Safety is one issue when adopting a new pet, and it’s important to find out potential safety hazards even if it’s just from a cute little pig.
Do pigs bite? Pigs sometimes lash out and bite, usually either out of fear or out of lack of discipline. This is why it is important to train pigs as early as possible.
Although wild pigs may show a lot of aggression, domesticated pigs kept as pets are not likely to bite or harm humans unless it has a good reason to do so.
That’s okay, pigs still make the best pets. They are, by their very nature, sweet and friendly creatures. Should they manifest any destructive behavior, it is often because the circumstances led them to become aggressive.
Find out more about why pigs (even the ones you keep at home as your pet) could potentially bite, and how to prevent this from happening.
Potential Reasons for Pigs to Bite
Pigs do not show aggression without the right reasons. Most of the time, when this happens, they have been backed into a corner.
Here are some of the biggest reasons why pigs start to bite:
- Fear
Pigs are generally docile. However, any situation where pigs feel threatened can leave them traumatized. Because of this, they may become aggressive and could overreact over the smallest things.
What situations could make them feel threatened?
Physically hurting them would of course be on top of the list. Even if your pig showed behavior that you didn’t like, there are other ways to show it that the ill behavior is not tolerated other than hurting it. Hurting the pig would only force it to hurt humans in return.
Even emotional pain can push pigs to become aggressive. Pigs thrive in a gentle, loving environment. Shout at it and it could cower in fear. And once that fear is planted, something as simple as a loud noise could cause them to overreact and suddenly bite the nearest human.
- Lack of attention and mental stimulation
Pigs need training the same way other house pets need it. They’re intelligent and curious, and they are natural foragers. If not given the right channel for their curiosity, they will eventually become bored, then impatient, then destructive.
- Lack of attention
Pigs are also social creatures, and they require regular attention. This doesn’t mean that you need to be at their beck and call 24/7. It only means showing them affection and letting them feel that they are part of the family.
The best way to show kids how to behave is showing them how affectionate and playful they should be. Pigs appreciate the occasional belly rub, or even that pat on the head for a job well done. They also love getting treats when they exhibit behavior that you want them to repeat.
Without that positive reinforcement, they wouldn’t know the difference between proper and improper behavior.
How to Prevent Your Pig from Biting
So, what can you do to make sure your pig stays well-behaved and does not do anything to harm people (and other animals) around it?
- Be a loving pet parent.
You don’t need to kiss your pig throughout the day to show your pig that you care for it. In fact, it doesn’t take much to be a loving pig parent — you just need to be a decent human being that knows how pets should be treated.
Speak to your pig kindly, and refrain from raising your voice. Pigs are easily hurt. And when pigs get hurt often, they would also start to find ways to hurt you right back.
Never physically hurt your pig. Did you know that even a joking slap on the pig’s bottom or it’s shoulder area can cause the pig to be offended and traumatized? Be gentle in the way you handle it overall.
- Train your pig early.
You know what they say about little kids having brains like sponges? The same can be said about young pigs.
Piglets are amazingly quick studies. You can teach them basic manners like using the litter box when needed and eating in the right places, and they’ll master it right away.
So make sure that you start training your pig as early as possible. You can start with basic commands like sit or stay.
It’s also good to teach your pig actions that would help teach it how to behave when relating with other important people it will interact with in the future. For example, teaching it to lift its hoof one at a time would be a great help when it’s time to actually trim its hoof.
- Know the importance of rewards.
Pigs have to understand which actions they should repeat and turn into habits, and which ones they should refrain from doing. This is where rewards come in.
Giving your pet pig a few treats when they show good behavior is the best way to show them that this is the kind of behavior you want to see from them all the time. Food treats can be anything from apples and carrots to Cheerios and popcorn.
But wouldn’t that ruin your pig’s diet?
That’s what non-food rewards are for.
As your pig starts to master certain behaviors, you can also start transitioning to words of affirmation and affection. You can pat your pig lightly on the head, or give it a scratch behind its ears.
- Don’t hand feed your pig.
Most of the time, pigs bite when they are given the opportunity to do so.
If you’ve already seen your pig showing signs of aggression, stop feeding it by hand, even temporarily. It will only see this as a sign that you’re okay with it biting your hand. Even if it’s only doing so playfully, it is still a behavior that should not be encouraged.
- Keep your pig busy.
Because pigs are highly intelligent, they don’t just want mental stimulation every so often — they crave for it regularly. Pigs that don’t have much to do get bored. And when they get bored, this is when they start taking matters into their own hands. And sometimes, this means they’re about to do something naughty.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to stay with them and entertain them the whole day. You can give them toys that they can enjoy, and puzzles that they can solve. You don’t need to shop at your local pet store just to find ways to amuse them. Regular things around your home, like juice bottles and balls can amuse a pig for a long time.
You can even set up scavenger hunts for them around your yard to give them an opportunity to practice their foraging. Hide bits of food around and let your pig find them all. Just be creative and you’re sure to come up with activities that will keep your pig too preoccupied to misbehave.
Related Questions
Are pigs good house pets?
Pigs make excellent house pets because they are easy to train and even easier to get along with. They are very friendly and enjoy small acts of affection. They also love playing games and solving puzzles, and are even believed to be more intelligent than dogs. Unlike popular belief, they are also among the cleanest pets you can ever have.
How do you discipline a mini pig?
Pigs are highly intelligent creatures, and it’s quite easy to train them and teach them proper behavior. Little treats and rewards work well with them. Something as simple as a small piece of apple or a Cheerio can help reinforce good behavior. They also appreciate words of affirmation and small pats on the head when you see them doing something good and would remember to repeat the said behavior next time the opportunity arises.
What does it mean when a pet pig wags its tail?
Just like dogs, pigs wag their tails when they are happy and excited. They could be enjoying a game or an activity that you’re doing with them, or they may be looking forward to the treat that you’ll be rewarding them with after completing a puzzle you asked them to solve. Regardless of what it is, a pig wagging its tail is a positive sign that tells you your pig loves how you’re taking care of him.