Fun Facts About Pot-Bellied Pigs and Royal Dandies

Be Prepared

• Housing pot-bellied pigs is not the same as other pets, and specific preparations have to be made. To pig-proof your house, do the same things you would if baby-proofing your house. Get rid of toxic plants, secure cupboards, keep chemicals and cleaners out of reach, hide plastic bags and remove all small items your pig might choke on. Sharp items, such as knives, scissors, light bulbs, letter openers and anything with a cutting edge should be placed out of reach. Animal behaviorists suggest getting on your hands and knees to view your home as your new pet pig will. Also, pigs will do anything to get to food. They will knock over the garbage, get into cupboards or pry open the refrigerator. All food sources should be secured.

Origins

• Pot-bellied pigs were first introduced as an animal that could be displayed in zoological gardens, but was easier and more economical to keep. The Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, introduced in the 1980s, was not intended as a household pet, but these little pigs were so popular, the pot-bellied pet trade opened up around them.

  Keith Connell, a Canadian zoo director, was responsible for introducing the original breeding stock of miniature Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, and Keith Leavitt brought them to Texas. The offspring from these pigs represent the Lea and Connell lines, and are largely responsible for the pet pot-bellied pigs available in the United States today.

Intelligence and Training

• Pigs are intelligent and emotional. According to Melissa Susko, Executive Director of the pig rescue facility, Pigs, A Sanctuary, pigs are placed fourth on the list of cognitive intelligence (humans, primates, dolphins and pigs.) They display emotions through fluctuating moods and obvious personality traits.

  House breaking a pot-bellied pig is easy, as they are instinctively clean animals. Pot-bellied pigs prefer to relieve themselves in the same place, so strategic placement of a litter box completes their training. Once they have used it once, they will return to the same place. Outside, reserve a corner of the yard as the bathroom. Be sure to keep it clean or your pig will move to another area.

  Sean O'Cluimhan, Author of "Pot Belly Secrets," reports that pot-bellied pigs can be trained to sit, curtsy, stay, play piano, fetch and shake its head for yes or no. He teaches pigs agility courses and advises that the intelligence of pigs dictates their need for mental stimulation.

Health and Cleanliness

• Many people equate pigs with dirt and filth. Pet pot-bellied pig owners testify that pigs are innately clean animals. Pigs are hygiene conscious and like to bath regularly. A pool should be provided for this purpose, but also because your pot-bellied pig will enjoy frolicking in the thigh-high water.

  Clean hay and blankets make for good bedding. The Pigs-4-Ever website recommends getting blankets from a thrift store because pet pot-bellied pigs like to shred them and root among them for nesting. They will keep their bedding area clean, but hay should be replaced weekly.

  It is important to find a veterinarian who specializes in pot-bellied pigs. Pigs are generally healthy, but are susceptible to certain health issues. The biggest concern for a pig's health is its propensity to catch pneumonia. The common cause of pneumonia in pigs is weather related, but it can also be brought on by stress. Pot-bellied pigs can die quickly from bronchitis or pneumonia because of their small lung size. Symptoms such as a runny nose, wheezing and coughing should be addressed immediately.