Anyone Know Pet Pigs? Pls Some Advice

[Crazyland]

She is so cute! Congrats

 

[Mahonri]

Calling redhen, calling redhen,

Pet pig advise needed.....

(she used to have a pig as her avitar)

PM her.

 

[can you hear me now?]

I will add what I can looks like most has been answered. If you don't want it to get too big feed it more like you would a dog. Mine barks when she is startled sometimes she gives happier grunts. Ours is a feeder yorkshire but I have had pot bellied pigs as well. If you want her to be leash trained, like in a harness, you will want to get her started ASAP. The older pigs get the more set in their ways they get and they usually don't like new things like a harness. Keep her with max contact with you guys when she is young and she should be fine. When she does a no no do like you do a dog and they will learn. Pigs are actually smarter than dogs. The big thing is pigs do not have sweat glands so when it gets hot she needs to be able to cool off fairly easy. Hope something I put in here helps. If covered I have seen potbelly pigs reach almost 400 lbs so a strict diet is a must.

 

[redhen]

Awww! Cute piggies!
Looks like you got some great advice here!
The way that i tamed my pigs down was with food... i sat by them quietly in their little pen..and held out pieces of food.(pick a GOOD tasting treat they they wont be able to resist....i used scrambled eggs alot..).. i put the food on my lap and let them be curious and come to me and get the food off of my lap.... pretty soon they were climbing in my lap to get the food...
I swear..food is the way to a pigs heart..

I still use it today to keep mine tame and friendly..
As for training them.. i kinda did it just like i trained my dogs.
The MOST important thing to teach them is to COME! Trust me... you want them to come EVERY time you call them...
Example: My pigs recently broke out of the yard... thank GOD they knew to come when called. They KNEW if they come when called they willl ALWAYS get a yummy treat...
If they didnt know the COME command when they got out of my yard.. they would be gone right now..
So..its VERY important to teach them this command.

Also..never hit a pig.. they are waaay smarter than dogs..and if you hit them..they will remember it and never trust you again...

The ONLY time i have EVER put my hands on them in anger.. is when my Hammie tried to attack me.. (they WILL do that sometimes..they will try to challenge you for top hog position and try you...)
anyways..if they EVER do that to you..you HAVE to be VERY quick and shove them back hard and fast right away..(dont hesitate..)... shove them by their shoulders so they kinda go back on their rump... MAKE them retreat from you... dont you EVER show them fear or run away from them. (thats how they do it in the pigs world..it tells them that YOU won and they back down very quickly...)
If you keep the dominace with them..you wont have any problems with them.. But if they know you are afriad of them..they can keep charging.
The last time (over a year ago) he tried to swipe me with his teeth... I knocked him on his butt and chased him down yelling like a mad woman at him... He ran away squealing...
Then a few minutes later he approached me all sad and sorry and GENTLE!

I also teach them the word "NO"...
I also teach then "EASY"... so they take food from my hands gentle...

Good luck! They ARE the best pets IMO. I love mine to death.

ETA: And yes.. what the poster above me said.. they NEED a way to cool off in the heat! THey need shade (they get sunburned JUST like us).. they get heat stroke VERY easily.... and they also need a kiddie pool or something like that too cool off in... a cool mud pit will work also... anything to keep them cool.
A girl on here lost her pig because he didnt have shelter/shade in the summer. She was so upset.. and felt so bad.

 

[bemba]

Thanks guys for all your info

muchly appreciated!! Well its day 4 and she is getting alot better, she is very foward and has never been scared of anything, the dogs run from her, it's really funny. I'll post some updated pics of her soon

PS redhen LOLLLLLLLLLL loved your story about dominance.

 

[mamawolf544]

Jenni in the summer sleeps on our porch in the shade. But she has a kiddie pool and right beside that we keep a big mudhole for her. I am in Texas and it gets so hot here. We go out there several times a day to cool her pool and mudhole down.

They are so funny and cute.

 

[bemba]

Here she is.... my dad calls her a devil duscuised as a cute piglet!!! She is full on, what about nose rings? She is digging up everything..... looks as though the yard is ready for planting crops

 

[redhen]

Nose rings are CRUEL..
YOU wanted a pig.. you have to deal with the digging... or give the pig up.
Why punish the pig for being a pig?? Makes no sense, and its cruel.

 

[JCoogle]

Quote:
It is cute but I so want the dog. I have been looking hard for a Heeler around here but either that look terrible or they want and arm and a leg for one.

 

[arabianequine]

Quote:
I agree it is about all they have to do....there way of playing. Besides eat and sleep.