who has done 4-h pigs on here

[gaited horse]

I need some help training mine to walk with the stick like how to start walking.

 

[gaited horse]

cant get computer to work

 

[MoodyChicken]

I raised a pig for FFA two years ago, it's the same thing. Pigs have super thick skin, so you have to poke them pretty hard to get a response. Never hit below the jaw, you could bruise the edible meat. Luckily, you don't have to train the pig to go in a certain direction, the pig just has to keep moving around an arena and you follow it around. Just don't let him stand still for too long and don't chase after the pig if it starts running. Keep eye contact with the judge and never walk between the judge and the animal.

It may sound cruel, but to get your pig to walk you have to hit them hard. They're very tough skinned and don't feel things as well as we do, so you're not hurting it. Hit on the jaw. And for training purposes, don't do this on the show, you can spank them. Pigs are very smart, so he'll either learn what you want quickly, or he'll learn to annoy you.

 

[redhen]

i dont think there is ever ANY reason to hit a pig hard, unless he is challenging/charging you, or trying to swipe at you with his teeth.......THEN...you knock them back on their butts.(hard and VERY quick...)...you shove their shoulder back...make them back up......its how they fight in the wild its how they determine who is top hog in their pack..but you have to be VERY quick and make sure they are shoved back! ...its what they understand,honestly!...THERE IS NO NEED TO HIT A PIG!..all that will do is make the pig afraid of you!....i use a treat baggie to get my pig to move and do what i want....he knows there is good stuff in the bag..i just have to shake it..and call his name and he will follow me anywhere...

also..yes, their skin IS hard...but, it STILL has nerve endings just like ours! they DO feel pain..just like us! they actually use pig skin for alot of human skin transplants now...because their skin is so much like ours..so...if you dont want to be hit....dont hit your pig!....but..you CAN use a stick to get them moving...have a treat bag or their feed bag/bowl...shake it...and if they dont move....tap their rumps with the stick...not a baby tap... a solid tap..but not a HARD hit either.....pigs are VERY food motivated....very much so!....thats why they are piggys! try to be nice first..dont just go hitting them please.

you will be suprised how smart they are..how easy and fast they learn....good luck!...AND please also remember....would you hit/beat a toddler? that IS how smart a pig is....they are the 4th smartest creature on this whole planet!...*check it out*...it goes, 1: Humans, 2: Primates, 3: Dolphins/Whales, 4: Pigs......they DO have the mentality of a human toddler..AND are one of the VERY few animals that have the ability to reason...*like a human*....check it out...what i say is true....please respect them....

...now...i dont want you to think i baby my pigs....i dont by ANY means....they know they are below me on the food chain...and i have and will always knock them on their butts when i have to....but... i respect them also....

 

[cutiepieacres]

Pigs are super smart. It doesnt take a lot of hitting or hitting hard to train them. You do need to get out and work with them a lot though and be patient. If you have an enclosed yard let them out, get out with your pig cane and start working him everyday or as much as you can. At first when you let them out they are probably going to run, its exciting to be "free" follow him/her and once he/she stops tap the jowl in the direction you want to go, if they dont move tap it again kind of like a tap-tap-tap so its a bit annoying but not in anyway painful. As soon as they go in the directon you want follow them without tapping and tap again as soon as they stop. Work on getting them to turn, walk around the front of your pig and tap the other cheek.

What you ideally want is to be able to control your pig so that you can walk it past the judge as many time as possible showing off different aspects of your pigs each time past so that the more the judge can see of your pig the better score you might get.

Good luck! Pigs are fun to raise and really smart.

 

[gaited horse]

this is my show pig a few weeks a ago
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd320/sueandkids2007/IMG_0837.jpg
i am taking pics tomorrow while we load and get his and my breeder gilt' ear tags done