Pot Bellied Pigs: Sharp, Sassy and Special

"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." ~ Winston Churchill

Why are more and more people adopting and also abandoning pot-bellied pigs? What is it about these lovable intelligent critters that we humans can’t quite figure out? Read on to discover what we can learn from these distant relatives to the African Hippopotamus.

My first encounter of the porcine kind was with a most engaging black and white sow named Miss Delta Mae. She and her owner strutted their stuff among the Beagles, Standard Poodles, Persian Cats and Labrador Retrievers who called the grassy fields of my condo complex "home." Her owner, a rather dour, rail-thin young man, whose facial expression always reminded me of one who had just swallowed a lemon, kept her on a thick leather leash suspended by a rhinestone studded red yoke. They were indeed the very oddest pair! One day they were gone. There were whispers of zoning regulations, farm animals and undesirable residents. I wondered if they were referring to the owner or darling Delta Mae. I guess I’ll never know, but just the thought of that pig’s warm and loving nature warms my heart to this day.

Miss Piggy of Muppet fame and The Three Little Pigs of fairy tale land all have their place in our cultural hearts. There was another sow, a miniature pot-belly, whom I never had the pleasure of meeting, but whose achievements impressed me very much. I shall call her Piggy Sue, as I do not recall her real moniker. She saved her owner’s life in the most imaginative way. A few years ago, the television series, Unsolved Mysteries, featured this story about a woman who lived with her animals in a rustic cabin near a highway. She suffered a heart attack and couldn’t reach the phone to call for help. Her dog kept barking and the cat was nowhere to be seen, but her Piggy Sue ran through the cat door, scraping her stomach in the process and out to the highway to play "dead piggy in the road." Returning several times to check on her mistress, she then ran out to the highway again, scraping her poor tummy against the door every time. She did this until someone finally stopped and followed her back to her ailing mistress.

I love dogs and cats and this is not meant to put a damper on the fortitude and loyalty of these wonderful furry creatures. Many have demonstrated amazing valor in protecting their owners, but Piggy Sue really pushed the envelope in the courage department. She also displayed the intelligence of a showman, albeit a "one trick pony." One thing’s for sure. Pot-bellied pigs have fast become one of the most sought after pets across the United States. Their unique appearance and superior intelligence can make owning one of these critters an adventure like no other.

Miniature pot-bellied pigs originated in the jungles of Vietnam and China. They were introduced as pets in the United States in 1985, when a small number of them were shipped from Canada. The first animals to arrive in America sold for as much as $25,000. Marketed as the "perfect pet," these creatures were an instant hit, selling out in more record numbers than even the Beatles’ "White Album." Buyers were told that a pig did not require a lot of room, was easier to house-train than a dog, and would stay adorable and small if kept on a strict diet. This fallacious marketing caused many owners to abandon their pets as pigs do not stay small and the average adult pot-bellied beauty weighs about 150 pounds. Every year hundreds of Pot-Bellied Pigs are "thrown away" due to unrealistic expectations based on a lack of information. Some die due to improper medication because much of the knowledge applied to treating potbellies comes from treating farm swine.

Scientists believe that pigs are among the most intelligent animals, ranking close behind dolphins and apes. Many animal behaviorists describe untrained pot-bellied pigs as two-year-old children. If you can live long term with the "terrible twos" or commit to spending many hours training your pig, this animal can be a great addition to the household. They are easily trained, affectionate, curious, playful, clean, generally quiet, odor free and usually non-allergenic. They can be taught almost anything, if an owner is willing to spend the time necessary to teach them. Pot-bellied pigs have been known to play the piano, ride a scooter, drive a golf cart, ride in the car as a passenger, slam dunk a basketball and more. Potty training a pig takes much less time than teaching a puppy the very same chore.

Pigs are also unrelenting in their quest for food and can learn by watching their owners how to open the fridge, cupboards, pantry or any other place where food may be lurking. (If you have a relative staying with you that you don’t like, place them in the path of a hungry pig!) They can be very demanding, begging for food and even trying to take food from weaker family members (kids). They also have a need to "root" that must be met. (It’s like cats who must always knead whether they have their claws or not). Pigs dig and explore with their snouts and in so doing may knock books off shelves, explore purses, rip up papers and clothing to make a bed, pull up carpeting or linoleum, peel wallpaper, eat houseplants and flower bulbs. Pigs will eat anything they find and just as you would place medications and other dangerous items out of a child’s reach, you must do the same if you live with a pot-bellied pig.

The average life span of a pot-bellied pig is 12-18 years, although many live up to the age of twenty. These creatures do well indoors or out; their ideal living temperature being 70 degrees. Even if the pig lives indoors, it will still need a space to play and walk outdoors, as well. A fenced in area is recommended, although many county and city parks have made revisions that now include spaces for exotic animals. They can be fed commercially prepared foods, but are known to really like fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh water should also be available at all times. Although referred to as "miniature," the term is very relative, as even though they are smaller than most pigs, they still usually weigh about 125 pounds when full grown (about three years of age).

Pot-bellied pigs have the tendency to be very territorial and will protect their space through aggression. Much as a dog holds onto a bone, a pig may be willing to fight for his or her space. Pigs do respond well to positive reinforcement (i.e., using praise and treats when demonstrating desirable behavior) and do not do well at all with physical punishment. They understand "NO" very well, but should never be hit. If they are, whatever you wanted the pig to do, it most assuredly will not! They have very long memories (not unlike the Sicilian side of other families).

Pot-bellied pigs and children do not always get along together. This is due to a herd instinct and the need to establish dominance over those they perceive as weaker. They will even do this to adults, but usually figure out pretty quickly that this is a losing proposition. Children represent something they can dominate, although this is not to say that some pigs will not get along with some children. They can and will, but they do have a pecking order that any owner and parent must be made aware of. If you have one pig and one child, the pig may attempt to become the "dominant pig" of the house, (even if it turns out to be the cleanest and neatest of all family members).

Pot-bellies and dogs are not a good combination as well. Pigs are prey to dogs. If you get a pet pig and have a dog, NEVER leave them alone together and NEVER feed them close to one another. There are exceptions here as there are to every rule, but the price is too high to take a chance. Pigs seem to get along best with cats. Goats fare pretty well also, but then again, it all depends on the goat and the pig. Horses and pigs often work well, but the combination still depends on the personalities of the individual animals.

If you decide to get a pot-bellied Pig, please consider adopting one from one of the many centers and sanctuaries run by pet lovers located around the country, To find an animal rescue center in your area, check the adoption link page at http://www.pigs4ever.com. All this research has left me with a renewed respect for porcines everywhere.

I salute Miss Piggy and Miss Piggy Sue! (Or is it Ms?)