Trick Farm Animals

I came home yesterday and Kris was just bringing the goats back to the pen after taking them on their afternoon grazing walk. She marched into the pen and the goats followed obediently. In order to keep the goats from dawdling at the gate or just outside the pen, we feed them when they return. I followed Kris and the goats into the barn. She opened the pens one at a time and called the out the name of the goat she wanted and they came forward in turn and went in their pens.
"Pretty handy that the goats know their names and come when you call them." I observed. Kris smiled and kept sorting goats until everyone was in their proper pen for feeding, then went out and grabbed some hay and put in their feeders.

I was making over the dog and she jumped up on me. "Down," I said firmly, pleased that I remembered not to say her name when she does unwanted behavior and how I was firm without being scolding.
"Off, you mean," pointed out Kris to her somewhat deficient assistant trainer. "Down is the command to lie down."
"Oh, yeah, right." I mumbled, now chagrined by my lack of consistency.
As it turns out the slowest learner in the barnyard is the assistant trainer.

While the goats were eating, Kris filled the dog pan and brought it back to the pen. "Watch how well she is doing with WAIT," and she had Rosie sit and told her to "WAIT". She sat the pan a few feet from Rosie and the dog sat obediently until Kris told her to "TAKE IT" after which Rosie got up, tail wagging, and began to eat her food.
"She's doing awesome," I said.
We watched the dog eat and I enquired how Rosie had been out with the goats grazing. For the first few days, she had started out ranging quite a ways and just checking occasionally on the herd. We were bothered by the length of the absences. When she came back, we acted like we were pleased, gave her treats and told her what a good girl she was. After the longer absences Rosie always came back sheepishly. It was pretty obvious someone had gotten after Rosie for running off. We just kept praising her when she came back. Each day, both the quantity and duration of absences diminished. Hence my question on how she had been.

"She is doing wonderfully. She stays much closer. When I sit and let the goats graze, she lays at my feet sometimes."

Wow, this was a big improvement. I was afraid as Rosie became more comfortable, her walks might increase in duration and distance. As it turns out, she is very eager to please and has responded by staying closer.

Soon Rosie had finished her dog food and Kris let the goats out of their pens. The goats drifted out of the barn and Kris said "Hey watch this." Static was standing in front of her. "SHAKE Static" and Kris bent over and held out her hand. Static offered her front leg and Kris shook it. All smiles, Kris looked over at me and said "there's more." Quick Stop was off to the side and Kris looked at her and held her hand just over her head and said "Sit". After a couple of tries, Quick stop lowered her hind end. She didn't quite sit, but it won't be long.

"Wow, that's incredible."
"Oh, there's more!" Kris took a piece of corn out of her jacket pocket and went over to Zara and said "STAND Zara." Zara went up on her hind legs and reached way up and took the treat.
"Holy cow!" I was running out of amazed comments and would soon have to start repeating them if she came up with more tricks. Fortunately that was the last trick.
"How long have you been working on the goat tricks?"
"Just today."
"Wow, that's incredible." I reused my favorite amazed comment, what the heck.

I can almost envision a trick farm animal show for children's birthdays. I am sure Kris can teach the chickens something. They come when she calls now. We could have a thriving business on weekends doing amazing farm animal shows. I see it all clearly in my mind accept for the part where her assistant comes out in glittered spandex tights. I'm having trouble with that.