Goats are sweet, quirky, and entertaining pets. Keeping goats makes sense from an economic perspective if you live on a farm.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets can provide you with tasty milk and can be used as mop-up animals to consume weeds in overgrown pastures, among many other uses.
But if you keep them as pets, how do you choose which one to get? There are about 15 different goat breeds to keep as pets.
This article will describe the characteristics of each one so that you can decide which pet goat is right for you!
1. Pygmy
Pygmy goats are the smallest breed to Keep as pets, typically standing only 18-24 inches at the shoulder.
They come in various colors and patterns, including black, white, brown, and mixed breeds. Pygmies also go in there horned or polled varieties.
This is a good option if you live in a hot climate where most other goat breeds might overheat. It is also an ideal goat if you have limited space to provide pasture for your goats.
Pygmy goats are easy to train and are intelligent animals that can be taught tricks and trained easily, making excellent pets.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets may not produce as much milk as larger breeds, but they will still provide your family with delicious goat cheese!
2. Mini Alpines
Mini Alpines are a well-known goat breed, originally from the Swiss Alps. These Goat Breeds to Keep as Pets are small, with females weighing between 60 and 80 pounds and males weighing 75 and 110 pounds.
Mini Alpines are brownish-grey, with black markings on their heads that resemble eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are often used for dairy or meat production due to their high butterfat content in milk and lean meat. However, they also make good pets because of their friendly temperament.
3. Nigerian Dwarf
Nigerian Dwarf Goats are one of the most popular breeds of pet goats. These Goat Breeds to Keep as Pets are often small, friendly, and easygoing. You can find them in many colors, but the most common is white with either brown or black spots.
Nigerian Dwarves are said to be the friendliest goat breed, so they’re a good choice for beginners.
As long as you have enough space for them, don’t mind the high milk production (which is more than twice that of other breeds), and enjoy spending a lot of time with goats; they’re an excellent pet choice! They’re also great pets for children, making them perfect for homeschooling families.
4. Mini Myotonics
Mini Myotonics (Mini Fainting Goats) is a smaller goat breed originating in the Mediterranean Islands. These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are also called fainting goats because they tend to faint when startled or stressed.
In addition, these goats do not produce much milk, so they would make great pets for those with allergies or lactose intolerance.
Mini Myotonics are also one of the more popular breeds of goats due to their small size and appeal. Not only are they easy to handle, but they will usually eat anything you give them without complaining too loudly.
5. Miniature Silky Fainting Goats
Miniature Silky Fainting Goats are a medium-sized goat breed originating in the United States. The Miniature Silky Fainting Goat is one of the most popular breeds in this country. These goats grow about 20 inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh up to 25 pounds when fully grown.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are known for their long, silky hair, which they can shed year-round or seasonally depending on climate conditions.
Their hair is naturally white but can also be black or brown if bred with other colors of goats.
Miniature Silky Fainting Goats are usually gentle and easygoing animals that enjoy being around people and live well with children and other pets in the household.
6. Mini Toggenburgs
Mini Toggenburgs are a medium-sized goat breed that originated in Switzerland. They have smooth and shiny coats, and they come in colors such as black, brown, white, and dark brown.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are known for being good milk producers. Mini Toggs are usually born at 25lbs and can reach 75lbs full grown.
Toggenburgs were originally bred in the canton of Toggenburg, Switzerland. The breed has been exported to many other countries, including the United States, where it is considered rare outside New England states like Maine and Vermont.
In the early 1900s, Toggenburg goats were used by Russian farmers to produce cheese, but they did not do well with extremely cold weather.
7. Mini Lamanchas
Mini Lamanchas are one of the most popular goat breeds. These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are playful, intelligent, and excellent pets for children. However, they require a lot of attention and love from their owners.
One way you can take care of this breed is by giving them plenty of space outside to run around in grassy areas. Mini Lamanchas are also very social animals that enjoy spending time with other goats or people!
If you do not have Goat Breeds to Keep as pets at home already, it’s best to get two so they can spend time together. The breed was first bred in California, which makes it perfect for sunny climates such as Florida and California.
8. Nubian Dwarf Goats or Mini Nubians
The Nubian Dwarf goat, also known as the Mini Nubian, is among the smaller Goat Breeds to Keep as a Pet that originated in India. They are known for their long, floppy ears and their ability to live on poor-quality food sources.
