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First Registry
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Inc.
PO Box 60635
Reno, NV 89506
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'The
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"So
Now What Do We Do?"
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT YOU AND YOUR POT BELLIED PIG BY KATHY SPERDUTO |
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You took one look at that cute little nose, those bright eyes and then you might have said "Oh please Mom, can't I get one" or "Honey, I've always wanted a pig." But maybe it was: "No one else has one." "It would be just like Babe." "I heard they're extremely intelligent." "I…" Wait, go back, extremely intelligent, those are the key words. That's what should have given it away that training was not going to be done and over with quickly, so you can then sit back and enjoy. Dealing with an animal with the intelligence level of a pig, is more like dealing with a human, and therefore, training and discipline are really never done. Another key word here is discipline. Let me start at the beginning. May I say that most of us are used to dogs. You bring a puppy home, play with him, and teach him where the newspaper is. Then he gets a little older, the obedience training begins and hopefully, through all of this he is learning discipline and that you are alpha dog, you are his leader. For most dogs once this is established, it will stay with him for as long as you own him. Therefore, you can give him treats and somewhat spoil him and he will still respect you. But you own a pig, so forget what you've learned about training a dog. It's different. You are now working with a tough little animal that thinks a lot higher of himself from the very beginning. And he was blessed with intelligence. Your job will be a much harder because the first thing you need to do is discipline yourself. Set your standards and stick with them throughout. It is very easy to spoil a pig and unfortunately, they have an uncanny ability to steer you that way. At the beginning, the bond between you and your pig is important. Giving him free food (this is food he does not have to work for) is acceptable only for a short time, a few days to a week, until he establishes that you are his food source. After that, let the training begin. If you teach him only one trick his entire life, never treat him from your hand unless he performs his trick or whatever it is you are asking him to do. The only free food he should get is the meal or meals for the day and grazing time. Anything that comes from your hand, he must work for. Never treat him for begging at the table, nibbling at your toes, nudging your leg, etc. These can all turn into vicious attacks when he does not get what he wants. All it takes is one time for him to think "Hmmm, when I nudge her, she feeds me" and next it might be "When I bite she'll feed me quicker." And believe me it is hard for most people not to spoil their pets. I hear so many people say "He's so cute, he enjoys the ice cream so much." Just remember that pigs will always test you. Don't be afraid to say "No" to your pig and let him know that "No" means "No". A lot of trainers don't like to use the word, but when taught properly and not abused, the pig will know exactly what you mean and will stop whatever he is doing. When I say used properly and not abused, I mean you can't go around saying "no, no, no, no" in a soft voice to everything little thing your piggy does or it will turn into just another word. Say it ONCE, say it CLEAR and say it FIRM - "NO!" Now for some pigs this will be enough, others may ignore it. In which case, repeat "NO!" and a gentle nudge may be needed to get his attention. If he physically challenges you at this point by biting and/or turning sideways and curving his back towards you - you have my permission to say "NO!" and increase your nudge to a firm shove or push until he gets the message. (This may become literally a battle between the two of you until you establish your dominance.) You're not going to hurt him. Remember in that situation you're just another pig and he wants to dominate you. He is tough little animal. One of the biggest mistakes people make with training any animal is that they try to bring the animal up to their level of thought. No matter how intelligent the animal, they are not going to think and reason like you and I. Therefore, the easiest way to get through to them is to go down to their level of thought, all animals communicate with each other through sound or body movement. Do your research - find out their language, learn it, learn to read your pet and apply this to your training. You'll be amazed how quick and easy it will make things go. Your animal will be happier, training will be shorter and the point will get across quicker. Stick with it and please ask questions, there's always someone that will help. Believe me, you will enjoy your pigs so much more, when you and him are curled up on the couch, with a good movie and a big bowl of buttery popcorn and he doesn't bother you for any. It is possible. |
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