If you’re a parent to a toddler who quickly figures out a way around the baby-proofing devices throughout your home, a savvy Mini Goat has captured our attention for doing the same with a goat’s version of baby-proofing: the gate to his pen. Anyone underestimating the intelligence of goats needs to watch this video just once to understand that goats are among the smartest animals around.

The video caught our attention on TikTok, where the Mini Goat can be seen breaking out of Goat jail—his enclosure—using only his mouth. The crafty Goat doesn’t see the gate’s lock as the end of his escape plan, but merely a stop along the way. Nothing stands between him and the other side of the gate as he methodically works the latch and frees himself.

Why Mini Goats Are Smarter Than You Think

Surprised viewers were quick to comment on the Goat’s nearly impossible mission. One wrote, “I didn’t know goats were this clever.” Another added, “He looks pleased with himself after achieving his goal.” Another noted, “At this point, he earned the freedom.” Fair point.

As much as we’d like to give this Mini Goat his flowers for ingenuity and escape techniques, he’s not entirely unique. Mini Goats are known for their intelligence, particularly their problem-solving skills. Smart and social, Goats can recognize human faces and can even be leash-trained.

It’s their inquisitive nature that gives Mini Goats the ability to figure out how to open gates and fences, often using their mouths to help facilitate an escape. The good news is that Mini Goats are highly intelligent and highly trainable. The bad news? They tend to see fences and gates as a challenge. Challenge accepted.

This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Feb 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.