I understand that there is a lot of stigma attached with keeping pigs as pet. The fads that are used to describe these poor fellow’s behaviour and nature are preposterous. With the exception of eating like a pig, which, of course is true, sayings like “sweating like a hog”, “dirty as a pig” or “stinking like a pig” are just plain unfortunate, not to mentioned deeply biased. In fact, pigs do not sweat, are not really dirty if provided a clean shelter, and they definitely do not have body odour!
The first thing that you need to know about pigs are that they are extremely genial, compliant, clean and astute. They are very hearty pets and are always eager to socialize. This habits are probably formed by living in a group with other pigs. However, just because pigs are friendly creatures, it cannot be said of them that they do not get angry. If a pig is peeved, he or she screams loudly or even throws its head in a side- sweeping motion. Of course when it is happy, it happily ouffs around in sweet pleasing tones.
A very important thing to remember about keeping a pig as a pet is the establishment of hierarchy. You must have read the quintessential novella Animal Farm by George Orwell. If you have, you must understand that you should establish yourself at the top or your pig will, in a few days, determine that he or she is the “top pig” !
Now it might seem a tab bit absurd but, trust me, there is nothing worse in the world than a brash pig. For all these reasons, you need to keep your pig engaged. Distractions might come in the form of some creative exercises you might make your pet do. You might even consider adopting more than one pig to ensure that your pet is not lonely or bored.
Pigs are extremely intelligent creatures, which is one of the reasons why they form excellent pets. They have great communication skills and range, making them interesting to watch. In fact, there is gamut of distinctive sounds that pigs make to communicate. To warn others of impending danger, the pigs bark. While feeding its young, the mother pig makes mild grunting noises. It can also squeal to indicate displease or hunger. This is not all. Their communication skills are so advanced that they go on to voice individual sounds like “aroo” to show impatience, and a sound akin to “ha ha ha” to show pleasure.
Piggy- postures are nonpareil. A satisfied pig rarely shows body postures. However, a spoiled and overtly pampered pig may display certain behavior traits like throwing its head, face off, or clicking her jaws in response to a disagreeable situation or another animal annexing its territory.
I cannot root for cats but pigs sure are curious. In fact, if they have access to the earth, they are happy to spend hours foraging and rummaging to find any stray titbits of food. This actually has a positive side to it since they can be easily trained by stimulating them with new ideas, and of course, food!
Pigs, in contrast to the general idea, are very affectionate animals. They love companionship and, in case of pets, always want to be around their humans. There display certain affection traits that can often link them to dogs. In fact, if you agree to let your pig share your bed, you will experience the most porcine sleeping partner who is not only warm and cuddly but does not squirm or fidget.
Pigs have a sharp sense of smell. In fact, it has actually been accounted for that pigs can smell odour that are more than fifteen feet under the ground. Habituated in unearthing truffles in that way, they can even be used to sniff out drugs. However, pigs have one impairment that makes them inferior to dogs. Although they have acute sense of sound and smell, it does not see very well.
You should not consider its sight an impairment to its intelligence at all. In fact, the pig has been actually rated as the fifth most intelligent animal after man, monkeys, dolphins and whales. One of the reasons why their sight is not a hindrance is because they generally function by instinct, intuition and memory. As a matter of fact, they are more like our children. They have no conscience of good or bad but they are astute learners and diligently follow what is taught to them. However, like children, they can also be manipulative at times. It is therefore important to maintain a loving but stern attitude towards your porcine pal so that it does not take undue advantage of you. This is however very rare. Interaction with pigs are more often than not, rewarding. They are friendly and extremely social and they just love company, porcine or not. Trust me, if you really want to get an outgoing pet who is gifted too, pigs are your thing!