Pigs With Other Animals

Pigs live in a hierarchy system. What does this mean?

You may have heard of the term "Top Hog". Well this term holds true to mini pigs and the roles they perceive within their families. From a few days old piglets will fight with their littermates to establish dominance within the litter.

Once a piglet has settled in to your home, they will want to determine what rank they hold within their new family. They may demonstrate dominant behaviors with each member of the household, including other animals. If you see your piglet nipping, pushing, or jumping on an animal or another member of the family, you will need to intervene to teach the piglet that YOU are "Top Hog".   

Pigs and Cats

​Pigs and cats are very compatible as they are each independent animals. Caution should always be used when introducing pigs and cats as pigs are curious animals and may want to 'investigate' the cat. However, the cat may find the pig to be intrusive and swat the piglet. Slow introductions are the best for introducing a pig to a cat.

Pigs and Dogs

Pigs and dogs generally get along well. However, this depends on the personality of each animal. That being said, it is NOT recommended to leave a pig and a dog together unsupervised. Pigs are a prey animal and dogs are a predatory animal. Both these animals can be nosy and invade the space of the other. Further, they do not "speak" the same language. The result is that one usually ends up getting bitten, often times it's the pig!

Crate training is HIGHLY recommended when a pig and dog live within the same household. Not only does crate training your pig ensure their safety, it also keeps your pig from becoming destructive because they are bored.

Slow, supervised introductions are highly recommended when a piglet comes home. This is best done through panels of the crate or pen you have for your piglet. This allows your dog to sniff and check out the piglet before he has full access to the new addition to the family.