How to Bathe a Goat

Goats are friendly, can produce good quality milk, and can even provide meat for people with the taste for chorizo. Owning a goat can be as hands-on as the owner chooses, and some goats are even show animals. Knowing how to groom a goat is important for the conscientious goat owner.

Things You'll Need

  • Bucket
  • Sponge
  • Animal shampoo
  • Water
  • Hose
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Instructions

  1. Bathing a goat

    • 1

      Prepare for the bath by mixing some shampoo in a bucket with some water and adding the sponge. Make sure you have a good supply of bubbles in the mix.

    • 2

      Place the hose close to where you will be bathing the goat and allow it to run. Putting a sprayer on the end of the hose can save water.

    • 3

      Halter the goat and lead it to the bathing area. You need to have a heavy duty post or other "snubbing" object to secure the goat to, as most goats will resist their first few baths. Tie the goat to the post, only allowing a few inches of play on the rope. The goat's head needs to be controlled so it does not attempt to "butt" you.

    • 4

      Wet the goat thoroughly with the hose, getting underneath the belly and all over. Most goat hair is oily, so making sure the entire goat is wet is important. Use the sponge to scrub the soap into the goat's fur. Add soap as needed to the water to thoroughly saturate as much of the hair as possible.

    • 5

      Rinse the goat until the water runs clear with no trace of bubbles. You may want to shampoo the goat again, but rinse the animal completely because dried soap can cause skin irritation. There is no need to condition the goat hair, as natural oils will take care of that in a few days.