Behavioral problems
Some pigs develop behavioral issues. Often times, it's not the pigs fault, but our own fault. There are methods that can help with this like "move the pig" (discussed in detail on another page that you can visit by clicking here), but there are times when this doesn't work. It seems like you've tried everything and still haven't found a solution. Your pig may be experiencing hormonal issues if not spayed or neutered. Your pig may be exhibiting classic signs of an infection that you don't recognize. The point is, sometimes you need a professional or experienced person to help you figure things out. (Assuming your pig doesn't meet any of the other criteria indicating the need for vet care)
Pigs have classic signs of aggression they usually display first; before they truly start acting out regularly. As you get to know your pig, you'll also get to know their normal behavior versus their nervous or scared behavior, etc and this will allow you the ability to identify and intervene as you see fit. Pigs are classic scared animals, they're prey animals, so they are always ready to run for their lives. (Fight or Flight- normal reaction to fear; either you'll stay and fight or you will run away) They have mohawks that will raise when they're happy and sometimes when they're upset, angry, or scared. Some will "bark" when running around happy, but a bark after a loud noise can mean they're scared. When a pig starts chomping, when in the presence of someone unfamiliar to them or another animal, this usually indicates a sign of aggression and your pig needs to calm down. Side stepping with a raised mohawk is typically a sign of an impending attack in my experience, this is commonly seen when a pig meets a new pig for the first time. Squealing normally means they're anticipating something (like food) or it can be because they're in pain. There is a soft panting sound they make sometimes, and this is a good sign when they haven't seen you in a while, this is an "I love you" or happy to see you sound typically. Grunting can mean many different things, but its something their mama does to soothe them when they are babies. Grunting in my experience has been because I am giving a belly rub and its being enjoyed or my pig is attempting to get my attention. A happy pig rarely shows body postures unless they're trying to show dominance. Sometimes a pig will "head swipe" by quickly lifting their head and throwing it to one side as a means of telling you they don't want you to touch them or they don't like the circumstances or situation. This is unacceptable behavior and the pig needs to know that. Sometimes the ears become especially erect or the ear set changes and this is also a sign that your pig is not happy. An irritated pig will throw its head to the side and sometimes that is accompanied by a loud squeal too. As I stated earlier, they have their own language that you'll understand as you get to know your pig. The most important thing is to ensure your pig knows who the boss or "herd leader" in the beginning so you're not challenged later for that top spot. This is basic herd dynamics; someone MUST be the leader and if you do not claim that spot, your pig will.
Sometimes, though usually unintentional, we isolate them, don't provide a suitable environment, not enough stimulation or other times we spoil them so bad, that they feel a sense of entitlement. There are times a pig is just bored or lonely as well. There are many many reasons why a pig may be acting out. Is your pig acting aggressive? Is your pig head swiping or biting? Does your pig charge at people? Maybe your pig is scared, maybe your pig has food aggression, maybe your pig is hungry or perhaps your pig never learned proper manners from its mother. These are all circumstances that need to be addressed one on one and it isn't a one fix fits all kind of solution. Often times it is a combination of things that need to be done for your specific situation to get your pigs behavior under control.
There have been many many times when a particular behavior has "labeled" a pig as aggressive, but the pig was simply misunderstood. Pigs are often misunderstood and because the caretaker doesn't know pigs or how to deal with their behavior, the suggestions they get such as "withhold a meal", "flick the snout", "pull a pig by the ear", "get on the floor like you are the mama pig and push the pig while on your knees"...these kind of suggestions can get someone injured. I have said this on various pages on this very website, NEVER trust a boar. NEVER-EVER HIT YOUR PIG! NEVER get on the floor and act as a sow would with an aggressive or behaviorally challenged pig. You WILL likely be bit and then you will harbor feelings of resentment towards your pig because YOU didn't handle the situation right. Ask before you act and do NOT take advice from someone you don't know or know their experience. For all you know the person telling you to get on your knees on the floor and push your pig has a baby piglet that isn't 150 pounds of angry muscle. Had this same person asked for more details or about the situation overall, perhaps they would've kept that thought to themselves. Maybe not though. The point is, if you continue to listen to bad advice, your situation isn't going to get better, it is most definitely going to get worse. By the time people reach out to us, they've exhausted every other resource and acting out of pure desperation. There has been times when it just wasn't a good fit, there have been times when a second pig was the solution, but again, each situation is different and should be handled individually and not as a group/set standard. Do not wait for a behavior issue to work itself out. The pig and human learn from the results of the behavior they give. If undesired behavior is maintaining or increasing, it is being reinforced and that history of reinforcement is becoming longer, stronger, and well practiced, more like part of the routine. The quicker you intervene via teaching an alternate behavior that brings the desired outcome, the happier you will be, the happier your family will be, the more satisfied the pig will be, and the less likely it will lose its' home. The 'terrible twos' is a label, and several of us know labels can be dangerous in having the person think the behavior cannot be changed. Unfortunately, people often comment on social media posts that a poorly behaved pig is simply in the "terrible two's" and that is not at all accurate. Please keep in mind, you never have to correct a problem that isn't there. Make sure your pig has plenty of enrichment activities, a comfortable and safe place to rest, a secure yard to root around and be a pig in and make sure YOU are seizing that leadership role. YOU are the boss, not the other way around. Behaviors don't magically go away, YOU have to train your pig.
