BRINGING HOME YOUR NEW PET POT BELLY PIG  

Your new pig is extremely intelligent.  They can learn to do just about anything a dog can do but they learn it much quicker because everything you teach them is done with food motivation (treats).  They are extremely smart and  can figure  how to open cupboards.  So, if your pig is indoors, you will want to install child safety locks.   Their intelligence will never cease to amaze you. Never underestimate your pet’s ability and especially when it has anything to do with food.

    It is true that some Pot Belly Pigs do like television and do get favorite television shows. Some may have little temper tantrums or decide to get mad and ignore you if you shut off their favorite show. In homes that have music more than television your pet may have some music it likes better than others. It is not uncommon for some pig owners to turn their television or radio on for their pet when they plan to be gone all day.

You should supply a bed for your baby along with blankets, Pot Belly pigs love their blankies, that's why we send all our babies home with a blanket.  They love blankets so much sometimes they drag them around or cover themselves up in them to keep warn.  When you are not around to supervise your new baby, you should have a small kennel or playpen. New babies can get in to a lot of mischief.  Pot Belly Pigs, or any pet for that matter, are no exception.  Do not leave your pet alone in your home until you are sure it understands and respects the house rules and is house broken.

    Baby Pot Belly Pigs normally will go through an initial period of learning not to scream when picked up. We handle our new babies every day, so they are used to being held.   It is important to leash train your pet so that it can easily be taken with you when you want it to, which is why we start their leash training and provide you with a harness and leash.

    For the first 2 weeks, go ahead and over indulge your baby with treats (raisins, grapes, Cheerios, etc.) in order to bond more easily. Your pet will quickly learn to come to you to receive the treats and learn to roll over to have its tummy scratched.  After you have bonded with your pet you can then cut back on the treats. We want to emphasize that when we say treats we do not mean a handful of treats at a time. We mean using something like 1 Cheerio or 1 raisin at a time.  Your pet should be willing to take this from your hand gently without biting.  Should you feel that your pet is grabby or appear to try to nip to get the treat we suggest you take your finger and tap it on the top of the nose and say “no”, wait a few seconds, then say “start again, be gentle”. If they follow the direction they will then receive the treat. People are always amazed at how quickly their pet Pot Belly learns what words and phrases mean.

    If you have room in your back yard it is nice to provide your pet with a wading pool to lay in when it is hot outside. This also serves as a simple way to ensure you pet does not run out of water. Pot Belly Pigs just love to tip over their water dishes hoping to find food.  Since Pot Belly Pigs do not sweat they have no way to cool off if they are not provided continuous water to drink.  A Pot Belly Pig can easily get over heated and die if it does not have water. If you do not have room for a kiddy pool we suggest you either secure their water dish or use something like a ceramic one that is heavy enough that your pet can not knock it over.

Since Pot Belly Pigs do not have fur (they have hair) people are not allergic to them or their saliva. For people who could never before have a pet due to allergies, the Pot Belly Pig may be the solution.

    Pot Belly Pigs are not a pet for everyone. If you do not want to deal with toddler behavior and are not home much they would NOT make a good pet for you. Unlike a cat or dog that can be left alone for a day or so if provided sufficient food and water, a pig can not be left alone.  A Pot Belly Pig is a commitment. Since, they become very bonded to their owners they do not do well if they must be placed elsewhere (some may become so upset they can have heart attacks or strokes). Taking one as a pet is with the understanding that they will be with you hopefully for life.

    They can sleep indoors, outdoors, or both.  Ideally they will have an area outside to play in. If they are kept outside you will need to provide them with housing (a doghouse is great) and blankets. Pot Belly Pigs like to be warm and they generate a great deal of heat. 

If you have a pool it is important to teach your pet how to paddle to the steps so that in the event it falls in it will know where to go.

    Pot Belly Pigs normally will get along with other animals. They usually are not the aggressor and to the contrary are usually the ones to run the other direction. The question is, are the other animals willing to get along with the Pot Belly Pig.  If your dog does not like other animal’s chances are good it will not like a Pot Belly Pig. A dog can do extreme damage to a Pot Belly Pig and easily kill it by biting it. Never leave your pet alone with other animals that you are not sure of the compatibility of.

 

WHAT DO POT BELLY PIGS REQUIRE?

1. They require a lot of love.  You will get out of your pet what you put into it.  If you work with it and train it you will have a wonderful friend.

2. They do not require much food (although they would like to eat everything in sight).  When you first get your pet, if it is a baby, you only need to give it 1/4 cup of Pot Belly Pig Food in the morning and 1/4 cup in the evening.  In between that you can give them fruits and vegetables while you are working with them or training them.  As they get older follow the feeding directions on the back the of Pot Belly Pig food bag.

Being as smart as they are they can learn to open lower kitchen cabinets if there is food in there. Always ensure that you either keep food and poisons above the pigs reach or you put child locks on your doors.  A pig will learn to open your cupboard doors and help themselves if there is food there.  If they get in trouble and you put the food back they will know next time to take the food out, eat it, and throw the empty box back in and then close the door.  Just try to figure out who took the snacks, the kids or the pig!

3. They require water at all times.  Since their noses are very strong they can easily turn their water dish over.  You need to either have a heavy enough dish that they can not tip over or you need to secure it so it can not be tipped over.  Since pigs do not sweat, they must always have water.

4. They need blankets.  They need an indoor blanket, an outdoor blanket, and a car blanket if you plan to take them with you a lot.  Blankets are very important to pigs.  They pull them around, they hid under them, and they take them to bed with them.  An old blanket will do, you don't need to use good blankets.  In fact, if your pet thinks it is too large they may tear it in sections.

5. Your pet can be trained to use a litter box, paper trained, or trained to go outside or use a dog door.

6. Just like other animals, they need to get their booster shots once a year.