Goats are found in hot dry regions world-wide. Goats activate both sweating and panting for evaporative cooling. If water supply is scarce they have to compromise between temperature regulation and water balance. Goats of different breeds use alternative strategies. Bedouin goats living in the deserts of the Middle East are often allowed to drink only every 4th day, during which they lose about 25% of the body weight. They maintain a high milk production for the first days of water deprivation. As dehydration proceeds, it decreases its metabolism and reduces sweating. It stores water in the rumen after drinking. The black Moroccan goat rapidly decreases milk production, minimizes evaporative cooling and has a low water turnover. After drinking its plasma osmolality is lowered for about 30 h with no water diuresis. The Ethiopian Somali goat maintains its low milk production. It economizes on water by allowing the rectal temperature to rise near close to 41°C. This goat changes its behaviour during recurrent periods of water deprivation. During the first 4 days without water plasma osmolality increased by 13%. After 24 days with watering every 4th day, however, the dehydrated group had almost the same plasma osmolality as goats given water every day. They had slowed their activity, stayed more in the shade and ate more watery feedstuffs. It is suggested that variations in gene expression have developed over time in different goat breeds so that they endure their habitat and can adjust to alternating periods of draught and rainfall.