Pig Smarts

Pigs have a language of their own and they make at least 14 different sounds. Pigs can bark when they are frightened or excited. They oink, grunt, squeal, whine, and more. They great other animals and people by breathing heavily in their faces saying "ha ha ha." Mother pigs have many other sounds that they use to communicate with their young. Bringing Home Newest Family Member Pigs are very sensitive creatures. Take your time and be patient with your new pig as he or she adjusts. We recommend that you spend a lot of time on the floor with your new piglet. Feed him or her from your hand. Try not to grab him or her, let your piggy learn to trust you and come at his or her own time. Being the Head of the Herd! Pigs are herd animals, and they need to know what their rank is in their new herd, aka your family. It's so easy to say yes to those cute little faces, but remember it won't be so cute when they start hollering at you and demanding to get their way! So, what does it mean to be the leader or a pig herd? For one, make sure they follow directions. Pigs are extremely smart, so if you want them to something, make sure they complete the task you required fully before they are rewarded. A piglet is very similar to a toddler. You must be consistent with their training and keep them on a fairly steady routine. Also, it is highly recommended that you give your pig a crate and have your piglet spend time in his or her crate. Make the crate comfortable and a happy environment for your piglet. Training is also a very important part of you having a happy piglet. The more you work with and train your piglet, the more he or she will understand his or her place in the herd. As you train your pig, make sure that all of the members of your household follow by the same rules. Make your piggy work for his or her treats, and you will see the pig gain your respect. A well-trained pig is a happy pig. A spoiled pig is not happy, and you won't be happy either! Good Info to Know If your pig shows a problem with dominance, the best solution is to push them backwards. By making them reverse they start to understand that you are the boss. You may have to do this quite a few times to get your message across. Often you have to push them with a bit of force. Never hurt your pig, but hold your ground and let them know you are the boss. If your pig nips or bites, it is another way of them showing dominance. Never permit biting. You can tap them on the snout and say, "No" firmly or you can hold their mouth closed and say, "No" firmly. Be very consistent and wait them out until they allow you to do what you were doing without them biting you. If you are consistent and gentle, they will learn that biting does not get them anything good.