How to Wash a Goat for a Show

When showing, it's important that your goat is as clean and presentable as possible. Because judges will be looking for a lustrous, clean coat, bathing your goat is essential for a successful outcome.

Things You'll Need

  • Chain
  • Bucket
  • Dawn dishwashing detergent, Mane 'n Tail shampoo or Johnson's Baby Shampoo
  • Sponge or washcloth
  • Bluing liquid, GoJo or Woolite
  • Blow-dryer
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Instructions

  1. Basic Bathing

    • 1

      Chain your goat to a tree or other stable structure that will let you bathe the goat without its escaping. Choose a day that's warm and sunny to keep your goat from getting cold.

    • 2

      Prepare a bucket of warm water. Mix into the bucket a soap that's intended specifically for goats, or one that's gentle enough to clean the goat but not strip away too many essential oils from its skin. Dawn, which is used to clean off animals after oil spills, is an example of a mild soap. Mane 'n Tail shampoo or Johnson's Baby Shampoo will also work.

    • 3

      Pour the mixture gently over the goat. Use a sponge or washcloth to rub the soapy water over the goat's coat and skin.

    • 4

      Refill the bucket with clean, warm water and rinse the goat. When the water runs clear, the goat is clean.

    Addressing Difficult Stains

    • 5

      Use a bluing liquid if there are hard-to-remove stains on your goat's coat. These stains are likely to cost you points in showing. A bluing liquid is typically used to make fabrics whiter or brighter and is a good tool to treat these stains.

    • 6

      Apply the bluing liquid for a short period of time, rub vigorously and rinse. It's crucial to remove it quickly; bluing liquid allowed to remain on the coat too long will turn it blue.

    • 7

      Consider specialty products. GoJo and Woolite can be used instead of a bluing liquid to remove stains. There are also specific whitening shampoos for goats and horses that are sold at retail pet shops.

    Drying

    • 8

      Allow the goat to dry naturally by letting it remain chained in the warmth of the sun. This method of drying, while natural and easy, takes the longest.

    • 9

      Use a handheld blow-dryer to dry the goat. Because it's faster than air-drying, the goat's coat will dry more quickly and it will have to spend less time being chained.

    • 10

      Use a blower/dryer specifically intended for drying the coats and skin of livestock if you want to do the best drying job. The Circuiteer II or Sullivan's Air Express are examples of blower/dryers of this type and will efficiently dry your goat's skin and coat.