"pig is a great companion": how to make friends with the symbol of the year

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2019 will be the year of the Yellow Earth Pig. The shops are already filled with holiday souvenirs in the form of pigs. For some, the symbol of the coming New Year lives right in the house: dwarf pigs are becoming an increasingly popular type of pet. We decided to ask the head of the Russian mini-pig club, Elizaveta Rodina, who would be suitable for such smaller brothers and how to properly care for them.

Mini-pig is not a breed, but a general name for all genetic lines of dwarf pigs. They live on average 10-15 years, the first five of which grow to a size of 50-80 kg (the smallest are 25-30 kg). Since there are no established breeds yet either in Russia or abroad, having such a pet is like buying a pig in a poke.

Those who decide to buy a mini-pig will have to reshape their lives. These animals need a lot of attention. It is important to learn to understand your pet and find a common language with him. From childhood, one must be taught basic things: using the toilet only outside, wearing a harness and clothes in winter, simple commands for living in an urban environment.

As a person who lived with mini-pigs for five years in the city (in total, I have kept them for 12 years), I do not recommend having these animals in an apartment. Even the little ones. Caring for them is difficult. Besides, a pig, even if it’s a mini one, is still a pig. She needs to walk, dig the ground, chew roots, pluck grass. Animals shed and need to have their hooves trimmed and their fangs filed. If your pet gets sick, it will be difficult for him to find a competent veterinarian.

The diet of mini pigs should be predominantly plant-based. It includes cereals (porridge, bran, muesli, special foods), fruits and vegetables. Food should be nutritious, but not too high in calories. You cannot feed salty, peppery, sweet, sour, spicy and fatty foods. Dystrophy is just as dangerous for dwarf pigs as obesity. The pet needs strength for active movement, games, walks and good mood.

Pigs are very smart animals. Owners should turn the process of getting food into a game, an exciting quest, during which the pig thinks about how to “earn” food. This way, the mini-pig can easily master several commands.

Remember that the piggy is an excellent companion if you can become in his eyes a friend and leader of the pack called family. I recommend everyone who wants to buy a pig to read the book “Mini-pigs” by Elke Striovski.