However, the average lifespan of these goats is 10-12 years, and they are very easy to take care of.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets usually weigh between 40-70 pounds and stand about 18 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Nubians are gentle creatures that enjoy being around people and often act more like dogs than goats. So, if you’re looking for an easier type of goat to have as a pet, this may be the right choice for you!
9. Mini Saanen
A Mini Saanen is an easy goat breed to keep as a pet. This breed is known for its gentle, docile temperament and small size.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets typically don’t grow taller than 36 inches and are a great choice for someone living in a city or with limited space.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets have the sweetest faces imaginable, and their fur is short and fine, making it very easy to take care of them.
Mini Saanen does not require special diet requirements, though you should ensure they always have access to clean water.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are also very independent animals that are low maintenance and easy on your budget!
You can find Mini Saanens at almost any local animal shelter and, of course, from reputable breeders. If you want to know more about goats, check out our latest goat blog post!
10. Mini Oberhasli
The Oberhasli goat breed is a Swiss mountain goat that originated in the Oberhasli region of Switzerland and was originally used for milk and meat. The Oberhasli is a medium-sized breed with strong, muscular legs and well-rounded udders.
In addition, these goat breeds to keep as pets have a high tolerance for cold weather and need little supplementary feed, making them an excellent choice for those living in harsh winters.
A very old breed, the Oberhasli goat first appeared in the 18th century after being crossbred with other types of goats.
The name Oberhalsi comes from the Swiss Alps, where this unique breed was created by crossing indigenous animals with imported varieties from France.
11. Mini Guernseys
Mini Guernseys are small, strong goats that produce much milk for their size. These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are great for dairy producers who want to increase the number of goats without taking up more space.
In addition, mini Guernseys require less feed and space than other breeds, making them ideal for backyard dairy producers.
Guernsey goats were originally bred in Cornwall, England, and it is said that they were named after the Marquis of Waterford’s estate in Guernsey, where they were first exported. This breed is found worldwide and can be used for meat and dairy production.
The miniature version of this goat has been around since 1839 when an Englishman discovered some tiny goat kids on his property from a previous mating.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets have also been called Dwarf Guernseys because of their smaller size.
12. Kinder
Kinder goats are small, active, and easygoing. These Goat Breeds to Keep as Pets are a good choice for anyone with space constraints or looking for a pet that will not require grooming.
Kinder goats are a great choice for people who live in urban areas because they do not produce manure. In addition, they have been bred specifically to be docile toward humans.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets originated in southern France and were used primarily as pack animals.
The Kinder goat is the smallest breed on this list, with an average height of 10 – 14 inches (25 – 36 cm).
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets originate from the South of France, where they were mainly used as pack animals.
The kids (baby goats) born to a kinder goat mother are usually smaller than other breeds, weighing only 2 pounds at birth, making them easier for some people to handle.
13. Pygora
Pygora goats are a crossbreed of Pygmy and Angora goats. These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets were created in the 1980s to combine the best qualities of both breeds, namely hardiness and high-quality fleece.
Pygoras are typically bred for their fleece, which is similar in texture to human hair. Their fur can also be combed and spun into yarn or roving (a short piece of wool).
Pygoras come in many colors, but their coats all have a silky texture. These make good pets because they don’t require much space, are fairly easy to care for, and produce great wool.
14. Boer
A Boer goat is a large meat goat breed that originated in South Africa. Boers are generally brown with white markings but can be all-black or all-white.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets stand about 2 feet taller than an average dairy goat and weigh over 120 pounds.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets have thick coats and vital constituents, making them great for cold climates.
Boer goats are docile animals that make great pets for families with children old enough to handle livestock animals responsibly.
However, they prefer being kept with other goats of their kind, so they must be purchased in groups of two or more.
15. Nigora
Nigora goats are small and stocky, with black heads and legs. These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets have a white body coat with black markings on their face, ears, and legs. They are a rare breed of goat raised primarily in the United States.
The Nigora was developed in the early 1990s by crossing Nubian goats with Angoras. The offspring were then crossed back to Nubians for over twenty years until achieving the Nigora breed we know today.
These Goat Breeds to Keep as pets are bred for their fur, which has been described as one of the world’s softest fibers.
