The North American
Potbellied Pig Association
The Ins and Out of Being A Pig Parent
Living Accommodations and Grooming
&
Discipline and BehaviorÓ
Living Accommodations and Grooming
This is offered as a brief outline of what your pet pig needs to live happily in your home. There are several good books and manuals available to you that expand these recommendations Please seek out advice from your breeder and other sources of information as you continue to live with your pig. To help your Potbellied Pig live a long and healthy life; the following are several considerations.
Don’t
Do
Summer
shelter, shade, & sunscreen
fresh water to drink
water in which the pig can cool off (child’s wading pool)
Winter
shelter and bedding
fresh water to drink
supplemental heat and bedding when the temperature is under 50 degrees
By caring for your pig’s environmental and grooming needs, you assure yourself of giving your Potbellied Pig the necessary living conditions for a healthy life. With the monthly beauty checks, you provide yourself an opportunity to identify and to ward off a potential health problem for your pet.
Discipline and Behavior
These brief suggestions are just the beginning of understanding your pet pig. NAPPA encourages you to continue to gather information about your Potbellied Pig by observation, asking questions, and seeking out experienced advice from qualified breeders, Vets, and other pig parents. To help your pet pig live a long and healthy life; the following are several considerations.
Don’t
Do
The training and discipline of your pig are your responsibility. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly. Your pig is never to young to begin her training. From the very beginning, she must understand the parameters of acceptable behavior, and be corrected if she doesn’t mind you. Pigs are hierarchial by nature, thus the owner must always be in charge. Your pigs should be taught from the first moment she enters your home that ALL HUMANS, in all cirumstances, are to be respected and never challenged. Never under estimate your pig and always establish yourself as “top pig”. Your Potbellied Pig, who is a living, intelligent and loving creature, is totally dependent on you to give her the home and training she deserves.
Note: This brochure is meant as an overview of what to consider as you care for your Potbellied Pig. NAPPA recommends you continue to read other more in depth publications about these topics. Also, seek out reputable breeders and qualified Veterinarians as other good sources of information.
NAPPA © 1997 All Rights Reserved
This article is being used with the permission of NAPPA and is copyright protected.
NAPPA is here to serve you. Should you have any questions, please feel free to write or call the phone number listed below:
NORTH AMERICAN POTBELLIED PIG ASSOCIATION
408 14th Street, SW
Ruskin, FL 33570
813-641-1278