We are fortunate to have Susan at Ross Mill Farms, who started a piggy consultation service for this exact reason. She will discuss your issue, she will ask a lot of questions and even get you to send her pictures of your pig so that the root cause can be determined and you can work on a plan to correct the situation together. Susan has had hundred's of pigs in her care and in my opinion, that does qualify her as an expert. If you are frustrated, you have tried other behavioral modification plans and haven't been able to curb this bad behavior, try Susan before giving up. Sometimes its a simple fix while other times she may suggest another pig for your pig to have a playmate. Each situation is different and each situation is handled on an individual basis using her expertise and your circumstances. Click the link to see her pet pig consultation page and call to set up an appointment. http://www.rossmillfarm.com/pet-pig-consultations/
Another great resource is http://theanimalbehaviorcenter.com. Laura is amazing. They have online webinars and also do one on one consultations for pet owners, I chatted with them directly and they also help with pig problems. Here is the link to their consultation service http://theanimalbehaviorcenter.com/online-training/ and here is the link to their webinars http://theanimalbehaviorcenter.com/webinars/.
A new approach on working with pigs is now available to you by Positively Pigs. Jane McPherson is a zoologist who created the positively pigs website and specializes in animal behavior. This newest approach works on the core issue and focuses on changing the emotional state in order to help change the mindset of the upset pig or overall attitude. I really like the general idea of how she is changing the way we are thinking about working with pigs.
http://www.positivelypigs.com
There is never too much help. Click here to skip to the how to deal with an aggressive pig section.
Pigs have classic signs of aggression they usually display first; before they truly start acting out regularly. As you get to know your pig, you'll also get to know their normal behavior versus their nervous or scared behavior, etc and this will allow you the ability to identify and intervene as you see fit. Pigs are classic scared animals, they're prey animals, so they are always ready to run for their lives. (Fight or Flight- normal reaction to fear; either you'll stay and fight or you will run away) They have mohawks that will raise when they're happy and sometimes when they're upset, angry, or scared. Some will "bark" when running around happy, but a bark after a loud noise can mean they're scared. When a pig starts chomping, when in the presence of someone unfamiliar to them or another animal, this usually indicates a sign of aggression and your pig needs to calm down. Side stepping with a raised mohawk is typically a sign of an impending attack in my experience, this is commonly seen when a pig meets a new pig for the first time. Squealing normally means they're anticipating something (like food) or it can be because they're in pain. There is a soft panting sound they make sometimes, and this is a good sign when they haven't seen you in a while, this is an "I love you" or happy to see you sound typically. Grunting can mean many different things, but its something their mama does to soothe them when they are babies. Grunting in my experience has been because I am giving a belly rub and its being enjoyed or my pig is attempting to get my attention. A happy pig rarely shows body postures unless they're trying to show dominance. Sometimes a pig will "head swipe" by quickly lifting their head and throwing it to one side as a means of telling you they don't want you to touch them or they don't like the circumstances or situation. This is unacceptable behavior and the pig needs to know that. Sometimes the ears become especially erect or the ear set changes and this is also a sign that your pig is not happy. An irritated pig will throw its head to the side and sometimes that is accompanied by a loud squeal too. As I stated earlier, they have their own language that you'll understand as you get to know your pig. The most important thing is to ensure your pig knows who the boss or "herd leader" in the beginning so you're not challenged later for that top spot. This is basic herd dynamics; someone MUST be the leader and if you do not claim that spot, your pig will.
