Are Pigs Good Pets? Pros And Cons That You Must Know

Miniature pigs have emerged as popular pet animals for humans in the last few years.

Potbellied pigs have grown in appeal as pets in recent times, and many pig enthusiasts have bought mini pigs to reside in their houses. Pigs, due to their intelligence and loving character, maybe both be fascinating and gratifying companions.

When you imagine a pig, the first thing that might come to mind is mud and dirt. This is because they have always been grown on farms in large groups. However, as times are changing, pigs are being considered as pets just like dogs.

Since a pig has always been an outdoor animal, you have to take a lot of consideration to keep them as pets. They love outdoor spaces.

They are entirely different from normal pet animals such as birds, dogs, or cats. Keeping pigs as pets is a big commitment that you need to be prepared for. However, if you can train them properly, they won’t be very challenging to look after.

After reading all about having a pig as a pet companion, you may also want to read about are pythons venomous or are rabbits herbivores.

Which pigs are popular as pets?

Even though there is no one animal called a 'mini pig', certain varieties are substantially smaller than the ordinary farm pig and are popular as pets.

Pigs marketed as ‘micro' are generally a type of potbellied pig; the most common are Vietnamese Potbellied pigs and Royal Dandies, however, many other varieties are offered as mini pigs when they are tiny enough. Potbellied pigs are all tiny.

Their tiny stature contributes to their adorable appeal and makes them a universal favorite. Male pigs are usually preferred instead of females.

You can get male pigs from a pig rescue place, pig association, or rescue one yourself. Pigs are cute, which is another reason why they are popular. To get the type of pig you want, it is a good idea to contact a breeder.

You can adopt a male or a female according to your needs. Pigs can become huge or tiny depending on which one you choose.

The most popular breeds of pigs that are kept as pets are Kune Kune pigs, potbellied pigs, Tamworth pigs, and Juliana pigs. These cute pigs tend to be people's first choice. These are usually preferred because of their friendly behavior.

Although they may appear to be identical, each type may have distinct characteristics and behaviors. Raising any type of pet pig is a big responsibility that demands dedication.

Teacup pigs are another term for small pig breeds. They were created for clinical studies and are tinier than other pig breeds. To train a small pig, you must pay attention to it, care for it and engage with it.

Pigs love their owners and like to cuddle but, since every breed has a different personality, the amount of attention they want can differ. Some like to cuddle and engage with their owners while others prefer some space.

Overall, they are great pets to be around. Pigs are usually friendly so you need not worry about them not opening up. Teacup pigs need less focus sometimes.

Pros And Cons Of Pigs As Pets

Pros and cons do exist when it comes to having pigs as pets.

The reason why you can keep pigs as pets is because they are easy to train just like dogs and cats. Because of their great intellect, training a pig to obey and do tricks is quite straightforward.

Pigs react very well to reward-based training with food, since it drives them to do as instructed. Pigs have a high degree of emotional awareness, making them excellent as companions for humans.

Pigs always like to be fed. There are usually not many problems with pet pigs, however, being a pig owner doesn’t come easy.

Although some tiny pigs have health concerns that make normal maintenance hard and expensive, pigs are quite easy to care for in general. Because their hair is hypoallergenic and does not shed, they are a good pet option for individuals who suffer from allergies.

Since they only need a yearly appointment with a vet for vaccines and hoof trims, you won't have to worry about pricey care that you might not be able to finance.

While some homeowners acquire their pig with the expectation that it will remain tiny for the rest of its life, this is not the reality. Most pigs gain a lot of pounds and will reach around 50-60 lb (22.6-27.2 kg) when fully grown, which means they may do significant damage to your property.

Because of their sedentary lifestyle and physical shape, pigs are prone to diseases caused by tension, temperature, or poor treatment.

You can reduce the risk of such problems by encouraging you pet to participate in physical fitness and hobbies. You have to be a good parent to pet pigs.

A potbellied pig can be amusing, cranky, lonely, joyful, anxious, or sad. They exhibit a vast spectrum of emotions, which distinguishes them from other animals.

Tiny potbellied pigs may be so soft and loving that they will allow you to snuggle with them. Some potbellied pigs might also love sitting on your lap.

Their behavior and feelings are greatly influenced by how they were reared or are being handled. A mini potbellied pig may be housebroken as well.

They may learn to use a litter pan, run, play, do rudimentary tricks, and much more.

They require caretakers who are educated about their maintenance and behavior, as well as those who are dedicated to giving them gentle, loving care and attention. Regardless of the size of a pig, you need to learn about their behaviors, what goes into their maintenance and observe their characteristics.

