Pot-Bellied Pigs: A New Kind of Pet

Are you thinking about getting a pet, but you don’t like cats because they climb up on everything and use your furniture as their scratching posts. And you also don’t like dogs either, because they bark a lot and like some, may bite your neighbor whom you don’t like anyway.

You’ve tried pet birds and have realized that they are way too messy. The pet fish you had was more trouble than he was worth and the hamster wanted to bite you when you tried to hold him or feed him.

Well then, the Pot-Bellied Pig may just be the pet you’re looking for. He is nothing like the animals we just talked about. He can’t climb, he can’t scratch up your furniture, he can’t bark, he’s not messy, and he never bites.

Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Well, believe it. The Pot-Bellied Pig has been rated as one of the best and most easily trained pets around. He has been in the spotlight as a well known, well behaved pet since the tenth century.

He is so well behaved and easily trained that he is often used in the medical field as a therapy animal. Many have been trained to help with the blind and any rehabilitation or community services needed. The “Gold Star Registry” promotes the use of the Pot-Bellied Pig in the medical profession as a mental health worker.

The Pot-Bellied Pig’s good nature and level of intelligence makes him the best candidate for a pet when it comes to the entire piggy population. He is the one qualified for this rewarding position in our society.

The Pot-Bellied Pig originated in Southeast Asia and China. They were descendants of Eurasian Feral pigs and were used as pets and for food.

In China and Asia they were treated as family, fed from the table and allowed to come and go as they pleased. They slept inside with the family and were admired by the children. In Asia, the pig stood for prosperity, which is where the Americans got the symbol of the piggy bank.

There are two recognized bloodlines of Pot-Bellied Pigs in the United States, the “Connell’s” and the “Leavitt’s”. Leavitt’s pigs have a longer nose and were imported into the United States from Europe in 1989. Connell’s pigs were imported into Canada in 1985 from Europe. He sold many of their offspring.

The US has more Pot-Bellied Pigs today than any other country in the world. All truly purebred Pot-Bellied Pigs registered have pedigrees traceable to the original “Connell and “Leavitt” lines. There are a few other bloodlines that are considered to be purebred but are not traceable to these bloodlines. They are the “Lone Star”, “Global Exotics Imperial” and “FWF Majestic” lines.

There are many pigs that are being passed off as purebred Pot-Bellies and are not. They have been crossed with the Pot-Bellied Pig and carry many of his outward traits.

A true purebred, registered Pot-Bellied Pig has an extremely high price tag. They are priced between $3,000 and $34, 000. They come with a certified pedigree tracing the ancestors back to the original “Connell” and “Leavitt” bloodlines.

When prompting to by a purebred Pot-Bellied Pig, there are things that you should always check, like the tail. Which should be straight with hair at its’ tip and never cork screwed. His back should be swayed and may or may not be wrinkled. And the coloration should be black and white (Pinto), white and gray, white (Royals) or (Imperials), or solid black. Their hair should never part down the middle of the back. The ears should be short as should the nose. The nose should also have some wrinkles. The eyes should be deep set, black or brown and can be blue in white pigs but never red. This signals an “Albino”. The feet should have two toes pointing forward and a dewclaw. He should come with a health certificate and a vet certified examination, along with his registration papers and a certified pedigree. Always study the standards on any animal or breed before making a purchase. There are too many people trying to take advantage of others just to make a dollar or in this case, 34,000 of them. Most importantly, never buy any animal without first seeing the parents. They are a reference to what the animal you’re buying will turn out to be like, even down to the disposition (attitude).

A Pot-Bellied Pig’s weight should range from 35 on up to 300 pounds. The most desired weight is 50 to 95 pounds. They eat all day long and will become so overweight that they can not see and their belly will drag the ground. Unless they are very well supervised, they will eat anything. Do not buy them feed in stores recommended for farm pigs. This feed is given to farm pigs to fatten them up for eating and you do not want to add any more weight to your Pot-Belly than he already has. “Purina” has food specified just for the Pot-Bellied Pig that takes him from a piglet to a full grown senior. Never feed him table scraps or corn. Popcorn is fine as a snack. Fruits and vegetables are a very good source of nutrition. Papaya can be given to him as a snack and it acts as a natural wormer. Never feed him dog or cat food. He will need to eat more in the winter than in the summer, but he will need more water in the summer. Pot-Bellies can dehydrate in a matter of hours because they do not have sweat glands except for on their nose. Always see to it that he has fresh drinking water and food in a very heavy bowl. Pigs like to root and they may knock it over if the bowls are not heavy enough. Never give your pig salt or chocolate. He will continue to grow and gain weight up until he is about six years old. Female Pot-Bellies get bigger with every litter of piglets they have. So, keep in mind that the more he eats, the bigger he’ll get. Take heed not to spoil him too much.