How To Train Goats On Electric Fence
Learning how to train goats on electric fence is an important part of keeping your herd safely where they belong. Goats are curious, determined, and sometimes a little too interested in what is on the other side of the fence.
No matter which goat fence ideas you choose for your pasture, training is an important first step. These practical tips will help you teach both young kids and adult goats to respect an electric fence and stay safely inside.
Quick Answer: How Do You Train Goats on an Electric Fence?
Training goats on an electric fence is really about letting them learn what the fence does on their own. Give them time to explore the pasture while you stay close and watch. Eventually, curiosity will take over and one will get a quick zap. That is usually all it takes for a goat to realize the fence is something to stay away from.
Never force the lesson; let it happen naturally, and give younger goats a chance to learn from the older does as well.
I remember the very first year I had goats. One of the things that scared me most was training them on the electric fence that first time out.
Especially with my young kids, I really wasn’t sure how to do it. I pretty much guessed, hoped for the best, and learned as I went. Thankfully, everyone made it through just fine that first year, although we definitely had a couple of close calls along the way.
After 11+ seasons of raising kids and bringing new goats into our herd, I learned a much easier way to handle fence training.
One of the best things I learned was to train younger kids alongside older, experienced does. Goats learn a lot by watching the herd, and when the younger kids see their mothers keeping their distance from the fence, they will often follow their lead.
That experience has made training new goats much easier and far less stressful than it was that very first year.
Before You Train Goats on an Electric Fence
Before we get into the step-by-step training, let’s talk about a few things to know and do before you begin.
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Have Help
The most important tip I can give is not to do this alone. It takes two people to train goats on electric goat fencing, especially if this is your first time. Try to enlist a friend, spouse, or one of your kids to help out.
The reason why is to ensure that none of your goat kids try to run through the fence, risking getting tangled up and receiving a constant zap. The more eyes you have watching your herd, the less stressful it will be for everyone involved.
Pay Attention
When a goat gets zapped on a fence, it’s their nose that usually gets the “hit” first. This is actually what you want to happen since goats tend to investigate new things with their noses.
More often than not, when a goat gets a zap on the nose, they will jump back and run the opposite way (yelling the whole time!). However, there are a few goats, especially young goat kids, that panic and run FORWARD through the fence.
If you use fence netting, there is a chance that they can get stuck in the opening of the netting, continually getting zapped until they can pull free.
This is where having an extra person is crucial. Stage your helper next to the power so during training, if there is an issue, that person can shut things off quickly so you can go and untangle your goat if needed.
The Nose Is Usually Where It’s At
Goats are curious, especially young kids, and they tend to investigate just about everything with their noses first.
If a goat brushes against the fence with another part of its body and doesn’t seem to notice much, don’t worry. Give them time to explore and figure things out naturally. Eventually, curiosity usually wins, and they will get close enough to understand what that fence does.
Read: Goat Fencing 101 for other fencing options.
Not Everyone Needs to Get Zapped
Not all goats need to be zapped. If you have a follower goat that is timid and shy, then you do not necessarily need them to experience the fence firsthand to train them.
Those goats will often stay back with the herd, following their lead.
There have been many years when just one of my goat kids got zapped and the rest learned from that.
The Stubborn Goats
Stubborn goats may need more than one zap. Some goats may even require several before they get the point.
I had a few goats over the years that needed more convincing than the others. Give them time and continue to supervise while they figure things out. The goal isn’t to repeatedly shock a goat, but to give them the opportunity to learn that the fence is something they need to respect.
Keep Your Fence Line Clear
Always keep your fence line trimmed and neat so the current can run effectively. I cannot stress enough the importance of this. Have this chore on your monthly to-do list to ensure your fence doesn’t lose current because of weeds and vegetation touching it.
Remember, a good fence isn’t just about keeping your livestock in. It can also help discourage unwanted animals from entering your pasture.
Having good pasture management and a secure, effective fence work hand in hand at keeping your herd safe.
Let the Zap Happen
This is probably the hardest part of training, especially if you are new to raising goats. For your goats to understand what the electric fence does, they need to experience a zap for themselves.
As hard as it can be to watch, this is an important part of the training. Your goat needs to make the connection between getting too close to the fence and the zap that follows. Once they understand that connection, they can learn to respect the fence and stay away from it.
Do Not Force it
Never EVER force a goat to get zapped. I know some owners carry their goats to the fence and intentionally touch their noses to it. This is not how I train my goats.
Instead, let them approach the fence naturally and learn on their own terms. Be patient and give them time to investigate.
The goal is for your goats to learn to respect the fence on their own, without you forcing the lesson.
How to train your goats on an electric fence
Okay, let’s break this down into steps to help both you and your herd get through this process with the least amount of trauma.
Step #1 Always have at least two people
As I said before, this is a tip I learned the hard way. Have your extra person stand near the electric source or solar box so they can quickly shut off the current if any of your goats get stuck in the fence.
The goal here is to train your goats, not hurt them.
Step #2 Let the goats out
You can either do this one by one or in a group. I prefer training in a group. Since goats learn by example, seeing other herd members get shocked is usually enough to keep them all away.
As long as you have enough eyes to watch everyone, I encourage you to train as a group.
Step #3 Give them time to explore
It is important that you do not rush the training.
Let your goats take their time and check everything out.
Goats are very curious animals, and it usually will not take long for them to “test” the fence. Just sit and let them decide when they want to come closer to inspect it.
As they approach the fence, do not stop them. Your goal is to teach your goats to respect the fence, and to do that, they need the opportunity to experience what happens when they get too close.
Step #4 Let the “zap” happen
If you are new to animals, this can be easier said than done.