Potbellied pigs are extremely sociable creatures, so, having another animal as a friend makes them a much happier pet pig. You can always adopt a pig if you are lonely as they can make good companions to many people.

You can easily rescue or adopt a pig and they can be trained just like any other pet, such as a dog. You must be confident teaching your pig on your own.

Pigs are highly clever creatures, and, in order to properly house train pigs, homeowners must have prior expertise with pigs as well as a solid grasp of pig psychology, learning theory, and compassionate training regimes. It is also crucial to note that pig accidents on the floor are far bigger, dirtier, and filthier than canine filth.

Feeding Requirements Of Pigs

Pigs are omnivores. Therefore, they require a number of nutrients, minerals, fats, fibers, and carbs.

Mini pig food may be obtained at feed shops, but these are not always simple to locate, and the food required by pet pigs differs from that required by farm pigs. Pigs often eat a wide range of vegetables and fruits.

They may consume certain human kitchen waste and remnants as long as they are not rotten or harmful to pigs. Reach out to a vet to learn more about pigs.

Some meals, just as in people, can cause gastrointestinal difficulties in pigs. One breed of pig may be more susceptible than another, so make sure to do your research.

Even if you provide fresh vegetables for your pig, giving your pig human food is not desirable since it is not certain to fulfill all of their diet demands.

It is critical that they continue to get pig feed to guarantee their dietary needs are satisfied. Dog and cat meals are not really a suitable diet when compared to high-quality pig feed.

Pigs must always have freshwater and be served food at least twice a day.

Pot-bellied pigs like to eat a couple of tons of food each day, but, if your mini pig is a farm-bred pig, you may anticipate it eating 4-7 ton of food a day. Therefore, you must always do your research to feed your pet pigs a healthy diet since not every kind of food is appropriate for them.

Health Issues And Problems

Pigs are non-allergic. Most owners who have a family member who is allergic to cats or dogs may happily keep a pig.

Pigs must be neutered or spayed to keep them safe from several health problems. There have been a few reports of allergic reactions to pigs that resulted in a rash. Otherwise, pigs are generally healthy animals and hardly have or cause any health issues for their human parents. A pig might be the perfect pet animal for you.

Yes, potbellied pigs are good pets. There are various reasons why you should choose to have pigs as your indoor pet.

Pigs are intelligent and require approximately the same degree of coaching as a dog. That is, if you invest enough time training them, a pet pig might be an excellent pet who follows your home rules. It has also been seen that pigs live a long life.

Typically, pot-bellied pigs survive to be between 12-18 years of age, which means you will be able to cherish your pig buddy for a long period of time. Compared to other animals, their average lifespan is fairly long.

Unlike dogs, pigs do not demonstrate their devotion by leaping up and kissing you on the cheek, but they are loving creatures. Although pot-bellied pigs dislike being snagged, they will happily sleep with many people, love cuddling, and prefer the presence of people in general.

If you have other pets, you don’t need to worry about that with your pig. Pigs are fast to make friends with different animals and get along well with cats specifically.

It is always a good idea to keep a pig with another pig instead of only having one. This is because two pigs are happier together and stay healthier around each other.

This will create fewer problems for new pet pig owners as well.

Pigs are social animals, so they should be kept together. They also need a lot of space to roam around and to keep them entertained all the time.

Even though the pig is a farm animal, sometimes they can be high maintenance as well. If you get attached to your pet pig, their age is an advantage since they stick around for a long time.

Potbellied pigs make good pets, as they are also social animals. They are the most popular breed for pets.

The best traits of pot-bellied pigs are that their brains are sharp, which means they are intelligent and love to play with their human parents. If you are acquainted with training an animal such as dogs, then training a potbellied pig won’t be tough for you at all.

Potbellied pigs are generally very active, and always full of curiosity. There are 14 types of potbellied pig breeds. The majority of them seem to be dwarfs that develop to the size of a moderate or big dog.

Sometimes, these pigs can get aggressive if not taken care of or trained carefully. Aggressive pigs are difficult to take care of.

Pigs may learn their identity fast, as well as tasks like sitting and spinning. They can also be taught to wear a collar or harness and to use a big litter box.

In their daily lives, they value consistency. Pigs may be extremely disruptive since they are curious and like digging, scavenging, and gnawing. Due to this, they may not be the greatest choice of pet if you want to have a well-kept yard.

Their reckless inclination might be a concern if you keep your pig inside. You should also be warned that, when potbellied pigs are enthusiastic, they may be extremely loud. They require lots of time outside to dig about, which is a normal pig activity, and, while they are small, they start screaming for meals.

These actions do not mean that a pig is behaving inappropriately. He's simply following his animal instincts.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are pigs good pets, then why not take a look at are praying mantis dangerous, or farm pig facts.