Choosing a Teacup Pig Breeder

Teacup pigs are relatively small-sized pet pigs which were first bred in Devon, England. Teacup pot-bellied pigs are intended as pet animals and are bred in different colors such as black, white, silver, chocolate-colored, and combinations of these. Teacup varieties denote animals that were bred to be smaller than normal, such as miniature animal breeds like teacup persian kittens, teacup shih tzu, and other tiny teacup puppies. Some sources say that there is no such thing as “miniature pigs” or “teacup pigs.” There are only genetically bred animals with reduced sizes. Caution and research must first be done when dealing with pig breeders who claim that they breed miniatures, otherwise you will end up with a malnourished and severely underfed pig with its growth stunted. It may even be in pain.

Celebrities such as the couple Victoria and David Beckham, Rupert Grint, and Paris Hilton were some of the many people who adopted teacup pigs for pets. Teacup pigs are recommended to be adopted in pairs.

Teacup potbelly pigs are classified as exotic pets, which can be a bit challenging because regular veterinarians are trained to treat typical house pets such as cats and dogs. Most pig species require maintenance to trim their husks and hooves. Also, there are cases when they need to be spayed or neutered. A complete understanding of the nature of pigs must first be accomplished before taking one as a house pet. Information about pigs and wild boar pictures are readily available online, but here are the primary points to consider for the teacup pot-bellied types used as pets.

Finding teacup pigs for sale from reputable pig breeders can either be difficult or easy depending on your geographical location, how much you are willing to pay for a pet pig, and how long you can wait to get one. Teacup pigs are rare, and you may even need to be included in a waiting list for a pig breeder to produce one from suitable parents. Searching and acquiring regular pot-bellied pigs is so much easier; you can sometimes even get them for free online when their owners can no longer take care of them and needed to find their pets good homes.

To search online, start with Google by typing keywords like “free potbelly pig your city” and simply replace the search term “your city” with the name of your city. Teacup pigs are rare and, it may be impossible to get them for free online. The best way to go is to look for a breeder. Search for pig breeders locally first. That way, you can actually visit the breeding farm and check if the breeding operation is carried out properly. You can also check all the possible breeding options in that particular breeding farm.

Whenever you choose a teacup pig breeder, you must select somebody whom you trust to be capable of breeding physically and mentally healthy baby pigs. You must understand that some baby pigs may have been subjected to some prior trauma and that will affect how they will interact with you and how you will train them in the future. Therefore, whenever possible, you must find a way to visit the teacup pig breeder’s farm so that you will have a firsthand look at the environment where your potential future pet had been raised. Take note at how the baby pigs interact with other pigs and also with their breeders.

If there is no locally available teacup pig breeder, then look online for the ones that can ship the pig to your address. Shipping costs may run in the range of $350 to $700, because additional charges for health certificates, crating options, and airline fees will also be incurred. Good pig breeders run applications and even interviews with potential buyers before they sell their baby pigs. The reason is some people who think that owning teacup pigs are just fads. These buyers may not realize that the teacup pigs they are buying are only piglets and that they will soon grow to maturity and become bigger. Good breeders select owners who are knowledgeable enough and responsible enough to care for their pet pigs.

Smaller pig breeds are very expensive. Teacup or miniature pigs are priced in the $1000 range. The really small ones can reach up to $3000. Demand is very high for teacup pigs, and there are not much of these breeds available in the market. Waiting lists in pig breeder farms for teacup pigs are typical occurrences.

To obtain healthy and properly raised teacup pigs, you might want to get a list of certified pig breeders from the North American Potbellied Pig Association or NAPPA and buy from one of those breeders. Here are the contact details of the members of NAPPA who breed potbelly pigs:

Jenny Blaney
The Source
1884 County Route 104
Ft. Edward, New York 12828
(518)747-3494
Contact Jenny

Nancy Shepherd
Pig O’ My Heart Potbellies
304 Co. Rd. 438
Rocheport, MO 65279
(573)698-3030
Contact Nancy

Sandy Wiseman
This Little Piggie
(810)656-6220
Contact Sandy

Susan Gural
Rosie’s Petites
94 Changewater Road
Washington, NJ 07882
(908) 835-0460
Contact Susan

NAPPA also recommends checking for a herd veterinarian who watches over the pigs’ medical issues. Reputable pig breeders usually have them to oversee the pig breeder farm. Upon visiting the breeder farm, you must observe the cleanliness of the premises and whether or not the piglets are active and well-fed. Runny nose and lameness may be symptoms of illness or even trauma. After deciding where to buy your pet pig, it will also help tremendously to befriend the pig breeder, because you may approach him or her in the future should you have any questions about caring for your teacup pig.