Sometimes, though usually unintentional, we isolate them, don't provide a suitable environment, not enough stimulation or other times we spoil them so bad, that they feel a sense of entitlement. There are times a pig is just bored or lonely as well. There are many many reasons why a pig may be acting out. Is your pig acting aggressive? Is your pig head swiping or biting? Does your pig charge at people? Maybe your pig is scared, maybe your pig has food aggression, maybe your pig is hungry or perhaps your pig never learned proper manners from its mother. These are all circumstances that need to be addressed one on one and it isn't a one fix fits all kind of solution. Often times it is a combination of things that need to be done for your specific situation to get your pigs behavior under control.
There have been many many times when a particular behavior has "labeled" a pig as aggressive, but the pig was simply misunderstood. Pigs are often misunderstood and because the caretaker doesn't know pigs or how to deal with their behavior, the suggestions they get such as "withhold a meal", "flick the snout", "pull a pig by the ear", "get on the floor like you are the mama pig and push the pig while on your knees"...these kind of suggestions can get someone injured. I have said this on various pages on this very website, NEVER trust a boar. NEVER-EVER HIT YOUR PIG! NEVER get on the floor and act as a sow would with an aggressive or behaviorally challenged pig. You WILL likely be bit and then you will harbor feelings of resentment towards your pig because YOU didn't handle the situation right. Ask before you act and do NOT take advice from someone you don't know or know their experience. For all you know the person telling you to get on your knees on the floor and push your pig has a baby piglet that isn't 150 pounds of angry muscle. Had this same person asked for more details or about the situation overall, perhaps they would've kept that thought to themselves. Maybe not though. The point is, if you continue to listen to bad advice, your situation isn't going to get better, it is most definitely going to get worse. By the time people reach out to us, they've exhausted every other resource and acting out of pure desperation. There has been times when it just wasn't a good fit, there have been times when a second pig was the solution, but again, each situation is different and should be handled individually and not as a group/set standard. Do not wait for a behavior issue to work itself out. The pig and human learn from the results of the behavior they give. If undesired behavior is maintaining or increasing, it is being reinforced and that history of reinforcement is becoming longer, stronger, and well practiced, more like part of the routine. The quicker you intervene via teaching an alternate behavior that brings the desired outcome, the happier you will be, the happier your family will be, the more satisfied the pig will be, and the less likely it will lose its' home. The 'terrible twos' is a label, and several of us know labels can be dangerous in having the person think the behavior cannot be changed. Unfortunately, people often comment on social media posts that a poorly behaved pig is simply in the "terrible two's" and that is not at all accurate. Please keep in mind, you never have to correct a problem that isn't there. Make sure your pig has plenty of enrichment activities, a comfortable and safe place to rest, a secure yard to root around and be a pig in and make sure YOU are seizing that leadership role. YOU are the boss, not the other way around. Behaviors don't magically go away, YOU have to train your pig.
We are fortunate to have Susan at Ross Mill Farms, who started a piggy consultation service for this exact reason. She will discuss your issue, she will ask a lot of questions and even get you to send her pictures of your pig so that the root cause can be determined and you can work on a plan to correct the situation together. Susan has had hundred's of pigs in her care and in my opinion, that does qualify her as an expert. If you are frustrated, you have tried other behavioral modification plans and haven't been able to curb this bad behavior, try Susan before giving up. Sometimes its a simple fix while other times she may suggest another pig for your pig to have a playmate. Each situation is different and each situation is handled on an individual basis using her expertise and your circumstances. Click the link to see her pet pig consultation page and call to set up an appointment. http://www.rossmillfarm.com/pet-pig-consultations/
Another great resource is http://theanimalbehaviorcenter.com. Laura is amazing. They have online webinars and also do one on one consultations for pet owners, I chatted with them directly and they also help with pig problems. Here is the link to their consultation service http://theanimalbehaviorcenter.com/online-training/ and here is the link to their webinars http://theanimalbehaviorcenter.com/webinars/.
