Growing up, I remember two pets that I so desperately wanted. The first was a Hamster, which never happened as a result of my brother being on the losing end of an agreement, and the other was a Pot-Bellied Pig, which never happened because… well, it was a pig. As a birthday present for myself (yes, I turned another year older today), I am going to see what I missed out on as we spend the next 5 minutes learning about the fascinating Pot-Bellied Pig.

The Perfect Size

Our story starts in Vietnam, where this breed of domesticated pig was first bred. Naturally, this breed of pig has since spread all over the world and is a popular pet…unfortunately, it wasn’t popular enough to convince my parents but what can you do? It is important to note that the Pot-Bellied Pig is the same species as regular ol’ farm pigs but they have been cross bred to reduce their size to that of a medium-sized dog. There is quite a debate going on in the Pig world about the healthy weight of these smaller pigs. Some believe that a Pot-Bellied Pig needs to be at least 60 pounds to be considered healthy, while others feel it is possible to breed 20-30 pound P0t-Belly that is still perfectly healthy. I am not sure what the right answer is but regardless of their size, these pigs are cute.

The Trained Pot-Bellied Pig

Not only are pet pigs cute but they are very intelligent. As a result, these pets are able to learn basic commands such as sit and stay and can easily be litter or house trained, which was probably a feature I should have tried selling my parents on. Although being one of the smartest animals on the planet isn’t always a good thing for their owners as these pigs are quite good at opening doors, getting into cupboards and basically out-smarting their owners, so make sure you keep an eye on them.

Just Like Humans

While the temperament of these pigs vary, they are typically friendly creatures, however, males tend to be more aggressive as they mature – you know how old people get cranky…well the same thing with pigs. Similarly, Pot-Bellied Pigs will usually go through their teen years the same way as your teenage son or daughter – testing your limits and frustrating you. But the joy of taking your pet pig for a nice leisurely walk or rolling in the mud makes all those frustrating years worth it.

Featured Photo Credit:  Jessica Worrall