Watching your goats get zapped is never enjoyable, but this is a crucial step in teaching them to respect the fence. When they experience that zap for themselves, they begin to understand that the fence is something they need to stay away from.
I have been zapped many, MANY times myself (more than I care to admit), and yes, it definitely stings. That firsthand experience is also why I understand how hard it can be to stand back and let your goats learn this lesson on their own.
Step #5 Once isn’t always enough
I had a goat once that could not stay away from the fence. I swear she truly believed the grass was greener on the other side. I think she was zapped four times before she finally understood to stay away from that fence.
But you know something?
I never EVER had that goat break out of our pasture. She was well-trained and understood the fence was something to stay away from.
Step #6. Test Their Training
Once your goats have had a chance to learn about the fence, it is time to see if the lesson stuck.
I would stand on the outside of the fence while my husband stayed near the power source. The kids would naturally want to come over to me, giving us a chance to see if they respected the fence.
If they got too close and received another zap, my husband was right there and ready to shut off the power if one panicked, ran the wrong way, or got caught in the netting.
This gave us a good way to test their training while still keeping a close eye on everyone.
Step #7 When the electric fence netting doesn’t work
Sometimes you may have a goat that just will not respect an electric fence, no matter how much training you do.
If that happens, your first option may be to try a different type of fencing or set up a more secure area for that particular goat. What works for most of your herd may not work for every single goat.
This is important because if one goat figures out how to get through your fence, there is a good chance others in the herd will eventually follow.
If you have tried different options and one goat continues to break out repeatedly, you may need to consider separate housing or, as a last resort, finding that goat a new home.
The safety of your herd should always come first. Sometimes that means admitting that the fencing setup you have simply isn’t the right fit for one particular goat.
Step #8 Repeat each spring
If you live in an area with four full seasons like we do, your goats may spend much of the winter away from their electric fencing.
When you turn your herd back out to pasture in the spring, take some time to watch them and see if anyone needs a refresher.
I have found that my older goats tend to remember the fence year after year. The younger goats, however, sometimes need a little reminder come spring. Usually, once they experience that first zap again, they remember pretty quickly what the fence is all about.
Treat that first day back on pasture much like you did the original training. Stay nearby, have someone ready at the power source, and give your goats time to get reacquainted with the fence.
Give Your Goats Time to Learn
Give Your Goats Time to Learn
Training goats on an electric fence can feel a little nerve-racking the first time you do it, especially when you know that eventually one of them is going to get zapped.
Give them time, stay close, and let them learn what the fence does naturally. Some goats will catch on right away, while others may need a little more convincing.
Once your herd understands and respects the fence, you can feel more confident turning them out to graze, knowing they have learned where their boundaries are.
And after doing this for more than 11 seasons, I can tell you that the first time is definitely the hardest. Once you know what to expect and what to watch for, the entire process gets much easier.
FAQs About Training Goats on Electric Fencing
Most goats catch on pretty quickly, but every goat is different. Some may understand after one zap, while others may test the fence a few times before they finally get the message. Plan to stay nearby and supervise until you are confident your goats understand and respect the fence.
No. Goats learn a lot by watching the rest of the herd. I have had years when one of my goat kids got zapped and the others learned simply by watching what happened. Timid goats and followers may never need to test the fence themselves.
Yes, but young kids need close supervision when they are first learning. I prefer to train kids alongside their mothers and other experienced goats so they can learn from the herd. Always have another person nearby who can quickly shut off the power if a young goat panics, runs forward, or becomes tangled in electric netting.
Hi thanks for the great post! I am looking to purchase similar fencing, do you recall the brand you use?
Hi, Kim!
I use Permier1 Fencing that you can find on Amazon or at their website (which is where I purchase it from) that you can reach HERE.
I hope this helps!
Tracy Lynn
I know this is an older post, but still very helpful. I’ve got 4 baby goats (10 months old, so not really babies lol) and 2 older does. One of my older does constantly tries testing the fence. Her goal every day, I think, is “How can I get out of wherever she puts me all I can drive the mistress (me) crazy!!
I do not have the electric netting. I just have the wide white horse electric fencing tape. How many strands do you suggest I use, and at what heights? My goats are Nigerian Dwarf, so they’re a small breed.
Thank you.
Lisa Scott
Almost Heaven Homestead
Wayne County WV
Hi, Lisa!
Our lowest strand is about 11 inches from the ground, and that worked fine with our Nubians when they were young. The bad news is, trimming the grass below was a bit difficult. It’s a give or take and one to keep in mind.
I have found that it just takes one zap to deter most goats. There is always that one that needs a bit more reinforcement.
Tracy Lynn
Clearly this is for the moveable netting fencing, and not the smooth wire permanent electric fence. I know that goats are far more prone to try to get out of a fenced area, but when I had cows, the entire place was electric fenced, with 3 separate pastures, all electric. When I would open a new pasture, the cows would all walk the fenceline, just once, and then they would kick and buck for the new grass, but would not test the fence or try to get out (probably as they ate better and more than I did!!)
I don’t think it would be necessary if you have the permanent fencing, as animals can sense the hot wire and won’t try to escape. At least my cows didn’t for the most part.
I did have cows I pastured for friends, that would escape. One particular cow with calf actually had to be put down as she got out and terrorized the neighbors and after an all nighter trying to get her back (the calf actually did come back) they had to shoot her…very sad.
Yes, I do believe cows are different whereas goats will do anything they can to get on the other side of any fence. They can easily jump and clear a 5′ fence without thinking twice. I have my goats in electric net fencing and pasture permanent fencing as well, we do have our lowest strand closer to the grass to keep our smaller goats inside.
Sorry to hear about the cow and calf…how sad!
TracyLynn