Why is my pot-bellied pig nipping fingers? How do I stop it?

Question

Good day. We have a male piggy that is about 11 months old. He's very sweet and takes carrots etc from your hands. Every now and then, he moves his head to the side and nips your fingers or trts to nip you. It's a new behavior. Any idea why he's doing this or how we can prevent him from doing it? Please advise. Thanks Margaret. Pet's info: Farm Animal | Pig | Male | neutered

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

He's testing his dominance. Just because he is castrated doesn't mean he won't try to be the boss. If he hast started biting you need to put a stop to it immediately by assuming a dominant role and shutting down all inappropriate behaviors. This sounds easier than it actually is, since everyone in the household must be the “boss” of the pig, or else its dominant behaviors -- which often translate to aggressive behaviors -- will continue. If you have family members who are afraid of the pig, you may not be able to train it to stop biting. The pot-bellied pig is an increasingly common pet in American homes. When bringing an animal inside your home and into contact with your children and guests, therefore, it's even more important to teach the pig proper social skills. If your pet is biting, put a stop to it immediately by assuming a dominant role and shutting down inappropriate behaviors. Form a Positive Relationship Although a pig may bite for many reasons, fear is one. If a pig has been badly handled in the past, it may respond by biting out of fear, even when new owners are kind and display none of the actions associated with past situations. The best bet is to create a positive relationship with your pig, which is, after all, a social animal just like humans. Avoid behaviors that could increase fear, like yelling commands or making other loud noises. However, pot-bellied pigs more commonly bite because they haven’t been taught the proper household pecking order. Hand feeding gives pigs an opportunity to bite where they should not receive one. If your pig is biting, you should stop all hand-feeding immediately. When the pig does earn a treat, place it in his bowl or on the ground. That way he cannot get mixed messages by receiving a treat while biting you. The most important habit in teaching your pig not to bite is to consistently train him. If you are soft on training, your pig will assume you are the submissive one and will take a dominant role. Don’t allow this to happen. When you make a rule, enforce it every single time. If your pig is aggressive, bites, postures or otherwise challenges you, never back down, no matter what. Consistency is the only thing that will teach your pig who’s boss. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Why is my pot-bellied pig nipping fingers? How do I stop it?

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