One of the popular breeds of pet pigs is the Göttingen mini pig. Around year 2010, this breed began to rise in popularity when they became available in pet stores and sold by breeders in USA.
Aside from being raised with a good temperament, these Gottingen mini pigs are also very smart and easy to handle compared to larger breeds.
What else is great about the Gottingen mini pigs? In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the Göttingen mini pigs.
History and Origin
The Gottingen mini pigs was raised and bred for medical research purposes. They were developed by crossbreeding the Minnesota mini pig, Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig and the German Landrace pig.
Until today, Gottingen mini pigs are commonly used for research. Raising this breed began around the year 1960 at the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics which is located at the University of Gottingen, Germany.
Being the first breed of miniature pig developed in Europe, the Gottingen mini pig was proven to be easier to care for because they are small and require fewer expenses.
Around the year 1992, a colony of Gottingen mini pigs accustomed to barriers or fencing were raised in Denmark. This colony became the source of Gottingen mini pigs sent throughout different areas in Europe for research.
Gottingen mini pigs started to be bred in the United States around year 2003. After this, Japan followed the other countries and also raised Gottingen mini pigs in their country around year 2010.
2010 is the year Gottingen mini pigs became available as pets throughout pet stores and sold by breeders.
It is said that the Gottingen mini pig is the smallest domestic breed of pig and is still being effectively used for medical research. The Gottingen mini pigs have been contributing efficiently and that is why they have become truly popular over the years.
Anatomy and Physical Appearance
As mentioned above, the Gottingen mini pig is a product of crossbreeding. The involved breeds were the Minnesota mini pig, Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig and the German Landrace pig.
The Gottingen mini pigs inherited traits from each breed and will be explained in detail under this section.
Minnesota mini pig is known for their small and short legs just like the Vietnamese Pot-bellied pigs. Because of this, the Gottingen mini pigs have small bodies and short legs just like the two breeds.
At times, they are born with a pot-belly just like the Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig.
The German Landrace pig has a common color of white hair or pink skin which most Gottingen mini pigs look like today.
COLORS — Even though Gottingen mini pigs usually have white hair / pink skin, when crossbred with other colorful breeds they can still come in various other colors. There are spotted Gottingen mini pigs after pairing them with the colorful mini pigs, the Juliana pigs.
HEAD — Gottingen mini pigs have a small head and a small face and the formation of their mouth makes them look like they’re always happy or smiling!
EARS — Their ears are only small to medium in length and is often pricked upwards. The mini pig has control over their ears and you may occasionally see the ears “twitch” if they are focusing on a certain sound from afar. Most pigs have great sense of hearing.
SNOUT (THE NOSE) — They also have short snouts that is sensitive to touch because of their great sense of smell which makes up for their poor eyesight. The snout is usually pink in color, like the rest of their bodies.
WEIGHT — The average body weight of an adult Gottingen mini pig is said to only reach 26 kilos (57 pounds). Males can grow bigger depending on their diet but will stay close to the average, normal weight.
HEIGHT — The average matured Gottingen mini pig can grow about 10 to 20 inches tall (25 cm to 50 cm). They may grow taller than 20 inches, but it is said to be uncommon.
TEETH — Gottingen mini pigs will have normal and non-sharp teeth but can still bite really hard onto food. All pigs usually get their needle sharp teeth clipped moments or hours after birth.
The sharp teeth get replaced by normal teeth afterwards.
TUSKS — all pigs grow tusks including domestic breeds like Gottingen mini pigs. Male or female, wild or domestic, there are no exceptions.
Females usually have shorter or smaller tusks that rarely grow long or large enough to stick out of their mouths. Because of this trait, it was one of the easy ways to identify the gender of the pigs in the wild.
The tusks serve as a pig’s offensive and defensive weapon. However, domestic pigs usually have their tusks completely removed as it serves no purpose in captivity.
For those who may not be aware, the tusk is actually part of the jawbones and is considered part of the teeth. This means that if you cut off their tusks, it will not grow back.
However, trimming is a different task and is only done to care for the pig.
NAILS AND HOOVES — Gottingen mini pigs also have hooves and “dewclaws” that may need trimming. On an average, a pig should have trimming at least once a year.
Indoor pigs will require more trimming while outdoor pigs that have a stable, solid footing may only require lesser trimming sessions.
TAIL — Gottingen mini pigs often have short, straight tails that have hair on the end and they are also capable of curling them. There is no actual explanation why pigs curl their tails but there are a lot of theories as to why they do.
The only known purpose of a pig’s tail is to drive away insects like flies. It is to reach the areas their legs and mouth cannot reach.
Curious why pigs have curly tails? We have an article about that for you here.
