When people think of micro pigs, they think of cute little snouts, curled tails, and soft cuddles. However, teacup pigs are also known for their behavioural problems, many of which owners don’t expect – until they begin to show up, that is.
The truth is that teacup pigs living as indoor pets are prone to a number of issues that owners don’t expect. When they begin to occur, owners aren’t sure how to handle them and as such, they worsen over time and in some cases, are forced to give up their pigs.
In this article, we discuss some of the most common behavioural problems you may encounter and what to do if you begin to notice these same behaviours in your pet.
More Often Than Not, Behavioural Issues Stem From Questions of Dominance
Pets often don’t understand their place in your home – at least, that is until you show them their place. Unfortunately, without proper training, pigs will begin to assert their dominance. Typically, this is common in pigs who are kept as indoor pets or pets who have lived alone, even if kept outdoors.
Most often, dominance results in demanding behaviour that can cause a pig to nip or display other aggressive behaviours. Many piglets bypass these behavioural problems when kept with their brothers and sisters after birth because they’re given time to properly socialise and adapt. But if you’ve purchased a teacup pig almost immediately after birth, you may be more likely to encounter problems.
How to Prevent Negative Behaviour in Pigs
If your pig has yet to display any negative behavioural patterns – good! However, this doesn’t mean you should bypass training your pig. Rather, you should still train him or her to ensure problems don’t creep up in the future.
One of the most effective techniques, the “Move the Pig” technique, means approaching your pig when he or she is calm or laying down and pushing him or her on the neck or shoulders to move around the room. You should only use as much pressure as is necessary to move the pig and when you do, only do it a few times before allowing the pig to return to its natural state. You should allow every member of your family a chance to do this so your pig understands all humans are superior to him or her as well.
What to Do if Your Pig Already Has Behavioural Problems
If your pig is already displaying aggressive behaviour in the home, you need to proactively resolve issues before they worsen. For example, if your pig begins to charge at you or otherwise come at you, you must get up and yell “No” or “Stop” loudly while pushing him or her back. If you are frightened to do so, you may want to use a piece of wood or another barrier between you and the pig.
You will want to use the same pig pushing technique described above to condition your pig to behave. You should use the technique in multiple rooms of the home and at different times of the day to address particularly bad behaviour and ensure your pig behaves as he or she should.
It Isn’t Difficult to Make Your Teacup Pig Behave
Don’t let this article be a deterrent from purchasing a teacup pig if you’ve considered all relevant factors and decided you want your own! Rather, let it be a guide to reveal how you should treat your pig from the beginning to prevent serious behavioural problems from arising.
Your pig can be as well-behaved or as ill-behaved as you allow him or her to be. So, which do you choose?