Do pigs make good pets?

By: Tlon Uqbar

Last night as I was looking at my pets run around and play with each other I began to wonder, do pigs make good pets?

There are a lot of resources available online and most of them will agree that pigs make great pets! The thing is, though, there are certain things you need to consider before buying one. On the positive side, they are affectionate, fun, and it’s not a big deal to raise one! On the other hand, they have certain issues - they are not made for apartments, their manure smells awful (even though pigs don’t smell at all!) and they might have territorial issues with dogs.

All in all, a pet pig sounds great, but you need to think it over before you adopt one.

Why would anyone adopt a pet pig?

What do you mean? The right question would be: why wouldn’t anyone get a pig? They are so cute! They have that weird-shaped nose and a cute curly tail. They are incredibly friendly and will bond with their human owner almost overnight! They are as loyal as they come!

I’m not going to lie to you, you know, there are certain downsides to adopting a pig. So, yeah, they look incredibly cute and they are incredibly social, but they can be moody dudes too. Pigs can get extremely territorial from time to time, like a grumpy old man. And if you don’t neuter them, whether they are male or female, they will get aggressive on a schedule (every 3 weeks) - that’s not what you want from a pet!

Then again, they are easy-going, like to get belly rubs and make cute sounds when they are happy. You have to weigh the good and the bad, you know? Let’s be honest here, a pet pig isn’t for everyone - but if it’s for you, you’ll be golden.

Alright, alright, enough rambling! To answer the question, anyone who is looking for a loyal companion, a cute friend, and a one-of-a-kind pet, that’s who would get a pig.

Is a pet pig something like a pink dog?

I mean… kind of. I guess it is. Look, you could say a pig is like a pet dog - but truth be told, there are thousands of differences between each other. What’s more, sometimes pigs and dogs act like cats and dogs! A territorial pig and a territorial dog are not bound to get along nor like each other. But you should only care about that if you already have a dog!

Let’s deal with the similarities first. They both are cute, sociable, will do tricks for treats, like belly rubs, and they definitely love to go outside. You can take hundreds of cute pictures with either one by your side (which is great for social media). And I can bet my house that they both will eat whatever falls from your plate.

Now, let’s take a look at column number two. How are they different from each other? Well, there are big differences - and when I say big, I’m not talking in metaphors here. Pigs will get big, huge even. Dogs have a ballpark weight they will most likely fall in. Pig size, on the other hand, is anyone’s guess. A pig can go from 30 to 300 lbs. - and beyond! More likely than not, your pet pig will get bigger than your average dog, so keep that in mind.

Small dog breeds can live comfortably in an apartment. Pigs cannot - they need to go outside every day, even if it’s not time to go for a walk. Speaking of walks, you can probably stand the smell of dog poop - you won’t be able to tolerate pig poop for much longer, it stinks! Which is kind of ironic, because pigs do not smell at all - because they do not sweat.

You want a pet pig, but are you ready for one?

For the sake of argument, let’s say you are convinced. You want a pet, you want it to be a pig, and you want it now. Okay, hold on for a second there, my man. Are you truly ready for a pet pig? Hell, are you ready for a pet at all? It’s an important question!

Believe it or not, pigs live 15 to 20 years on average. Are you ready to make a 20-year long commitment? Sometimes that pig will get on your nerves like nothing else in this world - do you still want one?

You have to be able to take care of, feed, and clothe your pet pig. You are going to adopt it when it’s a baby and will watch it grow - will you still want it if it grows up to be 300 pounds? Can you take care of such a big animal? Do you have the outdoor space for it?

I know it sounds like I’m killing your vibe, but getting an animal is a big deal. If you answered yes to all these questions, then start thinking about the name of your soon-to-be pet!

Alright, you are ready. But, can you have one?

Before you start thinking about names for your pig, you need to find out if you can legally own one. You need to check local laws and regulations, make sure you can adopt a pig before you get attached to one, only for local authorities to snatch him away from you - that would be the saddest thing ever!

Once you know you can adopt one for sure, get ready for it. Make sure you can fit a pig into your budget before you adopt one. Think about how much you’ll spend on food, medical bills, toys, and anything else you can think of. Can you afford it? If you can, that’s great!

And, finally, figure out if you can fit it in your life. Pigs need attention. They need to be stimulated. Otherwise, they will wreak havoc in your house.

Do you have what it takes to have a little pig living with you? I hope you do - because they are great!