Study says goats make fabulous pets — so Sun girl Antonella swaps her dog for a doe
Here's how she got on with her new furry friend
THE stubborn, dirty old goat, with a nose for stinking muck, may seem an odd choice as man’s best friend.
But they can form similar emotional bonds with humans as dogs can, a new study claims.
Researchers at Queen Mary University in London say this is because they have been domesticated for 10,000 years.
So we got Sun girl ANTONELLA LAZZERI, an avowed dog lover, to leave her Pomeranian pooch Pixie at home for the day and hang out with farm doe Catherine.
Catherine was laid on by farmer Craig Skidmore, in Hook, Hants, who joined Antonella on her day on the hoof.
Here’s how Antonella got on introducing Catherine to Pixie’s doggie treats such as walkies, catch, hugs and telly.
Having hugs
AS I leaned in for a hug, Catherine made her feelings clear.
Grabbing my dress in her teeth, she refused to let go.
Then, as I flapped, she chomped down harder and made a great big hole in it before retreating, victorious.
“Yes, I’m afraid goats really will eat anything if you let them,” grinned Craig.
And it puts a hole in the theory that goats make ideal pets.
Unless you don’t mind them shredding your best frock or trousers.
Going for a drive
WIND in her hair, sun in her eyes, my pooch Pixie loves to go for a drive with the top down in my Mini.
Heaving hefty Catherine into the back was a struggle but she seemed to enjoy the ride – taking in the view and, at one point, poking her snout around the headrest to nuzzle up.
Drinking a cuppa
PIXIE and I often enjoy a cuppa in the garden.
She sits sedately next to me as we bask in the sun.
But as soon as Catherine spied my tea, her hooves were up on the garden bench, her snout in my cup, and with a few slurps it was gone.
No airs and graces with Catherine.
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Playing fetch
“LOOK at this ball!” I said, holding it before her beautiful but scarily rectangular pupils, then I threw it and shouted: “Fetch!”
She trotted to where it landed, had a sniff – and began to eat it.
Same as my dress.
I then gave her a bone and she wolfed that down – nearly my hand too.
Time for TV
SNUGGLING on the sofa and watching TV with snacks is bliss with a fluffy lapdog.
“Sit!” I told Catherine – but she shaped to butt me.
Craig said: “You can train goats to respond to commands but one thing they won’t do is sit, unless they want to.
“They can be stubborn.”
I settled for cuddling Catherine while she stood but trying to watch TV through her horns was hard.
'Sit!' I told Catherine – but she shaped to butt me
We surfed the channels but all she liked was CBeebies.
Pixie waits patiently for treats but, when I produced a bag of crisps, Catherine shoved in her snout and scoffed the lot.
“Greedy cow!” I thought.
Catherine stood her ground and stared, with those dangerous eyes.
The horns twitched – and we decided that was enough TV.
Taking a walk
I SLIPPED Pixie’s pink lead on to Catherine’s neck and all seemed dandy until she saw a juicy grass verge and bolted.
“Be firm!” said Craig.
“I am!" I yelled back, as Catherine nearly took my arm off.
It turns out goats hate being told what to do – so I was shown a set of hooves.