So about a week ago, me and my g/f decided to get a new pet! Her sister had bought a pot-bellied pig for herself, but after a few days decided she didn't want it. So I did some research, and figured I could take him. So, I pig-proofed my kitchen, and brought him home. After much thought we decided to name him "Taylor" after the much loved NJ-exclusive taylor ham brand pork roll (I believe the same thing as canadian bacon).

Here's some pics!!

Here he is sniffing my feet:


Getting a much loved belly-rub:


Sleeping peacefully in the folds of my robe:


Being harassed by his namesake:


Giving a piggy-back ride of his own


There's about 100 more pics of him that numerous people have taken, he's become quite the celebrity in the past week, and I've only taken him for 2 walks outside on his leash! When summer and spring come you better believe I'm taking him out every day for long walks! People are amazed at him, they even stop their cars to look and ask questions, it's great!

If you guys have any questions, I can tell you just about everything I know about pot-bellies, which is quite a lot. I wanted to make sure I didn't overwhelm myself with a pet. They deserve to have good homes!

Now that is the damn cutest thing I have ever seen!!

Neat!!!! That is just too cool. A lady I worked with had a pot bellied pig and her kids loved him.

I love those guys. I used to go into our neighbors yard and play with theirs. I remember how shocked I was to see how smart she was. The little piggy just loved attention!

Cool pics but dont harass it with the ham, LOL

I know, it's crazy. If you count all primate species as 1, pigs are the 5th smartest animal on the planet! Much to the dismay of dog lovers, that means yes, pigs are more trainable. But since pigs can't physically do all the things a dog can, it's not the same of course. It took 4 days to litter-box train him, and since then he's been right on target. I've started the leash/harness training already, but thats considerably more difficult, although treats are a huge help.

LOL, I told them to keep it away from him. People are constantly making pork jokes about him, which of course is to be expected. But boy does it get old fast. How would you feel if people were constantly making jokes about eating your dog or cat? >_<

Congrats on your new pet!

There is a pot belly pig that lives at the other end of my street and he is a BIG boy! When he is out on the front lawn he always stops traffic!

Post some more pictures of Taylor as he grows!

Haha oh you bet there'll be lots more pics to come. I finally let him into the living room today (he's been confined to the kitchen as part of training) and he went nuts! I didn't know pigs were so quick! Before he couldn't run on the linoleum so when he finally hit carpet he started running around like crazy testing himself out, it was SO cute. Then he started hopping around and attacking my feet playfully, it was silliest thing I've ever seen, lol. Ahh pets <3

How much will he weigh when he gets older?

I don't know how big they get - probably not as big as a standard breed of hog, one would hope. I used to know somebody that had one, and they said it was a really good pet.

http://en.wikipedi...iki/Potbellied_pig

According to the wikipedia article, he's going to be fairly huge. About the size of a large-breed dog, but a lot heavier.

Yes, pot bellies can be anywhere from 100 to 250 lbs, and although he'll only be about knee high at most, it's the length of 3-4 feet that makes em hefty. These type of pigs aren't actually that fat, they have a "coat" pretty much of fat hanging off them, but if you feel the body of a fit, well fed pig, they're about as solid as an animal can be. This also makes them very very strong. Right now he only weighs about 10 lbs, and he can already move (and bruise) my arms and the bottom half of my legs with his snout... The muscles in his neck and chest are already at least half the size of my own bicep.

When he hits 100 or above, I can tell right now there's no way I'd be able to stop him from knocking me down if he charged, which they will do to jockey for dominance. As long as I train him right and show dominance when he's still controllable, everything should be fine. Pigs "fight" by slamming into each other at the shoulder, and trying to knock the other over, so if he does charge me when he's bigger, my only hope is to deflect him at the shoulder with a push or a tackle of my own. I weigh 220 so I'll still outweigh him, it's just a matter of trying not to injure either of us in the process.

Supposedly he's also the runt of his litter, and his parents never grew above 120lbs. So he might not genetically grow all that big. All I know is I'm still exercising and feeding him to reach his full proportions no matter what, because anything else would be inhumane.

Cool pig Action! I remember reading about a "watch pig" that some pot growers trained out in Cali in the 1980's. Damn thing bit several officers, and took 15 or 20 rounds of 9mm without dying. Supposed to be very smart and loyal.

"Fine swine, wish he was mine...."

Lol, attack pig! Yea, he's gonna get big and strong, he's already grown about 5 lbs since I originally got him! Talk about growth spurt!

Anyway, here's a video of him attacking my feet: http://myspacetv.c...l&videoid=26338919

Nice piggy,
I was wondering whether he likes to be held, and how he reacts to it?
Also being held with his belly up? I've heard they freak out.

Thanks,

He actually hates being picked up, he screams like a woman being brutalized. And forget flipping him on his belly, not only does he scream but he struggles, HARD. I guess pigs just aren't meant for those kind of positions. Seems unnatural for a pig to be in the air anyway. Gives new meaning to the saying "when pigs fly", because I can assure you, even if they could physically fly, I doubt they would. He whines when he's on anything but solid ground.

Yeah I was wondering whether maybe they would get used to it from a young age, or by nature they're always going to freak out.

Pigs are prey, so I assumed they would freak out if picked up, especially held belly up.

Thanks,

Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. He actually hates being picked up, he screams like a woman being brutalized. And forget flipping him on his belly, not only does he scream but he struggles, HARD. I guess pigs just aren't meant for those kind of positions. Seems unnatural for a pig to be in the air anyway. Gives new meaning to the saying "when pigs fly", because I can assure you, even if they could physically fly, I doubt they would. He whines when he's on anything but solid ground.

more fun than a pig on ice!

Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. I know, it's crazy. If you count all primate species as 1, pigs are the 5th smartest animal on the planet! Much to the dismay of dog lovers, that means yes, pigs are more trainable. But since pigs can't physically do all the things a dog can, it's not the same of course. It took 4 days to litter-box train him, and since then he's been right on target. I've started the leash/harness training already, but thats considerably more difficult, although treats are a huge help. LOL, I told them to keep it away from him. People are constantly making pork jokes about him, which of course is to be expected. But boy does it get old fast. How would you feel if people were constantly making jokes about eating your dog or cat? >_<

haha, they are more trainable - BUT - smart doesn't mean "wants to be trained" hehe. At least with dogs - they don't really let their mind wander too far into the "why am I doing this?"...but a pig, they really, REALLY can start training you...

L

Yes you're absolutely correct there, dogs will do things out of pure unconditional love, while pigs.... well.... they need to be given a reason or a solid reward to do things. Luckily they live for food, and unsalted unbuttered popcorn is both cheap and healthy

Btw, Taylor now has a myspace, lol, check it out: http://profile.mys...-a1d3-8929b14c0fc1

OMG! He has sixty friends LOL. And a very well written myspace. He has agile hooves

L

The Wikipedia article didn't mention them being good at web design! Cool.