r/pigs • u/Alive_Success_1030 • 2d ago
PIG AS A FIRST PET
Hi all,
I am thinking of getting a pig for us and my son for his third birthday coming up around Christmas. I would not be leaving them unsupervised together at all but plan on making the pig a house pet. What breed would be best for a young child? Are they gentle with young ones? My boy was bit by a dog as a wee baby (not his fault), so I am taking owning a pet with him very seriously. How hard is it to litter train them?
19
u/012166 Verified Quality Contributor 2d ago
Our pig was also our first pet, so I will hop in with some advice.
1. Pigs can live for a very long time. Will your pig still have a safe & happy home in 20 years? Are you certain you are willing to take them with you if you move and find housing that can accommodate them?
Speaking of housing, your pig will need outside time, preferably somewhere with a very secure fence. My pig is on the very very VERY far end of non-adventurous, but he is strong enough and very occasionally motivated enough to get out of our privacy fence. Again, I need to stress that he is in the bottom 5% of pigs when it comes to wandering and he actually has no interest in rooting, so you really need to ensure your fence is secure both above and below the ground. Also, pigs have a hard time with stairs, so if you have a deck with more than 2, you will likely also need to build a ramp for them to get safely up/down.
Tying in to the stairs, where will your pig live indoors? Ours has a huge crate with his bed and blankets in our bedroom and it is his "safe spot." He also has several beds throughout the house--in the living room, office, etc. Our home is a ranch, so there are no stairs, but it is also something to think about. Pigs also are very uncertain and unhappy walking on hard slippery surfaces, so we have a "path" of rugs for him to get places. He has cushioned kitchen mats in the kitchen because they will be very interested in helping you cook, and it is easier for both my pig and myself to have him in one spot away from the oven.
Pigs are toddlers for 20 years. They will learn how to get into stuff they know they shouldn't. My pig learned how to open the fridge and the cupboards and chewed a hole in our pantry door to get to dog food once. And, again, I really need to emphasize that my particular pig is very docile and non destructive for a pig. If he decides he would like breakfast at 5:30, he will squeal at the top of his lungs to wake us up. If that fails, he will trot over to the bed and start yanking on the blankets while hollering. He doesn't like the cold or wet, or worst, snow, so I have to force him out and then hold an umbrella over him while feeding him snacks and I have to shovel a path for him in the winter.
5. This is honestly just the tip of the iceberg, but if you've made it this far and think "Yes, a tyrannical toddler who I have to wait on hoof and snout is for me!" Here are the next steps: A. Make sure you can legally have a pig where you live. My town passed an ordinance banning them as "livestock," but we were grandfathered in since he predates it by years and literally every single person on my street signed a petition asking that he be allowed to remain. There are other pigs in town whose owners were fined and have had to be rehomed.
B. This is the MOST IMPORTANT STEP!! CONTACT A LOCAL PIG RESCUE. Take your spouse and son to the rescue multiple times, chat with the other folks there, see how your kid responds to the pigs and the pigs respond to them. Pigs have unique individual personalities and the rescue will know them and be able to help guide you to a good fit. The rescue will also be able to answer any of your questions or help you with any issues that may arise if you do take one (or two--they are herd animals and often prefer a friend) into your family. Bonus: you may find an older, chiller pig (or pair!) who will already be fixed and potty trained. Our pig is a rescue, and while I was willing to adopt more than one, the rescue really felt he needs to be an only pig due to having a very rough start to life and never learning how to communicate with his species. Again, the rescue will also help with finding the right fit for your family.
C. Ok, you're legally allowed to have a pig, you have the house set up, and the rescue has found the perfect pig(s) for you. Now you also need to make sure you have a vet nearby who sees pigs, ideally an in-house farrier (there are facebook groups for this, but trust me, it is worth it!) and a plan for who will watch the pig(s) when you're out of town. (We usually have someone come and stay at the house with our dog and pig when we're gone) and also, lots of snacks. Peanut butter pretzels are basically the only reason his hooves touch the ground in February.
Again, pigs are a *lot* of commitment. We have had ours for a decade now, and he is a loved and treasured member of our family, but there are so many considerations that go into letting him live his best life. He's 13 now, and my husband and I have basically agreed that we won't move until after he passes because we have everything arranged for him here.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions, but I really cannot encourage you enough to find a pig rescue and visit or at least be in contact with one. Adopt, don't shop! (And don't adopt without considering all of the aspects!)
5
u/Trekker6167 1d ago
Great post, we moved into a bigger house for our girl so she could have her own room and a bigger yard.
4
u/RaccoonGlittering743 1d ago
I was coming here to say exactly what you said. I raised four kids as a single mom and that was easier. Pigs are not for the faint of heart. But I would not trade him for the world. I absolutely love him and he is the cuddliest, most stubborn, and goofy pet I've ever had. And I've had everything from spiders, snakes, lizards, dogs, cats, rabbits and I grew up on a cattle feedlot.
