*I am not a professional. Please consult a professional or veterinarian for questions pertaining to your pig*
This article is about creating a positive environment for your pig to limit the amount of negative behaviors exhibited by your pig and partake in training so ultimately you have a good pig.
Creating a Positive Environment
So your pig knocked over the trash and you walk into the kitchen to see trash everywhere. The first thing you might want to do is get mad at your pig, but really the first thing you should do is blame yourself. Why was your pig allowed out of supervision for long enough to get into the trash? Why was the trash located in a spot the pig was capable of knocking it over? We have to hold ourselves accountable for the actions of our pigs because in reality they are just being a pig and doing what a pig does, finding food. The key to understanding how to raise a good pig is to understand this: bad behaviors that the pig is able to get away with are being reinforced because the pig got away with it. Even if you reprimanded your pig for getting into the trash, that behavior was still reinforced because the pig had success. And one time of the behavior being reinforced pushes the pig two times harder to try it again. So the first step to owning a good pig is to create a positive environment. There are many ways to go about this.
The first is to limit the space your pig is allowed in. Winnie is not allowed in a room by herself. We use baby gates to keep her in the room we are in so we can have eyes on her at all times. If we cannot watch her then she is in her pen. This sets everyone up for success because if Winnie is in our eyesight we can catch her before she starts doing something she shouldn't, such as rooting up the carpet or floor. If we catch her before the behavior starts then the behavior is never reinforced and we will not start an issue of us constantly having to correct that behavior because it was reinforced one time. So the first way to create a positive environment for your pig is to use baby gates.
Second, control your environment by proofing it. Pick up items your pig is not allowed to chew, put locks on the cabinets and drawers, put the trash out of range from your pig. Proofing your house so it is pig friendly and inhibits your pig from getting into something potentially dangerous or that they are not allowed to get into sets your pig up for success from day 1. Our trash is locked away in our pantry, our cabinets have child locks on them, if something is on the floor I don't want Winnie chewing or playing with I immediately pick it up before she has a chance to. Remember, if you catch her playing with an off limits item and take it away you stopped the behavior for now, but she was able to play with it for even a second, so the behavior was reinforced. So you need to proof your house before your pig has a chance to get into anything bad to set your pig up for success.
Lastly, teach your pig boundaries. Train your pig to leave it or back and use this as a way to create boundaries into off limits rooms. For example if you never want your pig allowed in the kitchen teach her leave it/back and when she enters the room tell her back. Repeat this command until she leaves the room. Stay consistent and make her back every time she crosses the invisible boundary into the kitchen and eventually she will learn she cannot enter the kitchen. It is similar to creating an "invisible fence line." Now this most likely will only work if you are there to make your pig back out of the kitchen. Pigs are stubborn, smart, and mischievous, so if no one is there to hold her accountable all bets are off, she is in the kitchen. We can only hold our pig reliable so we can only ask so much of them when no one is watching. This is why it is good to resort to method 1 of having baby gates and a space for your pig to go when you can't watch her such as a play pen or crate.
Creating Structure for Your Pig
Pigs thrive on structure and knowing the rules. It helps them feel more secure with themselves which ultimately is a happier pig. A pig that has no rules is really an anxious, unhappy pig looking for some structure and rules. So establish structure in your home for your pig. Do not let your pig run around like a crazy toddler and do whatever she pleases. There needs to be rules. Teach your pig "no" and correct with a firm no for any unwanted behaviors you see. Structure is having guidelines in your home. If your pig is not allowed to beg for food then put your pig in her pen while you are cooking and eating dinner. That is providing structure. Make your pig work for every piece of food they are getting whether that be sitting for a treat, sitting for their meal, or having to do a puzzle or toy such as the Bob-A-Lot to get their meal out. They get nothing for free. Also make sure everyone in the house is doing training with your pig and move the pig so your pig knows where she stands as far as leadership roles. It is very important the entire household is on board to do this with your pig or you will wind up with an adult pig trying to establish dominance over family members. Winnie has free range of the house when I am home, when I am gone she is in her pen but is getting transitioned to a large crate. When she has free roam I always have my eyes on her so I can tell her no if she is starting to do something she shouldn't and move her away from the situation. Remember if you don't stop your pig BEFORE the behavior happens then it is somewhat useless because that action has already been reinforced. Structure your pig from room to room in your house using baby gates. Winnie has free range but only in the rooms I am in, she is baby gated off from the rest of the rooms until we move into them. If Winnie starts getting vocal in the kitchen she is put out of the kitchen. Setting up rules and guidelines is what creates a happy, good pig.
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