Characteristics and Personality
Gottingen mini pigs are praised for their active, patient and friendly behaviors. These mini pigs are fond of human contact and can easily be attached to a person like a baby that found a mom.
They are harmless and peaceful animals which can keep anyone entertained by their tendency to be playful and a bit clumsy. Aside from this, pigs are actually very clean animals unlike what we know them for.
Gottingen mini pigs are great pets for first time pig owners and can be trusted around kids as long as the child is supervised and will not potentially harm the pig as a playful gesture.
These mini pigs may have a small body, but they have big personality waiting to surprise you. They will charm you with their pure hearts.
Unlike other breeds, Gottingen mini pigs do not develop a dominant behavior and not even a territorial behavior. They are smart enough to know their size can’t handle stirring up trouble but of course, even large pigs avoid conflict as much as they can.
Gottingen mini pigs are easily loved by anyone who comes across them.
Intelligent creatures
Aside from being such peaceful animals, they are very intelligent too. Just like any other pig, they are quick learners and can remember a lot of things.
It is a fact that pigs ranked fifth among the most intelligent animals in the world. Gottingen mini pigs won’t continue being used for medical research if they weren’t smart and easy to deal with.
Pigs are also capable of outsmarting chimpanzees, one of the top smartest animals we’ve ever known!
The Gottingen mini pigs can also really surprise you with their great memory as well as how fast they can learn and pick up hints about certain things.
Aside from ranking fifth in the world ranking, scientific studies and research also stated that an average pig have the same intelligence level as a 2 year old human child.
They discovered that pigs can have better focus and produce a higher success rate when it comes to tests and challenges unlike dogs and chimps.
Not all dogs can learn as fast as a pig can, as some dogs are known to be stubborn or even be full of pride. Although they are usually submissive, many dogs can be stubborn when it comes to training.
Unlike pigs that seem to naturally learn without feeling forced. They are obedient animals. They tend to learn faster because of their ability to focus better.
The advantage of being a prey
Another reason why pigs such as Gottingen mini pigs have such great intelligence compared to others is because they are prey animals.
Although the Gottingen mini pigs have never known the wild because they were domesticated from the moment they were born, they still retain their wild instincts and natural traits.
Most pets that we have kept and raised are predator animals like cats and dogs so now we are being surprised by a prey like pigs and their capabilities! It’s about time we give these animals an opportunity to be loved and understood.
Prey animals need to be on alert more than predators and thus, may develop a more sensitive way of living. They need to be smarter than their swift and strong predators.
Pigs possibly learned to enhance their intelligence by adapting and learning how to outsmart their predators.
Predators do not have to be on guard most of the time, they are usually comfortable anywhere and don’t struggle as hard as a prey when searching for food.
I have a personal saying regarding this aspect in life. The poor may be poor, but they can definitely be wiser than the rich.
It’s because when you are always on edge, you become desperate to cling on for survival. While those who are at the top have it easy and tend to forget the meaning of challenges.
When life is hard, it teaches you to become strong. Even if they are prey animals, if their minds are strong, their chances of survivability will definitely increase.
Gottingen mini pigs can be house trained
Even though Gottingen mini pigs are mainly used for medical research purposes and live within places facilitated by medical teams, they are still capable of being house trained if ever you have to keep one.
Many pig owners say that pigs can learn faster than dogs. Gottingen mini pigs or just pigs in general, can be house trained. They may learn how to use the litter box, play fetch and do several other tricks.
It has also been proven that the “treat rewarding” method works very well with pigs when training them.
Compassionate
In relation to their intelligence, pigs like Gottingen mini pigs are capable of being compassionate. Their smart brains allow them to feel both negative and positive emotions.
This means that they can also feel pain, become depressed, be excited and many more! Because of this, many people are convinced that the cruel treatment towards livestock pigs should come to an end.
They are not mindless creatures that are supposed to be treated like objects or tools for our own gains. Gottingen mini pigs deserve to be treated fairly just like other breeds of pigs.
Gottingen mini pigs can sense grief
Pigs are capable of sensing grief from other animals, their companions or their human owners. When they do, they have a tendency to console them for comfort.
Gottingen mini pigs are aware when a companion passes away or when they get left behind or abandoned. They can be sad, depressed and lonely to the point of crying real tears when mourning their loss or simply missing something or someone.
Gottingen mini pigs can be sensitive
Since they have almost the same mentality or intelligence level as a child, you can expect them to behave similarly to a child. Gottingen mini pigs can grow bored when isolated or uneasy when kept in an uncomfortable place and more.
They are capable of being stubborn, being spoiled, become manipulative or dominant. However, they are never violent. Most pigs will never attack you unless they are deeply provoked or threatened in a corner.
A pig the size of a Gottingen mini pig may not pose a threat to you and can probably not harm you even if they tried. Still, it is best to not put them in a situation where they can be traumatized.
