I am thinking of getting a pair of pigmy goat kids but am worried about the practicalities.  Any experts out there?  I have a reasonably big garden and know I'll have to fence some off to keep them secure.  I was told that a 4' fence would be fine but someone else told me that they'll jump over and will even climb on each other to get out!
I would really like them but don't want to start world war 3 with the neighbours if the goats end up in their gardens (or climbing on cars which is another horror story I was told!)

Any advice please?

The Smallholding site is quite a good one and they have some information here on keeping goats, including the Pygmy

Goats are agricultural animals and need to be registered with Defra.  You'll also need a County Parish Holding number.

Here is an anecdotal account of keeping Pygmy Goats

A relative of mine looked into it - then decided against :)

Plenty of experience with goats although not pygmy ones. I raised my son on goats milk and always had one or two about although they have caused more hassle with neighbours (my *next door* neighbour lives a mile up the road) than any of my other 20 odd animals. I LOVE goats but they are very hard to keep in and eat virtually everything.

They are also quite noisy. A neighbour had to rehome hers as they woke the whole estate up every morning :)
I think they are great though :)

I've also had problems with neighbours, not through noise, but smell (although I do think this particular neighbour is particularly sensitive and I have an ongoing dispute with him and hedges - another story!). My 2 are 12 years old now and as much as I love them, I won't be having any more unless I move to the back of beyond with no neighbours. And the whole defra thing is such a palaver.

Mine are contained in a small fenced-off area in my back garden, which is fenced with a 4ft fence, they've never got over that, although they have managed to butt the panels off a gate and got through that - it's now suitably reinforced.

ETA: Another point is that the girls tend to be noisier than wethers (castrated boys), especially when coming into season as they call for mates!

My friend had two who she loved very much and cared for them extremely well ( they were cleaned out everyday ) . However her neighbours complained constantly about the smell and the noise. They reported her to the local council and after quite a fight she did have to give them back to the farm where they come from . Her two daughters were devastated , but at least she knows they are cared for at the farm and can visit them when they want.
If it were me I would think what the neighbours will think , as my friend said her neighbours were great until she got the goats , there are still bad feelings between them now even though it's been two year since this happened.

Thanks everyone - I think the neighbour thing might be an issue.  Maybe I should act with my head not my heart...

We had half a dozen pygmy goats & they could jump higher than 4'. Also had milkers but due to being tied down to all that palaver twice a day gave them all up, luckily before the foot & mouth appeared. One good thing was they ate a lot of nettles!