by PK Hawk

Created on: April 16, 2010   Last Updated: November 09, 2010

Hopefully, before you ever got (or get ) a pig, you did (will do) your homework first. Pigs are not for everyone or every neighborhood, or lifestyle. Pigs are very intelligent creatures, and require a lot of personal attention if they are going to remain a pet.  In the world of mammals they rank just after dolphins and whales in intelligence. Their level of intelligence is comparable to  that of a three year old child. They are really somewhat smarter than most dog breeds.

A baby pig that is only a few days old will use a litter box without any coaching from you, and it should not take much longer before it can hold it until it goes outside to relieve itself. Of course, much depends on how old your pig is when it comes to live with you, as well  as whether it is an indoor or outdoor pig.  

 
I have hand raised more than a hundred Pot Belly Pigs from newborn, to eight or nine months old.  They can be an absolute joy to  raise, and maintain. These piggies, were all a part of a three hundred Pot Belly Pig Rescue, and were threatened with possibly being euthanized. My very first Pot belly Pig was about five months old, and unfortunately was already pregnant when I brought her home.  "Sugar" was not a pet when I first got her either.  Before she had her litter, she trusted me completely, and even allowed me to put her babies to nurse while she was still waiting to deliver the rest of her litter.

It isn't even difficult to start training a pig to dance, shake hands, and even walk on a lead while wearing a harness. You have to remember that you are dealing with a very smart little guy, and teach them that you are sort of a replacement Mom.

I began by giving the my piggies small treat each time they did as I wanted. Once they were large enough to follow me, I taught them to sit first. I had a treat handy, and said "sit" and gently put pressure on their hindquarters, helping them to understand what I wanted them to do. After only a very few tries, and the treats being given each time "Daisy" would sit, she got a tidbit. Within a few minutes, she go the idea, and would sit on her own, so she could have a treat. I generally gave them a small piece of veggies, or a very small piece of fruit. Once "Daisy" had the sit command down, I waited a couple of days or so before starting out with another trick. I practiced with "Daisy" several time a day, so she would begin performing her "sit" as soon as I said "sit." 

Then,

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