New goat buddies

by winecountrydog

We've got new goat buddies! They live with our friend Leslie in Rogue Valley, in southwestern Oregon. You remember I told you about the nice Oregonian human who knows herbs and gardening? Leslie also takes care of goats, who in turn take care of the interesting and delicious weeds in her field.

Here's little Sweetie.


Sweetie is a Kiko goat, a New Zealand breed that was developed fur use as a "food animal." Kikos aren't dairy goats like the breeds at Redwood Hill Farm who make our favorite goat milk cheese and yogurt.

The three Kiko babies below are very special to Leslie. The one in front is Bosco. His nanny goat mom rejected him when he was born. Leslie had to figure out how to nurse him with formula in a bottle to keep him going. Then along came two more fur her to save.


The other two kids above are Sister and Little Guy. All three like each other and play together.

Below you see adult goats in the field, encircling two of the kids. Their trailer door makes a nice shady spot.


I'm told baby goats like horsing around. As a dog, I'm not sure exactly what this means. But I see that the kids like playing King of the Mountain on their trailer wheel well.


The goats have a nice garden patch. Undiscovered by them, thank dogness. You can figure that Leslie wouldn't want to have to make the garden all over again if it got eaten.


Leslie told us that the Kiko kids had been coming in her house. They were gonna eat it and everything else too! Apparently, goats have appetites less discriminating than we dogs.

You can learn a lot about Kiko goats at the educational American Kiko Goat Association website.

Photo credit: Leslie Pedrick

Local Redwood Hill Goats Make Good

I've got goats on my mind 'cuz July–August is Sonoma County Fair time. The goats from Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery in Sebastopol, California, show off their bah-eauty and charm every year at the fair.

Redwood Hill Alpine doe Jambalya was the 2007 ADGA Alpine National Champion! You can see her here with Jennifer Bice, the wonderful human in charge at Redwood Hill.

Redwood Hill makes lusicous, gourmet goat milk yogurt and kefir as well several kinds of delicious artisan cheese.

My dog-ma and I visited Redwood Hill and met some goats and the humans who work with them. Dog-ma went on the creamery tour while I took a nap.

Goats and dogs don't go on the creamery tour 'cuz we'd shed hair all over the place — which is beautifully clean, dog-ma sez. I did get to meet Jennifer Bice. She's very nice, as is her sister, Sharon Bice. Everybuddy there is nice. Dog-ma sez they take time to answer all your questions when you take a tour.

We also got to go to their Certified Humane dairy farm. (We'd found the tour schedule at Sonoma County Farm Trails.) Dog-ma ewed and ahhed over the sweet and happy goats while I went nutz over the earthy smells. My nose kept me so busy that I didn't even notice I was waiting for dog-ma. I must've counted about 300 goats of the breeds Alpine, LaMancha, Nubian, and Saanen!

Last summer, the goats were entertained by The Ditty Bops — a Western swing, ragtime, gypsy-jazz duo band from LA. Their performance got YouTubed.

Abby of The Ditty Bops introduced the band as she got ready to play "Wishful Thinking" outside the barn. She said: "We're here at Redwood Hill Farm with Trinity and her lovely group of goats. . . . We would really appreciate if you could, uh, limit your consumption of our garments till after the song."

The Ditty Bops also performed inside the big barn. In the following "Walk or Ride" vlog, two goats showed Amanda their interest in joining the band:



I really like Redwood Hill goat milk yogurt. As a dog, I don't eat dairy often, but my Ani Siamese adores the plain yogurt and has a spoonful frequently.

My dog-ma is understandably addicted to the artisan goat cheese and is furever reconsidering which is her favorite. Lately it's Camellia, their award-winning Camembert-style goat cheese. It's so soft, buttery, and delicious.

Humans are 'spozed to enjoy this wonderful cheese at room temperature, paired with sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Noir. But dog-ma's so crazy about Camellia that she often lacks the patience to pair it with anything.

For a dog like me, it wouldn't be too déclassé to lick good goat cheese off my paw, but I thought you humans avoided this practice.

Photo credits: RH Farm

Petaluma Sirius with LaLoo

Have you tried Lagunitas Sirius Ale with LaLoo's Deep Chocolate goat's milk ice cream? . . . No? Then you must've missed the Petaluma Art & Garden Festival.

The 2008 annual event in PETaluma was held on July 13th.

Big dog Baxter was there having a good time with Dolores.

Max was there.

His dog-mom was nice enough to carry his water bowl for him.

Sadie, posing here with her dad, Aaron, was so comfy in her stroller.

If my dog-ma had a stroller for me like this — one with a big bonnet to keep the sun out of my eyes — I could've gone all over the place!

See how blissed out Maggie May gets when her dog-mom, Ava, holds her.

Big dog (above) met big beer . . . and who knows what else.
Baxter met a beautiful little long-haired daschund (above). I understand why he really likes her.
Maggie May met Max (in photo above). . . . a match made in downtown PETaluma.
Dog-ma sez Caitlin, Mary Ryan, Amelia, and mom Alice (in photo above) are a study in design contrasts: paisley, polka dot, solid, and floral.

The whole afternoon at this "no pets" event was dogalicious. You might've missed it, but you don't have to wait till next year to try the local food at Tres Hombres, Pazzo, and other great places in PETaluma. You dogs can't have a table at most of them 'cuz they don't have outdoor seating, but you can ask your guardian/owners to get you a doggie bag.