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POT BELLIED PIGS, CHILDREN AND PETS

Pot belly pigs and children sometimes do not get along well together. Pigs are a herd animal and need to establish dominance over those they see as weak, such as small children. They will even do this to adults, but figure out quickly that this is a losing proposition.

Pigs sometimes see small children as something they can dominate. This is not to say that some will not get along with children. They will. But, potbellied pigs do have a pecking order. If you have one pig and a child or children, the pig may attempt to become the 'dominant' pig of the house.

Another potential problem is that children sometimes tend to hit or mistreat pets either in play or because they think the pet did something wrong.

When it comes to pot belly pigs you should NEVER hit them. They WILL remember!

TIP: If you are trying to teach a pet pig something and you use the old approach of hitting them when they do not do what you want (sort of like what many people do with dogs or, unfortunately, their children) you can pretty much bank on them NEVER, EVER doing what it is you are are trying to teach them. When it comes to teaching your pig, patience and FOOD are what will win out!

POTBELLIED PIGS AND CATS

PBP's seem to get along best with cats. My cats think that they make great pillows and love to lay on them during the summer months outside. The pigs on the other hand could care less about the cats.

All my pigs except one male, Clyde. Clyde absolutely loves our cat Pebbles! They are best friends. If Pebbles rubs up against Clyde, his mohawk (hair) goes up and sometimes he lays right down!!

Pigs and cats make great companions. If you think your pet pig needs a companion, then a cat may be the answer.

POTBELLIED PIGS AND DOGS

Pigs and dogs can get along, but for the pigs sake they should NEVER be left alone together. They should always be supervised. Now why do we say this?

Dogs are predators by nature and pigs are prey. If something upsets the dog, and it is the pig, it is natural for the dog to attack. And normally it is the pig that startds things, but the dog will finish it.

They should NEVER be fed close to each other. If you are not going to be around, make sure you have your dog and pig separated.

My male, Ziggy, who was a throwaway, almost had his face ripped off by the dog of his previous family. This happened over food. So, if you are going to have a pig(s) and a dog(s), just know that you MUST supervise them constantly.

NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE TOGETHER!

Dogs and pigs should NEVER be unsupervised or left alone together. Again, it is the law of nature...dogs are predators and pigs are prey. While some dogs do well when pigs are young there comes a time when the dog has something the pig wants (like food) and pig will not back off like another dog. Then there is a problem.

While some dogs tolerate the pig they also get their blood in an uproar when or if that piglet starts screaming. Even the best natured dog can lose it with a pig. Not that the pig doesn't ask for it because they won't back off but that's of no help to the pig when the dog decides he has had enough.

Almost every week there are E-mail's of a dog somewhere who has killed or hurt a pig. Many times it is a dog and pig that have lived together for years. But, something happens and the pig pays the price.

Those of you that have dogs, please NEVER leave them alone with the pigs. Even the most well behaved dog can blow his cool and the pig WILL pay the price.

Then there are dogs that will run a fence with the pigs on the other side and literally run the piglets to death. That pig scream is an open invitation to a dog. There are people that have lucked out but the luck may not be everyone's and again its not worth the risk. Anytime you put two species together with one being predator and one being prey you can have problems.

POTBELLIED PIGS, HORSES AND GOATS

Goats and PBP's can get along, but in this case it really depends on the disposition of the goat and the pig. Some people that have Pygmy goats said that when fully grown they did get nasty with the pig(s).

Seems the Pygmy goats like to head butt and I have heard of several cases with serious results.

I have also heard that horses and pigs can get along, but it appears that they mainly just ignore each other. Except when the horse wants to 'play'. Well, play to a horse can result in severe injury to the pig.

As with any animal they do have their own personalities and it will depend on the individual animals as to if they will get along or not.

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