A new approach on working with pigs is now available to you by Positively Pigs. Jane McPherson is a zoologist who created the positively pigs website and specializes in animal behavior. This newest approach works on the core issue and focuses on changing the emotional state in order to help change the mindset of the upset pig or overall attitude. I really like the general idea of how she is changing the way we are thinking about working with pigs.
http://www.positivelypigs.com
There is never too much help. Click here to skip to the how to deal with an aggressive pig section.
I really like this new method of training/retraining a pig who isn't using their best manners. The use of dominance therapy methods aren't always effective. Positively pigs is attempting to show pig parents that using positive reinforcements, even with a pig that isn't on their best behavior, may be a better solution because you are altering the underlying emotional state and not just asserting your dominance (which in some cases can make a pig even more aggressive).
"Your pig thinks you're a maniac"
By Jane at Positively Pigs (http://www.positivelypigs.com)
I thought I'd kick things off with a very brief overview of why I think the various methods of establishing 'dominance' over your pet pig (where you deal with behavioral issues by making the pig move, pushing him when he charges, etc) are so very wrong (I will go into more detailed specifics with future posts). With the push your pig theory, we are told that we should randomly go up to the pig and move him, make him move out of the bed, etc (so he knows that WE control everything! The reasoning goes that in a pigs' herd, the dominant pig makes the submissive pigs move and is the boss... so, if the pig sees us as the dominant member of the herd, he will respect our authority. There are a lot of reasons this is flawed, scientifically, and which I think are worthy of a separate blog post in the future. (Pssst- your pig knows you aren't another pig! More on that later)… now imagine that you are that pig- you are calmly relaxing in your bed, behaving in an appropriate manner, and BAM! Your human friend walks over, shoves you out of the bed and when you react, you are punished even further. What on earth do we expect our pigs to learn from this scenario, other than that we are unpredictable jerks? We have now used positive punishment which tells the pig, ‘hey, when you are trying to relax in bed, scary things might happen at random!” Remember that positive punishment is the addition of an aversive in order to reduce the occurrence of a behavior. If we introduce an aversive (pushing or moving the pig) while the pig is behaving acceptably, we are REDUCING the chance of that good behavior happening in the future! Not only that, but to a prey animal like the pig, having something bad happen often translates into “Be ready to fight off those scary things next time!!” And just like that, we have reinforced to the pig that they should be wary of people around their bed (‘I might get pushed out for no reason!’).
One of the most distressing and dangerous aspects of this idea, is that everyone in the household must establish dominance over the pig. Are we really asking folks to have their 5 year old child try to push around a 100 lb pig and expecting any kind of positive outcome?? It’s silly at best and downright dangerous at worst. Yikes.
Sorry, your pig doesn't think you're dominant, he just thinks you're a maniac.
Please be kind to your pigs! Understand that they are PREY animals and inherently wary, skittish and often fearful. By using positive punishment, you are merely reinforcing to the pig that he is right to be fearful.
Article written by Jane at Positively Pigs
Check out this amazing information by clicking the following link. http://www.positivelypigs.com/blog
"Your pig thinks you're a maniac"
By Jane at Positively Pigs (http://www.positivelypigs.com)
I thought I'd kick things off with a very brief overview of why I think the various methods of establishing 'dominance' over your pet pig (where you deal with behavioral issues by making the pig move, pushing him when he charges, etc) are so very wrong (I will go into more detailed specifics with future posts). With the push your pig theory, we are told that we should randomly go up to the pig and move him, make him move out of the bed, etc (so he knows that WE control everything! The reasoning goes that in a pigs' herd, the dominant pig makes the submissive pigs move and is the boss... so, if the pig sees us as the dominant member of the herd, he will respect our authority. There are a lot of reasons this is flawed, scientifically, and which I think are worthy of a separate blog post in the future. (Pssst- your pig knows you aren't another pig! More on that later)… now imagine that you are that pig- you are calmly relaxing in your bed, behaving in an appropriate manner, and BAM! Your human friend walks over, shoves you out of the bed and when you react, you are punished even further. What on earth do we expect our pigs to learn from this scenario, other than that we are unpredictable jerks? We have now used positive punishment which tells the pig, ‘hey, when you are trying to relax in bed, scary things might happen at random!” Remember that positive punishment is the addition of an aversive in order to reduce the occurrence of a behavior. If we introduce an aversive (pushing or moving the pig) while the pig is behaving acceptably, we are REDUCING the chance of that good behavior happening in the future! Not only that, but to a prey animal like the pig, having something bad happen often translates into “Be ready to fight off those scary things next time!!” And just like that, we have reinforced to the pig that they should be wary of people around their bed (‘I might get pushed out for no reason!’).
