Baby Goats and a BIG Dog… Just Too Cute to Ignore

Baby goat photo by Curtis Mekemson.

I don’t normally ooh and ah over babies, but this kid is one cute dude. Oops, make that a dudette. She is as soft as she looks.

Peggy and I were still unpacking from our Sacramento-Reno trip when our neighbor Jim came zipping down our driveway on his ATV. Jim’s a big guy, and gruff, as in Billy Goat Gruff. But he loves animals and is a super neighbor.

He owns four very large Anatolian Shepherd dogs that weigh up to 150 pounds each and have a bark guaranteed to wake you from a deep sleep. There’s the bear bark, the deer bark and the ‘what the heck’ bark. In the morning they often perform like a barbershop quartet, howling in harmony. All of the other neighborhood dogs join in.

Anatolian Shepherds

Two of Jim’s Anatolians, Griz and Omni.

Jim was excited. One of his nanny goats had given birth to twins the week before, when we were gone. The other nanny had a pair of kids the night before. They were less than a day old. The elder Anatolian, Boy, had adopted the baby goats. Jim wanted us to come and see them– at once. I am surprised he didn’t whip out cigars. Given it was almost dark and we had driven all day, we opted out.But we promised we would be over the next day to admire his brood of Boer goats. I think you’ll agree; the visit was worth it.

Mother goat and kids. Photo by Curtis Mekemson.

Mom and day old kids.

Baby goat.

This little tyke with his droopy look reminds me of Eeyore.

Photo of a baby goat by Curtis Mekemson.

Here’s trouble.

Anatolian shepherd dog and baby goat. Photo by Curtis Mekemson.

“Hi there shorty.” Anatolian Shepherds were originally bred to protect herds from large predators that lived in central Turkey. They have a fearsome reputation. Boy, has adopted the baby goats as part of his herd. He hardly seems ferocious. In fact he cleans their butts. What a dad!

Anatolian Shepherd dog and baby goat.

“And where do you think you are going?” The baby goats have determined that Boy’s boyhood reminds them of Mom’s udders. Boy is quick to retreat.

Standoff between 150 pound Anatolian Shepherd and baby goat. Photo by Curtis Mekemson.

And is rewarded with a ” Baaaad dog!” for his lack of cooperation. Have you ever seen a dog look more unhappy?

"Stop hassling the big doggie, dear."

“Stop hassling the big doggie, dear.”

Baby goats line up for Mom's milk. Photo by Curtis Mekemson.

Modeling good behavior, the one week olds line up for an afternoon snack. 

Baby goats preparing to nap. Photo by Curtis Mekemson.

Having had their snack, it is now time for their afternoon nap.

NEXT BLOG: Sacramento’s wild American River Parkway– a community treasure. I’ll conclude this post with a final photo of one of the baby goats snuggling down in the sunshine.

Baby goat sleeping. Photo by Curtis Mekemson.

37 thoughts on “Baby Goats and a BIG Dog… Just Too Cute to Ignore

  1. I follow a fellow in Virginia who raises this sort of goats. I’m sure they’re the same breed as these – all of them are terminally cute. He had a big dog who shepherded them around, but unfortunately the big fella has passed on. He names his for musicians. The goat Emmylou’s named after Emmylou Harris, and so on.

    The photo of mama and the day-old kids is precious – also the two that follow. I love their ears, flapping around in the breeze.

    • Another one of the dogs, the big white one named Omni, has also taken over herding responsibilities with the babies. And Omni doesn’t like anybody, very much. It is amazing to watch.

      Have you ever watched sheep dog trials, Linda. I’ve watched them a couple of times in New Zealand. What the dogs can do seems just short of brilliant.

  2. Aww man, Curt. I’m a total sucker for baby animals and these must be the cutest little goats I’ve ever seen – ears and all. When I left for college, my Mom (who was “no-nonsense” when it came to allowing animals in the house) adopted an injured, orphaned baby goat and kept it inside for a few weeks until it could get back on its feet. She even put a diaper on it. My younger sisters were in shock and took total delight in this change of attitude. I think she would have fallen for these little guys, too. 🙂 ~Terri

    • Cute’s the right word for it Terri. My dad was the same way about pets as your mom when I was growing up, but when he retired he became owned by a cocker spaniel and the two of them were inseparable.:) –Curt

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