1. Aren’t goats stinky and messy?
   No.  Not pack goats. 
   Pack goats have little odor, typically less than a family dog, because pack goats are almost always “wethered” (castrated) males.  However, the stinky goats you’ve heard about are non-wethered males who do develop offensive odors certain times of the year.   Non-wethered males are almost never used for hiking for many reasons.
   
   
2. Aren’t goats rowdy and destructive?
   No.  Not trained pack goats. 
   Pack goats are trained how to behave in domestic ways and obey commands.  Also, they have been “imprinted” by special techniques since the moment of birth to crave human approval and affection, and in turn they are typically more loyal and affectionate than a family dog.   However, un-wethered males, who are almost never used in goat packing, might be different story when around does.
   
   
3. Won’t goats eat cans, keys and hiking gear?
   No.  Not trained pack goats. 
   Pack goats have been trained to respect human possessions and to obey commands to “leave that alone.”  Goats are natural browsers, and they crave variety in their foods.  Their DNA forces them to constantly keep searching for and evaluating new items to eat.  When well cared-for pack goats are under the care of knowledgeable keepers, the browsing impulse is satisfied without eating your “stuff.”
   
   
4. Aren’t goats unruly?
   No.  Not trained pack goats. 
   Pack goats have been trained to understand that there are some things they cannot do and to respect human “space.”   If properly trained, they are about as unruly as a well-parented 3-year old child.  Well trained pack goats understand commands such as No, Get Back, Get Down, Wait, Come On, and Help Me (hike up this steep incline).  If you leave any goat unsupervised, un-tethered, hungry and in new territory, its curiosity and hunger will drive it to do things about as unruly as a well-parented 3-year old human would under similar circumstances.  Good pack goat owners, like good parents, have learned to never let that happen ( J ).
   
   
5. Won’t goats butt my family with those horns?
   No.  Not trained pack goats. 
   Pack goats have been trained not to brandish their horns to humans and not to butt humans.  Goats are keenly aware of their horns.  They know exactly where the tips of their horns are every instant.  When necessary, they are skillful at using their horns to untie hay bales, pry open food boxes, or defend against attackers.  They know how to help you avoid getting hit by a horn.  However, they need your help.  You should never suddenly place any portion of your body within a foot or two behind their head.  Don’t ever run with scissors, and don’t ever place delicate things behind a goat’s horns.  Never grab a pack goat’s horns or push against its forehead while you and he are hugging and ‘noogling’, and you’ll both be fine.
   
   
6. Won’t goats run away?
   No.  Not trained pack goats. 
   Pack goats, in fact most domesticated goats, are so intensely wired to humans that they are afraid to be without a human.  That is because goats are surprisingly hierarchical socially, they want to follow the “head goat” of the herd, and imprinted/trained pack goats consider just about any adult human as a superior member of the herd.  It’s not conscious goat behavior.  It’s in their DNA as involuntary behavior.  Pack goats almost never have to be leashed, and certainly less often than most family dogs.
   
7. How much can a pack goat pack?
   Roughly what a human can carry in a backpack. 
   Or...20% to 25% of its body weight, or about 10 pounds per year of age for youngsters.  That translates to about 25-75 pounds depending on the goat's age, size, training, weather, the terrain, and how the goat feels that day.  (Hey...me too!).
   
8. What items can a pack goat carry?
   Anything you can...and more.
   Pack goats have carried picnic lunches, tents, sleeping bags, food, firewood, delicate electronic gear, 20ft culverts, beer on ice, fine wine, quartered big game, live pets, and  absolutely delighted children.  Or nothing at all.  Yep, nothing.  Pack goats are bred to hike.  They are hiking machines!  They undergo bootcamp trail-training.  And since they have mountain-goat DNA in them, they love to play on rocks and cliffs (that's why they're called "kids").

Disclaimer: 

These descriptions of pack goats are generally accurate.  However, as with any well-parented 3-year old human, a pack goat can react defensively or unpredictably if startled, stressed or threatened.  Pack goat owners will provide a few simple introductory guidelines for adults and children to follow, and that should keep every one and the goats happy and safe.  We believe pack goats are safer and better behaved than pack horses, and more loyal, loving and odor-free than family dogs.  That is why we adore pack goats.  You will too.