A Few Helpful Tips for those first few days with your new baby pig!
FIRST: Give It Time.
When you bring them home, start them off in a small room in your house – preferably a tiny bathroom or laundry room. They will need to live in this room for the first week or two so be sure it’s out of your way and you won’t be having to move them around a lot to new spaces. I do not recommend sitting them down openly in your house when you bring them home to roam freely – they must first bond with you and your family in a small area and then gradually be introduced to the rest of the house. While puppies can be brought home and follow you, pigs are completely different! They are prey animals and if they feel exposed in a new place and don’t know you yet, when you go to pick them up they will think you’re a predator and they will dart and run away from you. They need to learn who you are and feel safe in their surroundings before they let their guard down. Don’t be hard on yourself or your new baby. It’s part of the process!!
Give them time. The best way to approach your new piglet when you bring it home is to get on their level – sit on the floor of their new area (small bathroom or laundry room) with a blanket and let them come to you. Hold your hand out flat towards them, allow them to smell you and touch you with their noses. Speak sweetly and cheerfully to them, call them by name, and simply talk to them. Don’t run behind them to the corner, quickly reach down to grab them, chase them, or get frustrated, pop them, spank them, or any kind of physical touch other than softly holding or petting. If you hurt them in any way, they will flinch and struggle to trust your hands. I rescued a pig years ago … children had hit her with their toys, chased her in the house, held her improperly, etc. and made her absolutely terrified so they neglected their commitment to love her and rehired her … I am lucky to have found her. It took me 6 solid months of daily food, love, tummy scratches, singing to her, etc. for her to let her guard down when I would reach to love on her. Her entire body would just tense up and she would close her eyes like she expected the worst. It was heartbreaking. That little girl grew up to follow me everywhere and lay down anywhere I stopped in the yard and squeak her gums every time she saw me coming (a happy sign from pigs, by the way!)
Pigs typically like to keep their feet on the ground. They’re not always keen on the idea of being picked up and carried everywhere – at least in the beginning – this will get easier. They are prey animals so when they can’t touch the ground, they don’t feel safe. While puppies are typically crawling all over you and trust you from the get-go, pigs are slower to trust – they’re still trying to get to know you and they’re not sure if you could be a predator! The best way to bond with them is on their level … on the ground! Sit with them, lay beside them, talk to them. Sometimes you just have to lay there in their room and let them walk towards you, smell you, and decide you’re safe! It all takes time. Earn their trust and you’ll have a lifelong best friend!! It’s worth it!!
They love to be cozy! Designate 2 blankets just for their use that’s large enough to sprawl out on and cuddle in! They love plush and soft things to cuddle up in and bury their tiny noses in. Sometimes they cover their face altogether; it makes them feel safe and not exposed. To help with holding them in this first week, pick them up with the blanket and hold them against you, gently wrap your arms around them, pat on them, give warm scratches behind their ears and rock side to side. The goal is just to help them feel safe and know that you’re their friend! If they squeal and squirm, give them some space and try again. You don’t want them to feel pressured or trapped every time you hold them. Let them know that you will listen to them but also remain persistent to hold them.
Stay easy going … Pigs can sense emotions really well from us and they’re extremely sensitive! They feel emotions just like we do — sad, happy, frustrated, stressed, etc. Take it easy! If they’re not running straight to you or trusting you as fast as you’d prefer, take a break. Sit there quietly and let them decide to come see you or go do a few things in the house and try again. Rome wasn’t built in a day! These babies are the most loyal and loving creatures, so once you earn their trust, they will do everything in the world to please you and will truly follow you everywhere you go!
Everything takes time! Baby pigs are one of the greatest pets to own for any age! I have had the sweetest pet pigs since I was in mother’s morning out (really little) … Each pig warms up in their own time – just like not every child learns to crawl, walk, talk, or write at the same pace, pigs also need time to grow, develop, and become your tiny new best friend! Congrats again …. you just bought your new sidekick and I can’t wait to hear about the fun stories and memories you create along the way. I’d love to see pictures of your babies or hear about your experience – or as always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at any time! I’m not claiming to be an expert, just simply a girl that loves her baby pigs and will do anything for them and to help you bond with your baby!