When a pig is mistreated or abused, they WILL remember it. They know how to hold grudges, remember the faces of their abusers but they can also be grateful and remember those who cared for them.
This is part of the reason why they are lovely animals, because they exhibit a behavior where the owners must be emotionally prepared as Gottingen mini pigs can be emotionally sensitive too.
Pigs must be handled with genuine love and care!
Breeding and Life Expectancy
Gottingen mini pigs are continuously becoming a successful breed ever since they first appeared. Unlike many other breeds that are threatened and endangered, Gottingen mini pigs have never faced endangerment.
Like most breeds, the Gottingen mini pigs usually become sexually matured at around 6 to 7 months of age. Breeders may prefer to breed them around 1 year of age.
Offspring
Gottingen mini pigs commonly give birth to at least 5 to 10 liters (piglets) every pregnancy. Depending on the pig’s age, the number of piglets produced can either grow or lessen.
If you’re interested in learning more about breeding, you can check our article about that here.
Life expectancy
The Gottingen mini pig’s average life expectancy is 15 years up to 20 years.
Although the popular pet breed “mini pigs” which includes the Gottingen mini pig breed are said to have shorter lifespan due to their complicated and selective breeding, many pig owners claim their pets lived up to 15 years and more.
This information brings us to the conclusion that there are times that they can live longer than their expected lifespan as long as they are healthy and loved.
Up to this day, it is rare for a Gottingen mini pig to be born with health issues like other pigs that are also products of selective breeding.
Habitat and Environment
The Gottingen mini pigs do not have a known wild habitat as they live in captivity from the moment they were created.
Natural habitat
In general, the wild habitat for most pigs can be moist forests, swamps and woodlands, especially oak forests and regions where seeds are abundant.
Environment
All pigs especially small breeds like the Gottingen mini pigs will prefer to inhabit places with favorable climate. Although they function better under mild or cool temperatures, they can still be sensitive to severe cold or extreme heat.
These pigs are prey animals and also need to be kept away from possible predators. If they have a wide space to graze outside, there must be fences to keep out animals like wolves, coyotes or even regular stray dogs.
Most pigs are sensitive to harsh weather conditions and thus must be protected from extreme heat and severe cold. They must be shielded from rain and any kind of storms.
Space
Gottingen mini pigs in captivity will need specific space and conditions in order to thrive properly on a daily basis.
Since they are smart and can be sensitive, if they are cramped up in one place for too long, they may grow bored which may possibly lead to destructive behavior.
Destructive behavior is uncommon for Gottingen mini pigs and owners must fix negative behavior by proper enforcing discipline lessons.
If they do not have enough space or freedom to roam and explore, they may become depressed. Pigs are naturally curious animals and prefer living outdoors as much as possible.
Depending on the number of other pigs that will live with them, a pig the size of a Gottingen mini pig should be able to have a pen of at least 2 meters in size.
If they are being kept as indoor pets, which they usually are, the best solution is to give them access to at least one or two rooms to give them comfort.
Know more about how much space most pigs need by reading our article about it here.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Every animal including humans have its own imperfections. All pets will have its own pros and cons. Gottingen mini pigs have more pros than cons, but of course, it’s important to learn what they are to fully understand their breed.
These pros and cons are applicable to many other breeds of pigs as they all exhibit similar traits and behavior. If you have read most of our articles, you may find these details similar with each other.
The explanation behind it is because all pigs have a similar nature which makes them little to no different with each other.
| PROS | CONS |
| Not a picky eater | Prone to diseases if not careful! |
| Good as pets | Can be spoiled and stubborn |
| Social animals | Can be sensitive |
| Clean animals | Needs enough space |
PROS
1. Not a picky eater
Pigs of any breed including Gottingen mini pigs have an opportunistic mentality when it comes to feeding. As long as it looks edible, they will accept and eat it.
They have what we call a “stomach of steel” which means they can eat almost anything without getting sick from it.
However, just because they can eat anything including junk, doesn’t mean we should feed them with just anything. Certain food can still be harmful to their health and will weaken their immune system.
Read “What can I feed my Pig” if you’re curious to know about what pigs can eat and should not eat.
2. Good as pets
Regardless of gender, Gottingen mini pigs make good pets because of their fondness towards human contact, interacting with new things and being peacefully active unlike other breeds where certain male pigs could develop territorial behavior.
If you’re looking for the next perfect family pet or piggy friend, Gottingen mini pigs are one of the top choices.
3. Social animals
Aside from being generally kind, Gottingen mini pigs are also capable of getting along well with other pets like cats. They can get along with dogs too, but it’s safer to leave them with animals that are close to them in size.
Dogs may be as large as a large breed of pigs, but they are clearly more powerful than pigs and can cause unwanted injuries or accidents when put together.
