Things you should know....
Piggy Comes Home
So, you did all your homework,
found a reputable breeder, picked out a healthy, sound pig of your
dreams, and everything is copasetic. For the ride home, I definitely
recommend that you kennel your piglet. Hopefully, the breeder has
desensitized Miss Piggy to the travel carrier or it may be a scary trip.
If you take the precaution of putting your pig in the kennel, you
won’t need to worry about potty accidents or a flying pig who could
cause a car crash. A kennel-savvy pig makes a lot of sense for future
fun outings or trips to the vet, so you might as well get started on
the right foot with crate-training.You need to locate a veterinarian in
your area who has experience with potbellied pigs or is willing to
learn. Your breeder should be able to put you in touch with a good one.
Don’t put this off! Have
your new pig examined by a vet
within the first week to make sure she is in good health. This will also
serve as an introduction of your new family member to your
veterinarian. If an emergency should arise and you haven’t established a
relationship with a D.V.M., you are putting your pig in real danger.
Please call me if you are unable to locate a vet, and I will try to
assist you.
Communicative:
Pigs have very advanced communication skills. Examples of vocal
communication include the “grunting” a mother pig emits while feeding
her young; “barking” that warns of impending danger; and “squealing” in
anticipation of eating or indicating displeasure or pain. Some
individual sounds are: “Aroo” that means “You aren’t getting me what I
want fast enough.” “Ha ha ha,” a quiet, hot panting that indicates
acquaintanceship, a sociable “hello.” What I call a filth noise
(similar to the sound your Uncle Charlie makes when trying to cough
something up) means piggy is really P.O.’ed. A happy pig seldom
displays body postures, as most are related to maintaining one’s station
on the social ladder. However, a spoiled, challenged, or unhappy pig
may change her ear set, throw her head, face off, or click her jaws in
response to an unpleasant situation or another animal invading her
territory.
Pot Bellied Pigs
Issues to
Consider Before You Adopt a Pet Pig...
A pig as a household pet is really nothing new. I’m always amazed
at how many people I meet who had a childhood experience with a runt
pig raised in the house. Pigs are very sociable, adaptable, hearty,
clean, and intelligent. Their personality and appearance simply beckon
many of us to become personally involved. Some pig enthusiasts own
elaborate pig paraphernalia collections, while others make a pig or two
or three a part of their families and lives. Outlined below is
pig-related information that will assist you in making an educated
decision about becoming a pig parent.
Behavioral Characteristics
Social: Pig are social by
nature. In their natural habitat they live in a group and a pecking
order is established and maintained by body and verbal pig language. If
a pig is irritated, she may throw her head in a side swiping motion,
or she may scream loudly. (A contented pig ouffs around making quiet,
satisfied noises that are very pleasing.) The important thing to
remember is that you need to establish yourself at the top of the
social hierarchy in your home or your pig will determine that she is
“top pig” and dictate the rules of the roost. There is nothing worse
than a pushy pig! Because pigs are social creatures, they may become
bored and restless when they are expected to spend inordinate amounts
of time alone without either human or other animal interactions. Hence,
you need to be creative in providing a pet pig with entertaining
distractions. You may even decide to adopt a pair o’ pigs to ensure
that you never have a bored or lonely pet.
Communicative:
Pigs have very advanced communication skills. Examples of vocal
communication include the “grunting” a mother pig emits while feeding
her young; “barking” that warns of impending danger; and “squealing” in
anticipation of eating or indicating displeasure or pain. Some
individual sounds are: “Aroo” that means “You aren’t getting me what I
want fast enough.” “Ha ha ha,” a quiet, hot panting that indicates
acquaintanceship, a sociable “hello.” What I call a filth noise
(similar to the sound your Uncle Charlie makes when trying to cough
something up) means piggy is really P.O.’ed. A happy pig seldom
displays body postures, as most are related to maintaining one’s station
on the social ladder. However, a spoiled, challenged, or unhappy pig
may change her ear set, throw her head, face off, or click her jaws in
response to an unpleasant situation or another animal invading her
territory.
Curious: Pigs are curious by
nature. They spend hours rooting in the ground (if given the
opportunity) or snurddling about your home with their nose to the
carpet or floor seeking out any stray tidbits of food. Their inquisitive
nature can be advantageous when it comes time to train, as pigs will
maintain a high level of attention when stimulated with new ideas and,
of course, the primary motivator...FOOD!
Intelligent: Man rates the pig as the fifth most
intelligent animal with man ranking first, followed by monkeys,
dolphins, whales and pigs. They function by instinct, intuition and
memory. While they have no innate sense of right or wrong and have no
conscience, they learn quickly and don’t forget what they master. You
need to stay one step ahead of your pig or she will train you to do
exactly what suits her fancy. Pigs are much like children. They find
your weak spot and manipulate until they get their way. If you give a
pig an inch, she will most certainly take many miles. However, it is
this very intelligence that appeals to many who fancy pigs. You can
indeed nurture a very rewarding and interactive relationship with a
pig, as a pig will treat you like an equal if given the opportunity.
Never underestimate the ability of a pig.
Affectionate: Pigs are affectionate animals. They
love companionship and body
closeness. Many pig owners actually allow
their pig to share the bed and maintain that a porcine sleeping partner
is not only warm and cuddly, but doesn’t wiggle, squirm, or hog the
bed.
