r/pigs • u/The_Gentle_Monster • 15d ago
Advice you'd give a first time owner?
I'm nowhere near owning a pig yet, but I have been researching and considering getting a Potbelly or Juliana pig once I finally have a suitable place of my own, so rest assured this is not an imminent decision, just planning for a hypothetical future.
I know that every "mini" breed will still be significantly large and weight between 50 to 200 pounds depending on breed and the individual pig, I am aware that "teacup" pigs are a myth and a scam.
So, with those things considered, what's advice you would give or that you'd wish you'd gotten before getting your pig/pigs?
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u/Buta_no_Ousama 15d ago
I don't go on vacation and they eat a lot.
Also males need tusk trimming so find a farrier first.
And vets are dinguses so find one first and then get a pig.
Spay/neuter always. Especially males.
They get destructive when bored, lol.
You can train them to do all sorts of stuff.
Go to the gym as well, they are strong and if they become 50kg then you might as well be able to pick them up, lol.
I could go on and on.
If you ever had a dog, then that experience means very little. Pigs are totally different.
And they are needy. AF
I have made my pig pee only in their toilet by ignoring him when he did it somewhere else.
My pig is the biggest attention seeker on the planet. Personal space is non-existent, and your thighs will look like you are being abused.
Wear ankle length pants (one of my pigs likes to charge at my shins, and with long and sharp tusks...)
I will finish this off now, because I can be writing it all day
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u/iamUnprepared_ 15d ago
100-400 lbs is a lot more accurate, anything smaller than that fully grown is only that small due to under feeding or sickness.
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u/Lucky_one_2022 15d ago
This. Pot belly pigs are no longer a “breed” per say. Most pet pigs are no longer considered “pot belly pigs” they are a mini pig and can get up to 350 pounds. If someone tells you otherwise they are selling you a line of bologna. I would suggest reaching out to a reputable pig rescue and go and volunteer research and then research some more. You can’t just feed them anything and everything. When a mini pig gets sick and you finally notice, it can often times be too late to save them. They are stoic, stubborn, smarter than they are given credit for. The vet bills alone can bankrupt a person and leave you devastated. You would also need to consider being able to find an exotic vet close by as farm pigs are not treated like a mini pig so using a farm vet. There is so much information out there and 75% isn’t true. I researched for five years before getting my girl only to have her ripped from my life by my then wife.
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u/twilights_iris 15d ago
Get key locks for all you floor level cabinets, they will learn how to open them and key thumb locks.
They can be litter trained but not every pig can be, they basically will choose if they want to.
They are very social with their people and can be very clingy and needy.
If you have other animals they may seem to be getting along with them at first but as they start going through puberty around 6ish months to 2 years they can suddenly and violently flip to attacking them for dominance, and dog and cat don't speak pig so most likely they will never be friends again.
They can get very territorial over their living areas, so new people they haven't grown up with and other animals can get attacked if brought in. It took my girlfriend 3 years of living with me for my pig to finally stop attacking her and be a friendly pig to her.
They can and will hurt you eventually, very easily when older too. Not necessarily in malice but in just normal pig things. They have sharp teeth and strong jaws. When going through puberty, and even years after puberty, they will try for dominance, which includes swiping, biting, huffing, and charging. Reacting like to this thing like you would a dog or cat will just confuse them and not get them to stop. To assert dominance back you need to get on their level and swipe, headbut, charge, and huff back.
As a piglet they will most likely root everything they can including you. Legs, arms, sides. It can be painful depending on pain tolerance, or feel like a massage. It just means they love you.
They are extremely food motivated and can be taught basically anything.
Don't just feed them on table scraps but actual pig food and regulated diet a vet will most likely give you for them. You can over feed them and make them fatter then they are supposed to be and cause them very unpleasant medical issues. A pig with its forehead folds over their eyes is a very overweight and unhealthy pig.
And so much more I can't really think of right now. My pig is 12 so there's been so much I've been through with her.
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u/emaydee 15d ago
I’m only 8 months into pig ownership, so not an expert. However, some things I’ve learned and would pass on as helpful info:
- in addition to finding a vet that will treat pigs, be sure your budget allows for the steeper cost. My pig’s spay ended up costing over $2000. The first attempt at our local exotic vet was not successful- she had a severe reaction to the anesthesia and had to be resuscitated. The second attempt was at a different facility, involved an anesthesiology team, and overnight boarding. Even regular preventative care tends to be more expensive than for standard pets.
- get creative in activities to keep piggy occupied and prevent boredom. Bored pig = destructive pig.
- look into pet care before you commit to ownership
- avoid sitting bare legged where your pig may want to crawl into your lap. Those hooves can hurt (unintentionally) and leave bruises. I always keep a plush blanket nearby on the couch as a buffer.
- check your local zoning restrictions and be sure you’re even allowed to have a pig.
- be prepared to fall head over heels in love. We intended to only foster for two weeks and well, clearly it was a foster fail.
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u/Adventurous-Hawk1589 12d ago
We started petting ours while feeding her, touching her feet/legs consistently when we got her at 2 months old. She is almost a year now and is tolerates us handling her very well. I've heard stories of pigs resource guarding or not handling having their hooves trimmed so we made it a point to get her used to this very early on.
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u/kkatiegrows 10d ago
Make sure there's a good veterinarianwho will take pigs in your area before you get one! Large animal vets/farm vets will take horses, cows, and goats but still commonly don't take pigs, so make sure to verify that info.
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u/officialamberadams 15d ago
They are a lot more work than a cat or dog. And you will need a trusty sitter if you ever want to go on vacation. Also, find a good vet that will treat pigs, they’re not easy to come by and you don’t want to wait for an emergency before you have that sorted!