[NormandyMary]

Hi all. Ive had my boys well over a year now and they have developed into friendly, loving, curious and very tame little fellas. They let themselves out of their run early morning, and just please themselves during the day (usually being good!) until Mummy calls them home for bed and biscuits.
However..I have a little problem with Billy. He craves attention and wants to be stroked and cuddled as soon as he sees me. He gets jealous if Toby gets a stroke, and nudges me or bites my bum to remind me that he's there too. Now I can cope with that normally, but when he gets really excited, he starts to headbutt me with his horns in my lower tummy and legs. My right leg is black and blue and last week he gave me a lump and bruise on my right thigh. Im sure that he is not meaning to be vicious, he just seems to get over excited and doesnt know what to do to express himself. How can I tell him apart from shouting "NO" that Mummy doesnt appreciate what he's doing. They have both come to understand simple words and commands, especially "Home for biscuits". Any advice gratefully received. Many thanks.

[jinglejoys]

Sounds like a spoilt little brat thats learnt to get his own way.No he's not meaning to be vicious..he's not being vicious just acting normally and you are definately not the herd leader he is so why should he?Unless you up your act with him things could turn nasty not only with you but anyone who visits.

[tizaala]

Stop the treats, and start acting like you are the boss , next time he nips or butts give him a sharp whack on the nose, if he has a collar on then clip a lead on and make him do what you want and not what he wants, he's still young, when he gets older , heavier and stronger it will cease to be funny. stop him in his tracks now.
a water pistol is a good deterrant.

[jaykay]

Just to echo what the guys have said, you need to show him you're the herd leader.

You don't have to be nasty, but you do need to be quite definite. Ellie is my herd leader (after me of course!) and she takes no nonsense from the others.

Every now and then she challenges me if I do something she doesn't like. Then I say 'no', with my finger up at her, very fiercely like Barbara Woodhouse  , catch hold of her collar and make her do something, like go from A to B, just to show her that I'm in charge.

[plumseverywhere]

We went through this with our now adults, when they hit their 'teens' - they really pushed their boundaries and you do have to show them that YOU are boss.
We've started our firmly, but fair, with the kid Sixpence. If he jumped up he was knocked down with a NO, when he tried to nip my kneecaps he got a firm tap on the nose. We also use the lead to remind him that we are in charge ie. once on the lead he has to go the way we choose.  You can nip it in the bud and withhold the treats for when he's being really good rather than as a regular thing for a bit.

[countrywoman]

I haven't dealt with this sort of problem yet - I have two adults and a 2 month old kid who is inquisitive rather than pushy, at the moment - but I intend to be ready to discourage over-confidence before it turns into bullying.  Especially if I am the target.  My dominant goat won't stand any nonsense from the kid and she respects that. 
 
I can vouch for the effectiveness of water-pistols as a painless way of stopping bad behaviour.  When I put my two adults back together after kidding there was a lot of confrontation and I posted here for advice which included using a water-pistol.  A few squirts at the head at the first sign of bullying worked very quickly.  If my kid needs a reminder of who is boss, I'll use it on her.  With a horned goat like yours I wouldn't hesitate!

[NormandyMary]

Thanks so much for all your good advice everyone (as per usual). I have new collars for the boys which will be going on today, and we have leads which to be honest have never been used, but will soon be in operation. Next time I go shopping I will look for a water pistol, I assume its just a small one not one of those bazooka types .
He has been very good these past 3 days to be honest, even though I havent had that much time to spend with them both. He is normally so loving towards us both and last week, we had the family to stay overnight, and he and Toby were helping our grandson and son in law play cricket.(No Im NOT joking, they were actually joining in!) Not once did they try and "go" for the children which was very reassuring.
I remember Barbara Woodhouse, so Ill be doing impressions of her now..SSSSIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!

[tizaala]

An old washing up liquid bottle filled with water will squirt just as well, don't waste money on a "made in china" load of crap.

[Penninehillbilly]

You surprise me Mary, I thought you would say you could never do these things to your babies     

[omnipeasant]

I do a nice line in flicking their ears! Works on goats and tups just before they drop their head for a challenge. None of my current tups would dare but the old Hampshire Down was a menace.