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What is it about goats that make people feel goofy? Maybe it’s the deadpan stare that the goat lays on you while it chews on something. While it’s chewing on your laundry basket, maybe. Or a tennis shoe. Goats are notorious for eating just about anything, and being very stubborn about it.

If you’ve ever visited a petting zoo, you’ve probably seen a goat getting a little bit pushy. That’s pretty typical goat behavior.

Even though they seem rooted in the earth when they are exhibiting their goat-like behavior, goats are actually quite agile. Mountain goats are able to leap from rock to crevice without a moment of doubt. When they land, their front feet remain quite close together. You see, their hooves are designed to absorb the shock of landing on the rocks after a long leap. The inner layer of the hoof is called subunguis layer, and it is softer than the outer layer called the unguis layer. When the goat lands on the hoof, the subunguis layer absorbs the shock, and then wears away, helping to form a sharp outer edge on the hoof.

While frolicking in the mountains, goats feed on branches and leaves of shrubbery. Goats who live in the pasture eat grass and lowland greens. If you were to own a goat, you would feed it alfalfa hay and a bit of grain. Farmers may feed them fruits, vegetables leaves and bread. Goats must not eat bulb plants, onions or house plants. If you keep a goat and notice that it is chewing on the fence or other non-food items, it is suggested to add appropriate minerals to its diet. Some farmers put up a salt lick to provide the necessary elements.

You might not know it, but goats are actually incredibly intelligent. Their I.Q. can reach a level of 60 on the human scale. They are able to recognize their names distinctly, and can be taught to shake hands and give kisses. However, their intelligence can materialize in a very stubborn streak which may explain their reputation as being little bullies. They know what they want, and they can usually figure out how to get it!

The male goats, or bucks, grow upright horns and beards. If kept in captivity, it is recommended to have their horns removed when they are young, because they will use them aggressively. Buck also emit a strong odor during mating season– another way of announcing their presence.

Female goats, called does, are a bit easier to get along with. Some does have been known to nurture others within the herd. And did you know that caring for other members of one’s herd is a sign of intelligence? Does are capable of providing a very decent amount of milk considering their size. In fact, more goat’s milk is consumed world-wide that cow’s milk. Humans can digest goat’s milk more easily than cows’ milk, and it is used for making delicious cheese.

So profound was the goat’s influence on ancient cultures that people revered goat gods. In ancient Greece, the god Pan was symbolized by a creature called a satyr that was half-human and half-goat. He was a clever, whimsical and tricky character who was often portrayed blowing on pipes made of reeds. Capricorn is the sign of the zodiac that is closely related to the goat. Ancients believed that the constellation Capricornus was the gateway of the gods– a place where human souls passed when they died. They related it also to the sea-goat, a mythological creature that was half-goat and half-fish. Who knows, really, what the ancients were thinking as they gazed into the night sky; but we can be certain that during the day they valued the goats who provided milk and meat for them. All the while maintaining their distinctly goaty personalities, of course.