Just got a PBP

[hayashi]

Hello there! This happens to be my first post, was actually googling to find a forum strictly for PBP, but this works just fine. Names Des, I live in Plano, TX (a town on the outskirts of Dallas & Frisco) I just currently adopted a PBP from a local pet shop up the street. Her names Trinity, she's 3 mo. old and still very skittish. She never really had any physical attention, no one played with her nor held her so she tends to be a little whiney when you pick her up or touch her. I got her not because she's do darn cute, but because I can't stand how pet stores treat their animals. She was so alone and in a small cage, and I figured since I have enough money, space, and time I would get her to raise. She's slowly breaking into our family, right now were getting the dogs use to her first (my boston terrier is fine with her, but our pit mix is a little confused as to what she is). This happens to be my first "exotic" pet (I don't quite count the frogs as exotic). Just trying to learn a bit of info on our new addition. Any help is appreciated as to help me train her, and proper nutrition (I have her on pig food, but i'm not too sure which vegetables and fruit would be proper as a treat). Anyone else have dogs as well as a pig? Here are a few pictures of our baby:

http://www.des-dimension.com/Piggy/DSCN1653_sml.JPG
http://www.des-dimension.com/Piggy/DSCN1663_sml.JPG
http://www.des-dimension.com/Piggy/DSCN1664_sml.JPG
http://www.des-dimension.com/Piggy/DSCN1669_sml.JPG

[gwildlifeguy05]

Congratulations on your little girl....

As far as winning her over...don't try to pick her up just yet. Let her come to you. You will want to limit her space to a smalll area inside: a bathroom, gated kitchen, etc. You can either potty train her or train her to go outside. Sit down on the floor with her. Throw 1/2 of a grape to her and when she eats it off the floor, tell her "good girl." Continue doing this until she is no longer running away from you. Then begin holding the grape in your hand and let her take it from you, gently. Soon, she will be sitting in your lap. Soon after, she will be coming to you on her own accord: She will have made the connection that you are the bearer of good things and can be trusted. Train her: Teach her how to sit. How to push a ball, how to play basketball, etc. She will soon forget that she is afraid of you. Training allows a pig to fall into good herd behavior.....she will see you as the leader of the herd. Make her work for her treats after she has lost her apprehension of you. You don't want to reward her for being pushy or bossy...it might be cute with an 8lb. pig, but it's NOT cute with a 100lb. + pig. Expose her to new things once she has bonded to you: (rides in the car, touch her hooves, snout, meeting new people, going new places, harness training, etc.) As with children, what you do today is the foundation for tomorrow.

As far as feeding:

PLEASE try to find her either Champion potbellied pig food by Ross Mill (available online) OR Mazuri (they have a young potbellied pig "grower") It's important that your little girl is eating potbellied pig food. She can have 3/4 of a cup, 3 times per day of the food, until she is six months old.

You will want to soak the food in hot water until the food has absorbed all of the water (it should not be soupy, but more like the consistency of cooked oatmeal.)

When she has reached 6 months old, and for the rest of her life, he can get 1 cup of food (watered down), twice per day. PLEASE go easy on the treats. Piggies don't really need them, so please go sparingly....a few cheerios or a few small apple or pear slices, or a 1/2 a banana, etc. a few times a week are FINE! You will want to distribute treats as rewards. Pigs that become spoiled from receiving too many treats will literally knock you over in expectation of treats.

You will want to get this girl spayed by a potbellied pig savvy vet (NOT a farm vet...) when it's time....this is VERY important..not only will it help with housebreaking, but it will allow her to be a good companion....unspayed females cycle every 3 weeks...they get whiny, bossy and pushy. They might wander away in the attempt to find a "husband." Females left unspayed WILL develop uterine and other reproductive tumors...it's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN!


You will also want your girl to receive her shots and to get wormed. Your vet can use injectible Ivomec at one shot, then follow up 10 days later. (the injectible can be given orally, mixed in food or injected. )

As with the introduction of any animal, PLEASE be careful with your dogs....though many pigs and dogs work out a wonderful relationship, please keep in mind that dogs are predators by nature...and pigs are prey....what starts out as rough and tumble play can turn into the pig running away, which can trigger a predatory response in your larger dog. Just proceed with caution!
Greg

[hayashi]

Thanks for the info Greg.. Trinity (the name of my PBP) is on the younger Mazuri food (I believe its the first stage)..I bought her some small alfalfa chunks just to give her on the side (I've read that it's pretty healthy for them). She comes up to me fine and plays int he backyard rooting at the ground, i've even started to teach her that being picked up is okay..now she lets me hold her without squeeling and screaming. She's starting to get use to my fiance but that too is taking time. I bought her a few toys, she for some reason loves stuffed animals, and long soft items. I made a little bottle full of her feed in it, and she plays with that alot rolling it with her nose. I'm still teaching her sit, shes slooooowly learning little by little.

As for the dogs, I was extremely cautious with them and her. I first introduced them together by putting the dogs ona leash and letting them walk around her and check her out. If they even tried to get rough I pulled back on the dogs and tried again. She doesn't seem scared of them at all, and would walk right up to them nipping at there ears or sides all the while wagging her tail. I've gotten to the point to where she'll go outside to use the bathroom and play with them, and they are extremely gentle with her. Our larger dog will actually roll over and let Trinity climb on her stomach and bite her ears. They've even fallen asleep next to one another. Trinity all though she will follow me anywhere, she doesn't like to be without her canine companions!

[happyfuzzies2]

Awww, sorry I can't answer questions but your piggy is so adorable. I want one so bad. Congrats!

[HJKaga]

she is very cute, i used to have a pbp. they are so sweet and great pets! check out this site, it has alot of info on pbp care: http://www.pigs4ever.com/PotBelliedPigInfo/FAQs.htm

[daddysgurl9245]

Awwww, she's adorable!