What And Why Pot Bellied Pigs Make Great Pets

What is Pot Belly Pig?

Pot-bellied pigs are small sized pigs suitable for indoor living if trained properly. Most range in size from 13-20 inches tall and can grow to approximately 200 lbs. They are curious animals with a humorous disposition and an intelligence only second to that of the dog. They are not finicky eaters and can be house trained.

Pot-bellied pigs became a pet of fashion in the United States in the early 1980s to mid-1990s. Unfortunately not many owners were educated adequately about the care and maintenance of a pot-bellied pig and many were abandoned in newly formed “pig sanctuaries” and “pig rescue” organizations. Since that time, much information has been published and organizations have been formed to give the desiring owner the adequate resources to keep their future pet healthy and maintained.


Why Pot Bellied Pigs Make Great Pets

Did you know that pigs are the fourth most intelligent animal on the planet? They are fourth on the list after humans, primates, dolphins and whales. Most of us can't keep a whale or a dolphin as a pet (for obvious reasons) so if intelligence rates high on your choice of pet, you really should consider pot-bellied pigs.


Pigs are very affectionate, social and intelligent beings and contrary to popular belief aren't smelly by nature, it's only the way they are kept that has given them this reputation. Pigs are generally clean and make good pets for people who are prone to allergies as they are furless.

Pot Belly Pigs are definitely amazing pets to have, but the real question are they the right pet for you? They can be the best pet in the world, but of course without the right knowledge and training, they are can your worst nightmare, there are thousands of pot-belly pigs which are left abandoned, which are left to rot and die, just because the owner didn't first research potbelly pigs, they are very complex animals to try to understand.

The first thing you must always remember with pot-belly pigs, they are known to be very aggressive animals at times, so if you have young children in your household, it's not the best idea to leave them alone with a untrained potbelly pig, but of course children love playing with a trained pot-belly pig, because they are honestly very fun, enjoyable pets to own.

Potbelly pigs are also known not to get along with other animals, so if you already have pet(s), which would interact with your pot-belly pig, it's probably not a very smart idea, but interact with the pig, I mean a animal such as a dog, not some fish you've got on your kitchen side table.

Before you actually decide whether this pet will fit into your lifestyle, some in-depth research is necessary on what you can expect when caring for these animals. It quite often happens that after a while pet owners find that their pets are more than they can handle. But once they have decided this is the pet for them, the responsibility and care needed to own pot belly pigs as pets can be worth the effort and they can make a great addition to the family.