Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Are Teacup Potbelly Pigs Right For Your Family?

By Lana Bray


If your family is ready for a pet, you may have been hearing a lot about teacup potbelly pigs and decided to get one. These beauties are sometimes called micro pigs, or minis too. Deciding to bring in a pig can be a big decision to make because they can live up to twenty years. Sometimes when families cannot adjust to the new addition, they end up going to shelters or foster families to spend the rest of their life and this can sometimes be a sad situation.

What size will your pig get? This depends on the mother and fathers size. If one is large and the other is small, then chances are the pig will be smaller than the standard potbelly but still larger than when they are first born. When they are born, they are small enough to fit inside of a regular teacup so that is how they got their name. But as they grow, they tend to get bigger and heavier too. Sometimes people believe that they are going to stay teacup size for the rest of their life but this is not always they case.

If your children, spouse, or yourself suffer from pet allergies, then a pig may be the answer as a pet. You still get to love a pet as you would a dog but you do not have the problem of allergies. People think of pigs as some wild creatures that live on a farm, roll in the dirty mud, and eat slop from a trough but todays domestic piglets do not follow this suit.

Your pig needs training immediately upon arrive. Start with the basics like litter box training and walking. Fit them for a harness and get them use to it. Offer food and water often.

You will need to walk your potbelly every day but walk slow enough for them to keep up with you without running. They love to run but usually in spells where they can entertain everyone around them.

Pigs drink a lot of water so allow him or her to have access to water most of the time. Food should only be offered about two to three times per day. Once they walk away from their bowl, put it up until next feeding.

When choosing a leash for piggie, you need one that is comfortable and fits right. You need to maintain control of your pig when you walk though so do not get one that is too loose. It is important to walk your mini at the same time every day. Pigs love to keep the same schedule every day.

Teacup potbelly pigs are great to have around and have a lot of love to give your family. When purchasing a piglet through a private owner, be sure to ask to see both parents on site before you give them any money. Inquire about raising pigs from the owner who should be eager to answer your questions.




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