Questions: What are pot bellied pigs like as pets? Do they make good pets? Did you know that pot bellied pigs are one of the smartest animals, and can be trained to obey commands like a dog? Are you interested in getting a pot bellied pig as a pet, but don’t really know a lot about them?
In this article, you’ll learn why pot bellied pigs make good pets, and other things you need to know before deciding whether a pot bellied pig is the right pet for you or not.
Pot Bellied Pigs as Pets: 4 Reasons Why These Mini Pigs Make Great Pets
1. Pot Bellied Pigs Don’t Smell
Pigs are notorious for being stinky. Well, here’s good news: pot bellied pigs don’t smell! They are very clean animals who only sweat through their noses.
2. Not as Big as Farm Hogs
They’re small sized pigs – otherwise known as “mini pigs” – that can live indoors if trained properly. Most range in size from 13-20 inches tall and can grow to about 150 pounds. That’s small compared to farms hogs, but big compared to dogs. For example, large dogs like Great Danes usually weight 20 pounds less than pot bellied pigs.
3. Pot Bellied Pigs Are Intelligent Animals That Can Be Trained
Much like dogs, they’re curious animals that love to explore, and can be house trained! If trained properly, they have great temperament and will listen to commands. However, there’s a time when a pot bellied pig challenges its human in terms of who’s the alpha in the “herd”. That’s why it’s important to make the pig “earn” its food and treats.
Communication is key. As long as you communicate with your pot bellied pig, you won’t be likely to end up with a hot-headed pet – just like owning a dog!
4. Pot Bellied Pigs Can Be Trained to Use the Litter Box
Pot bellied aren’t entirely like dogs, though. They can be like cats. Guess why? Because they can be litter box trained! Yes, you read that right. Litter box trained! However, it doesn’t mean you can never take one outside. Pot bellied pigs can work off extra energy if they’re outside. They appreciate large living quarters, so that’s why it’s probably a good idea to stick to cats and small pets if you live in an apartment or a condo.
Pot Bellied Pigs Make Good Pets, but Sadly They Are Not Allowed Everywhere
So we’ve established that pot bellied pigs are fun, intelligent, sweet, and just make great pets. That being said, can you believe that they’re not allowed everywhere? Maybe people are so intimidated by their sheer awesomeness that they feel insufficient around pot bellied pigs.
Here’s a list of states that allow pot bellied pigs as pets:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington
If your state is on the list, congratulations, but don’t go out and get one just yet! Those states have their own list of cities that have passed zoning ordinances allowing pot bellied pigs. For example, New York City is the only city in the entire state of New York where pot bellied pigs are legal. If you ask me, that’s kind of odd and counter-productive, as pot bellied pigs don’t do well in small dwellings. Still, that’s better than nothing!
If you’re set on getting one yo can check with the North American Pet Pig Association for a state-by-state list of cities that allow these sweet little oinkers as pets.
Pot Bellied Pigs as Pets: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Do Pot Bellied Pigs Eat?
Pot bellied pigs can eat a large variety of food. They also really like to eat and are therefore prone to obesity. Obesity, however, can cause many health problems for pot bellied pigs, so it’s best avoided. As a pet parent, it would be up to you to make sure your pot bellied pig doesn’t consume too many calories.
The best thing to feed to a pot bellied pig are special mini pig foods you can buy from pet stores, but they also love fresh vegetables.
Fresh vegetables are a particularly good choice for pot bellied pigs because they are low in calories, but provide dietary fiber and a lot of other important nutrients. So, if you get a pot bellied pig, make sure to feed him or her plenty of fresh vegetables like beets, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, potatoes and sweet potatoes. They also really love fruits like apples and pears, that too can be fed in moderation.
2. What Kind of Supplies Do You Need for a Pot Bellied Pig?
Pot bellied pigs do not need a lot of special equipment, but they do need a few things.
For one, a water bowl. Just like dogs, miniature pigs also need to have constant access to clean drinking water, so it’s a good idea to buy a water bowl just for your pet pig.
Besides the water bowl, they’ll also need a food bow and a harness if you plan on taking your pig for walks outside.
If you want to litter train your pot bellied pig, then you’ll also need a large litter box.
3. Are Pot Bellied Pigs Hypoallergenic?
Yes, pot bellied pigs are hypoallergenic, which means that they make the perfect pets for people with allergies.
4. How Much Does a Pot Bellied Pig Cost?
The cost of a pot bellied pig start around $600. However, when deciding to purchase a pot bellied pig, you’ll also need to consider the additional costs on food, supplies and medical care. Pot bellied pigs need to be vaccinated for different diseases like rabies, erysipelas, tetanus, leptospirosis, rhinitis, mycoplasma and pneumonia.
To know how much these vaccination will cost, I recommend to contact a local veterinarian. Chances are that you won’t even need to vaccinate your pet pig for all of the above diseases as the risk of contracting a particular disease differs from one area to another.
5. How Long Do Pot Bellied Pigs Live?
The average lifespan of a pot bellied pig is 12 to 15 years, but some may live as long as 19 years.
6. Do Pot Bellied Pigs and Dogs Get Along?
If you have a dog, then you might be worried that your canine friend won’t get along with your new pet. There is no need to worry, though. Your dog and a pot bellied pig might not be the best friends from the start, but as long as your dog is not aggressive, the two will start to get along very soon. They simply need some time to get used to each other and in time they might even become playmates.
Conclusion: Pot bellied Pigs Can Make Excellent Pets
In conclusion, we can say that pot bellied pigs definitely can make good pets, but when deciding whether it’s the right pet for you, it’s important to consider the above information. Especially the fact that pot bellied pigs do not stay miniature forever and grow up to be quite large.
As already said below, you can expect a pot bellied pig to grow even bigger than some of the largest dog breeds. You also need to consider the fact that a pot bellied pigs can live up 12 to 15 years, so taking a pot bellied pig as a pet is a responsibility for years.
If you have any questions about pot bellied pigs as pets that is not yet answered in the above article, then let us know in the comments below. Also, if you have first hand experience with pot bellied pigs as pets, then you are also welcome to share your stories with us.