighbor.

[Bailey Guns]

I completely agree the neighbor responded appropriately even though he should've kept his dog under control in the first place. I've let him know I took her to the vet this morning and she may be in better shape than I thought...but still too early to be sure. She's pretty beat up and in a lot of pain. He just sent me a message and said he'll reimburse me for the vet right away. I knew he would. Like I mentioned...we both try to be good neighbors for each other. He just has different ideas about how dogs should be treated than I do. He's also moving Rocko (the dog) to a family member's home. That might be just kicking the can down the road but I won't have to worry about him going forward. The neighbor also told me he appreciated how I handled it but wouldn't have blamed me had I killed the dog.

I'm also completely on board with the fact the dog was pretty much just being a dog and doing anything to the dog at this point would just be punitive. Like I said, this is more of a people problem than a dog problem.

[JohnnyEgo]

Now if you shot his dog and his wife ran away with your goat, you'd have a double platinum country album!

[eddiememphis]

Are goats good pets?

I like my Beagle- most of the time.
She does tricks and is glad to see me when I get home and nothing beats an afternoon couch nap with a warm little hound snuggled up close.

I don't think I'd want to snuggle a goat.

[clodhopper]

Are goats good pets?

I like my Beagle- most of the time.
She does tricks and is glad to see me when I get home and nothing beats an afternoon couch nap with a warm little hound snuggled up close.

I don't think I'd want to snuggle a goat.

Goats are like big dogs. Very friendly, enjoy being in your company, very goofy when younger. They dont house train, or you would see more people with inside goat pets. (although someone will post a youtube of a house trained goat or a goat in a diaper just to dispute my statement)

Goats in rut are a different deal. The girls can get bitchy and ... well... goopy, trying not to be too distasteful here. The boys pee all over themselves (super smelly), think of it as AXE Body Spray to attract the girls. Our male pen has a pretty ferocious musky funk from the boys using too much "body spray" in the fall.

Despite all that, goats are extremely easy to keep. Very good option to try out and see if you are a livestock person. Worst that can happen is one will sneak up behind you and butt you in the back and knock you down. Unlike a horse, cow or pig that can do some real damage if you dont know what you are doing.

[Bailey Guns]

Are goats good pets?

I like my Beagle- most of the time.
She does tricks and is glad to see me when I get home and nothing beats an afternoon couch nap with a warm little hound snuggled up close.

I don't think I'd want to snuggle a goat.

All those things clodhopper said. We have Nigerian Dwarf goats and the small ones are like little puppies. They don't get very big...probably avg 35 to 45 pounds. They're very low maintenance after you learn a few new things (in our case, anyway) like what to look for in terms of potential problems, how to give injections of meds and what to keep around. It's a learning process but it's not difficult and the stuff is relatively cheap. And they don't needs bags and bags of feed like some other animals. Put them out to graze and they're happy...really easy. We'll probably look to start having babies towards the end of next year. Around here I think the females are generally bred in the fall and have their little goat puppies early in the spring.

This breed loves to be around you all the time. I can't go into the shop without Annie hoping up on the workbench (or whatever) just to stick her nose into what I'm doing. They love to climb on stuff...including people. If I'm down on the ground, or even bend over to pick something up, it's not uncommon to have a little goat jump up on my back. They always wanna be in your business. I love them...great companions and just plain old entertaining. We'll sit on the porch in the evening with a cup of coffee and just watch them run around and graze and play. It's very peaceful.

I'm hoping this doesn't change Annie a lot. Because it's really fun to get Izzy (my female Corgi) out herding them. Even the goats like it.