As long as you are comfortable that your dogs won’t hurt your Gottingen mini pig, they can definitely be great friends too.
The Gottingen mini pigs are great companions or playmates for your kids and other house pets which is why they deserve to be treated with love.
4. Clean animals
Unlike what we originally thought of them, Gottingen mini pigs are clean and prefer to keep their living area clean too.
As much as possible, they will assign a corner to become their toilet area in order to avoid soiling their living space.
They will enjoy baths and prefer water more than mud. Most pigs only rolled around in mud to keep cool because it’s the only thing they can do when there is no pond of water around them.
CONS
1. Prone to diseases if not careful
The disadvantage of being a non-picky eater is the risk of eating a harmful food that can infect their systems.
Gottingen mini pigs can eat anything including scrap food, junk, rotten food, spoiled food, decomposing food and decaying carcasses.
This is why it’s important to supervise your pig during feeding time or when letting them outside in order to prevent them from eating unwanted food.
They are also strictly prohibited from eating meat (including any other meat products and food that has had contact with meat) as it is the easiest way for them to be infected by a disease that may be transmitted to humans.
You can read our article entitled “Can Pigs eat Meat?” if you would like to have more information about this topic.
2. Can be spoiled and stubborn
Since Gottingen mini pigs have a wide range of emotions, they also have bad sides too. They can be stubborn if you spoil them too bad and become destructive as mentioned earlier.
Destructive behavior in adult Gottingen pigs can be a sign of stress, depression or a way to express their playfulness if they are still young.
If you think your pig is behaving deeply negative, it’s important to get them checked as it could be their only way of expressing internal pain that we usually do not notice until it gets worse!
Negative behavior is also a sign of mistreatment and abuse. This behavior can easily be corrected with proper training and discipline. An abused pig needs love and patience in order for them to heal and recover.
3. Can be sensitive
Did you know that raising your voice can also leave a bad impact on your pigs? Gottingen mini pigs are no exception to this. For some, they might perceive it as a hostile behavior.
Little actions such as slight hitting will also be remembered by your Gottingen mini pig. They remember a lot of things, be it good or negative.
Leaving them alone for long hours can also be unhealthy when your Gottingen mini pig doesn’t have enough space to explore or companions to interact with.
To some, it may be similar to leaving a child alone.
This is why, people who plan to own Gottingen mini pigs should be aware of their emotional sensitivity. Remember, your piggy friend remembers!
4. Needs enough space
This has been mentioned many times in this thread. But yes, many first time owners are not aware that pigs need space! Other animals may tolerate being kept in one spot, but not Gottingen mini pigs.
They might try to make several escapes or even attempt to break through obstacles just to get to freedom. If they do not try to be free, they will become lonely and depressed.
This is why it’s frequently mentioned in order to remind potential owners that they need to be ready for adjusting their homes and make it “pig-proof”!
It might take some effort which is why it is considered as a disadvantage when owning Gottingen mini pigs or any other pigs.
Read about a similar topic in order to get an idea how to pig proof your home. Read: “Keeping a Pig Indoors”
RELATED QUESTIONS
- How much is a Gottingen mini pig?
A Gottingen mini pig could cost around $300 up to $3000. The prices may differ depending on the age and gender of the pig and can also be different depending on your area and breeder.
They are a highly demanded breed of mini pigs which is why there are stores and breeders that take this opportunity to sell them at a higher price.
In an event where you may find a cheap priced Gottingen mini pig, it is best to be cautious as there are also tricky breeders that will trick buyers into believing a pig is “miniature” when in reality, it’s just newborn piglet of a common breed that will grow twice larger later on.
For a safe and secured transaction, always seek a reputable breeder.
Taking risky steps will not only be a loss for your end, but could also end up bad for the purchased pigs that become unwanted pets later on. Let us be responsible shoppers and pet owners.
- What is a Pot-bellied pig?
Pot-bellied pigs are a naturally small breed of pigs. The most common or popular Pot-bellied pig is the Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig which is often used for crossbreeding.
The Vietnamese Potbellied pig is an endangered breed of domesticated pigs. Their common color is black and has short legs and a low-hanging belly where they got the name “Potbelly” from.
Potbelly pigs are also known as “miniature pigs”, “teacup pigs” and “micro pigs”. These “mini pigs” are bred through careful and selective breeding.
An average purebred Potbelly could grow 13 to 26 inches for height and 60 to 175 pounds in weight. It is very small compared to other breed of pigs.
The traditional name for the Vietnamese Potbelly pigs is “Lon I” or “I” pig.
Over the years, the “Lon I” pigs were used to develop the “miniature” breed which is now popularly known as the Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs.
Read more about the Potbelly Pigs here.