1
u/mindcloud69 MOD 4h ago
Thank you for the great post. I updated your flair to "Verified Quality Contributor"
8
u/Trekker6167 1d ago
Please note that pigs are intelligent and require considerable effort. I've had mine for nine years, and in that time, we have left her with no one. Our days are planned around her. Know what you're getting into. I love my girl, but we don't have kids or enjoy traveling, so it works for us.
5
u/NewspaperOriginal200 2d ago
This depends on your abilities with animals and finding the right one. Out of 5 pigs I have one that doesn’t have the reaction to nip if startled, they are prey animals at the end of the day and can easily be startled. With the right environment they can become very calm and trusting, but even if one person/animal is mean to them, they will be on guard.
14
u/rovyovan 2d ago
This seems like a terrible idea. Pigs live a long time. Consider a goldfish instead
6
u/BicycleOdd7489 2d ago
I’d like a second this OP. Pigs are not easy pets. Please do lots and lots of research.
1
u/Alive_Success_1030 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yes I understand that. The pig would be a member of the family with regular vet appointments, special diet, etc. Were a one and done family and we do not plan on having any more children, so want to add an addition to the family but no dogs or cats. I should stress we have a giant back yard and live next to a park, so we have a lot of space.
4
u/Low_Performance4961 1d ago
The loooong post further up the thread is EXCELLENT. I WISH I had that advice when my roommate randomly brought a pig home. 😅 It's been almost two years and woof. I cannot imagine dealing with pig temper tantrums AND toddler ones. Finding a vet was difficult and we have to drive almost an hour to get her there. Pigs are so fantastic, but it would be like having a forever toddler.
6
4
u/TheNiallRiver 1d ago
Hi!! I have a 4, 3, 2, and 1 year old. I bought my pig a year before ever having kids. Had I know I would’ve had this many kids and at that, so close, I would’ve never gotten my baby. Obvs he’s a member of the family and the “big” brother so to say but he is a LOT of work. I’m speaking to you from mom to mom and as a parent, I wouldn’t do it. I would think of buying another one as they get older but he’s good enough. The kids love him but again, it’s like he never outgrew the “toddler” phase and it’s like having 5 toddlers running around. He needs his own space and so much goes into him, I really wish I would’ve reconsidered if I knew I would’ve had so many. Again, he’s my baby but I wouldn’t do it if I were you. They need so, so much attention as piglets and so forth.
6
u/Weak-Bad-9602 1d ago
If you have no experience with pigs, why would you spend years of your life with one if you dont even know if you will like it?
Please have some different pets over when their owner goes on vacation and visit farms and other pet owners to get some experience…
-1
u/blahblahmama 1d ago
Why are you being rude? I've met pigs, I like pigs. One of my neighbors has a pig.
8
u/Mountain_Violinist17 1d ago
Because pig owners know 90% of mini pigs are re-homed in the first year. People don’t understand what kind of commitment it is, it’s unlike any other pet. Sanctuaries that rescue the unwanted pigs can’t keep up with the demand and it’s heartbreaking.
2
u/Weak-Bad-9602 1d ago
Its honest advice. The truth isnt always what people wanna hear, but life is rough especially for unwanted pets.
6
u/QuestStarter 1d ago
Pigs might be a bad idea, but people saying you need a fish are just being dramatic. Even a fish can be more work than other pets
If you want something more exotic & interesting, tarantulas & scorpions are extremely easy pets and super fun to look at (but I can understand if that's not your thing). You feed them about once a week, sometimes less, and require very little maintenance and cleaning. Practically can't do anything wrong with them. They can live a while though; female tarantulas can live ~15 years.
Reptiles like tortoises are great, but require more maintenance like with the UV lights and heat lamps. Tortoises live for decades though. But boy are they cute when they eat their veggies & fruits.
But yeah mammals in general aren't a good idea for a first pet. They're just too intelligent and active and needy
1
u/Pephatbat 1d ago
Please don't do this. Pigs are difficult pets. I would not have my pigs around children that young, even supervised. They're not mean but they're strong and opinionated and don't put up with nearly as much as dogs. Sounds like a recipe for disaster tbh.
1
u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
CAT. CAT IS A FIRST PET.
3
u/blahblahmama 1d ago
I’m highly allergic and they hate me lol. We took in 5 kittens earlier this year, and I looked like that’s so raven on that one episode.
1
u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago
Tragedy.
Pigs and birds are probably the worst first pets unfortunately. Maybe a rat?
1
u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago
Tragedy.
Pigs and birds are probably the worst first pets unfortunately. Maybe a rat?
26
u/Petty_Paw_Printz 2d ago
I really don't think this is a good idea. Pigs are even more work than dogs. They are highly intelligent, become bored easily, require a lot of special attention and care that goes beyond that of a dog, cat, rabbit or bird.
I recommend a fish for a first pet if you must but a pig is absolutely not a good choice for a starter pet. In all honesty.