One of the most distressing and dangerous aspects of this idea, is that everyone in the household must establish dominance over the pig. Are we really asking folks to have their 5 year old child try to push around a 100 lb pig and expecting any kind of positive outcome?? It’s silly at best and downright dangerous at worst. Yikes.
Sorry, your pig doesn't think you're dominant, he just thinks you're a maniac.
Please be kind to your pigs! Understand that they are PREY animals and inherently wary, skittish and often fearful. By using positive punishment, you are merely reinforcing to the pig that he is right to be fearful.
Article written by Jane at Positively Pigs
Check out this amazing information by clicking the following link. http://www.positivelypigs.com/blog
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This is one of several videos where Jane who works as a zoologist attempts to show other pig parents another way of retraining a pig who has behavioral issues. One method doesn't always work, so it is GREAT to find other methods that may help some of the pig parents worldwide!! And we are even more grateful Ms. Jane has allowed us to post her information on our website. Stay tuned, she will be creating new articles and videos to demonstrate her methods!
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When your pig is acting aggressively, do NOT reward this type of behavior. Instead, use a sorting board (pictured above) to place in between you and the pig to lessen the chances of you getting hurt. Use the same firm "NO" or "NO BITING" or whatever command you chose to let your pig know the behavior is unacceptable. Some use time outs, usually this is for pigs that lives indoors, but please never ever hit your pig. Not even a tap on the snout as I've seen suggested. It is acceptable to push your pig on the shoulder as its' mother would have done when it was a piglet to teach it manners, however, when you are dealing with an aggressive pig, this is ultimately inviting them to a battle, so I do not suggest this. If you scare a pig, pigs will remember that and it does nothing to help with aggressive behavior. I have used water bottles to spray my pig and it worked to a degree, but eventually she began to enjoy the water and the use of the bottles was no longer effective. The one thing I've found to always be effective is to quit hand feeding altogether. This include treats of all kinds. Once the treats stopped, so did my pigs bad behavior. Sometimes you need more guidance though, so don't hesitate to reach out to one of the pig behavioral consultants listed above or even email the page and we will do what we can to help and give you advice. [email protected]
Aggression example
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This is the beginnings of aggression. However, this should've been handled much differently than it was at the time. We thought it was funny and didn't immediately take action to correct it, therefore, her behavior quickly escalated out of control.
We have taken measures now, of course, but let this serve as a reminder that what is cute at 15 lbs is no longer cute at 120 lbs. A bigger pig charging at you like this can be dangerous. If your pig is acting like this, you need to handle it NOW. (The response was exaggerated for effect by my boyfriend. He already knew how she would react to him attempting to pet her.) To read more about pig aggression and how to correct this behavior, click here. |
Truly aggressive pigs should be handled with care
I cannot stress this enough. Aggressive pigs need a strong leader. If you are weak, your pig will discover that weakness and take advantage at every opportunity. We have a page dedicated to helping people with aggressive pigs, but I wanted to address it here as well. Do NOT approach an aggressive pig unprepared. An aggressive pig WILL attack and those attacks can lead to massive infections, hospitalizations and major injuries if you don't know how to deal with an aggressive pig. NEVER HIT YOUR PIG! This is even more important when discussing intact pigs. Although we recommend every pig be spayed and/or neutered to prevent hormones from driving bad behaviors, we do understand that not everyone gets a small piglet and there are times when you are forced to wait for a procedure to be done. You have to live with this pig while you're waiting and sometimes the underlying cause of the issues is hormones. If you push an intact boar? You are essentially challenging that pig to a fight. I made the simple mistake of gently nudging an intact pigs shoulder to move him off of a water hose and before I turned around, I had been tusked with a 6 inch shank right into my calf muscle. Had I known that, I likely would've handled the situation differently. But that is why I advocate for aggressive pigs and proper behavioral management for them. They have the potential to be good pigs, they just need someone to care for them, love them, have a lot of patience with them, maintain consistency and compassion for their situation, treat underlying medical causes and work with them constantly. But once you earn that trust? That pig will love you forever. Click here to read about my experience with an intact boar and how his life was turned upside down.