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This exciting little animal has captured the imagination of people all over the world, and has shown himself to be a warm and loving pet that the whole family will enjoy.
Where has this wonderful little pet come from? Here are some facts.
Origins The story begins in southeast Asia which is the home territory of the pot belly pig.
Raised for centuries by the Vietnamese, the first pot bellies were introduced to the United States in 1985 by the pioneering efforts of Keith Connell.
Keith brought 20 pigs in from Europe after seeing them in a zoo there, and although some didn't survive the trip, 18 of them did make it successfully.
These became the original stock that brought forth one of the two main pot belly lines in North America.
Another major line of little pigs began when Keith Leavitt brought some pigs into Texas and began his breeding efforts there.
This was in 1989, so you can see that these little guys have not been in the US for a long time.
Because of this rather recent development of pet pigs, there isn't a lot of information going around about them, or about the other pet pigs which have since been brought into the country.
Key Factors to Think About If you're thinking of getting yourself a pet mini-pig, there are quite a few things to consider.
Unlike the decision to have a cat or a dog, or a canary, the choice of a pet pig is more complicated.
You really must evaluate whether your home environment, your lifestyle and your family can handle the challenge.
A pet pig needs a different level of care, training and a realistic expectation of what it's like to have a pot belly.
He needs a house with a first floor access to a yard to get his exercise and to do his thing.
Even though they are small, cute and cuddly, some may still grow to size that you don't expect, and so you must understand this upfront.
His living space must be planned out, and depending on which breed you choose, home requirements will differ.
The local legal situation must also be checked out because many communities don't recognize him as a pet, and will treat your piggy as a regular 'farm' pig.
Which is another thing: you must make sure that you don't get a 'counterfeit' pig that will grow to over 1,000 pounds, and turns out to be a regular pig! You'll still love him, but can you really give him 'house room'? Time and patience must be available in large quantities because pot belly pigs will need to be trained just like you would train a pooch, only the requirement is greater.
These animals are extremely clean and highly intelligent, in fact, one of the most intelligent animals on the planet.
Still, you don't want them rooting around under your carpets and causing damage.
Clearly, getting a pet pig is not an impulse decision that can be made on a whim.
These pets have a life expectancy of well over 20 years, some say even 30 years, so you are making a long term commitment.
Realize that you will fall in love with this little pet, and will not want to give him up, especially after you've trained him to do tricks, obey your every instruction, and he has become part of the family.
Pet pot bellies can be trained to a litter box, just like a cat, and so most pig owners train their pets to do their business both inside and outside.
They are so clean, and they smell good, but only after they have been neutered.
Will He Fit In? A miniature pig can be quite an investment, so just because you saw a cute little porker, or your friend down the street has one, don't jump in without considering all of the above.
A wrong decision will hurt everyone involved but the one that will suffer the most will be your pet.
Let me not exaggerate the job required to raise and train a pet pig.
Tens of thousands have joined loving families here in America, so the job can be done, and can be the source of much joy for the whole family, provided the conditions are right as described above.
Knowing the facts will allow a pet pig enthusiast with the right circumstances to become a proud and loving owner of a pot belly piglet.
In addition to pot belly pigs, there are other breeds including the Teacup, so named because of his small size, that are available if size might be a problem.
These cuties are adorable, and make wonderful, intelligent pets, just like pot bellies.
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