Rule #1: Never ever leave the pig and the dog alone. Dogs and pigs can live together, but, you should never leave them on their own. By nature, a dog is a predator and the mini pig is its prey. No matter how good their relationship is, the dog will still see the tea cup pig as a prey that can be attacked when he is provoked. The dog has long patience, but they can never tolerate the screaming of a pig. As soon as they hear the scream of a pig, it is their natural instinct to attack it and may even kill it. The scream of a piglet is an open invitation to the dogs, and even the best-behaved dog will attack on instinct. To avoid clashes between dogs and piglets, you should always supervise them.

Rule #2: Keep them together while they are still young. Pot-bellied pigs are exotic pets and they are not used to the presence of dogs. They are used to staying with the herd and they are very dominant. On the part of the dogs, they are domestic predatory animals, and the presence of a pig on their territory boils their blood. If you started to keep them together while they are still young, their anger towards each other can still be controlled. As days pass by, the presence of each will become familiar until they will finally realize that one party does not mean any harm. However, they still have their own instincts, and you will never know when will the pig provoke the dog to attack, so do not ever leave them alone.

Rule #3: Keep their feeding area away from each other. As much as you want to make the dog and the pot-bellied pig close to each other, do not feed them close to each other. Start this practice while they are still young so that they will be familiar with the set up. Although the dog’s food is different from the pig’s food, there comes a time that the pot-bellied pig wants something from the dog’s plate. Of course, the dog will not give it because it is his own food. This may lead to a fight that may cause them to be harmed or may even cause one party to be killed. Usually, it is always the pig that ends up the loser because fighting and attacking is one of the dog’s natural ability.

Rule #4: Keep their sleeping areas away from each other. Even during the night, the pot-bellied pig and the dog can create a commotion. Tea cup pigs often make strange noises at night while they are sleeping that may alert the dogs. The hearing capability of the dog is very acute and they can hear even the softest scream of the pot-bellied pigs at night. This time around, the pig will be defenseless because they are not used to the dark environment while the dog has the hunting capability so they can still see in the dark. If possible, keep them from separate rooms of the house, or from the opposite corners of the yard.

Rule #5: Install additional locks or fences on the house of the dog and the pig. The lock will serve as additional protection for the dog or the pig. Sometimes, when the pig roams, he may get to the area of the dog and may do something that upsets the dog. With an extra lock and fence, the dog cannot just get out from his house and attack the pig. Also, when the pig screams at night, the dog cannot just get into the pig’s house and attack it.

Rule #6: Know what to do when the dog attacks your pet pig. You cannot always prevent the fact that the pot-bellied pig may get attacked by your dog. Thus, you have to know what to do when the time comes. You should know how to calm your dog when rage overpowers it. You should know how to grab their attention when you feel that there is something wrong between them. When you feel that the dog starts to get angry, take him out from the place immediately. When the pot-bellied pig screams, calm it immediately before the dog comes and attack it.

Rule #7: Be alert and be prepared. You should pay more extra attention when the pot-bellied pigs and the dogs are together. You already know the fact the dogs and the pigs can be best of friends, but they can always fight and hurt each other. When you are guarding them, always observe them so that you may calm them when they start to get angry. Usually, it is the pig that provokes the dog to attack, so you should keep things away that may hurt the pig causing him to scream. In case the dog or the pig gets hurt, you should know how to treat them temporarily before bringing them to a veterinarian.

Having a dog and a pot-bellied pig together as pets is very interesting. You will really feel happy if you can see them playing together or roaming the yard together. It would be nice to see them taking care of each other or protecting each other from neighboring pets. But before you can see all of those friendly actions, you should be successful first in keeping pot-bellied pigs and dogs together.

Yes indeed it is true, pot-bellied pigs are a very unusual choice for a pet especially for a child, but consider the other choices: owning a dog is quite clichéd and almost every other kid owns a dog these days that it has stopped being fashionable once the Hollywood stars and celebrities started carrying them around as fashion accessories; owning a cat may be a bit too challenging for your child, especially when the cat grows up and its true nature finally unravels (cats can be very wily, unrelentingly annoying, and very scratchy if you take a moment to think about it); a hamster may be the best course, but we always have to remember that rodents have an extremely short lifespan, so unless you want to explain the mysteries of life and death to your child then this probably will be the last on your list; and lastly, big ticket animals like a horse or a pony is entirely out of the question, because no matter how much space you have and whether you can afford to have a horse or not you have to admit that your child cannot actually take care of a horse and will just spend most of the time trying to ride it rather than take care of it. A pig for a pet on the other hand, can prove to be recreational and at the same time a unique challenge for your child. Pot-bellied pigs require a lot of unique care and proper attention, and they also are the perfect choice if you live in a farm where a lot of different animals fit in, but dogs and cats will probably be left to either guard the house from either intruders or a mouse, respectively.

A child being raised in a farm environment can open up his or her eyes to a lot of different opportunities that most city-slickers are not exposed to. This also allows children to explore many different wonders that can develop the senses, as most geniuses of the day have done it. Leonardo Da Vinci, Ueshiba, Newton, and a lot more geniuses back in the day developed their unique talents and skills by communing a lot with nature. That is but one of the benefits of being raised in a farm, but unfortunately not all of us can be raised as such. So, does that mean that not everyone can have a pig for a pet therefore limiting the chances for a child to be exposed to different kinds of animals while in such an exploratory and curious age? The answer to that is not at all.

There is actually a special breed of pigs that can be made as pets in most urban areas. Pot-bellied pigs are a special breed of pigs that could fit right in a typical household, whether you live in a farm or in the city. These mini teacup pigs are a perfect fit not only for children but for other pet enthusiasts as well. These pot-bellied pigs have a lot of different varieties, and the really popular ones are the ones mentioned above – small enough to fit in a cup but not too much like a rodent. While most farm boys are accustomed to livestock pigs that are usually the size of a horse, these micro mini pigs are so small that they can be the perfect gift for your children. Owning a dog or a cat can be left to the adults then, because these “miniature pigs” have proven to be most successful with children because of their cuteness and their need to be properly trained. That’s right, the best way for a child to gain a lot of knowledge from owning a pet is to give them one that can actually teach them something. Like most pets, these teacup pigs can be quite affectionate and intelligent. With the proper supervision, you can teach your child how to take care his or her pet, and also guide them in teaching their pets tricks and proper behavior. While this may seem tedious to some parents, presenting your children with responsibility at a very tender age teaches them a lot of life lessons that will definitely help mold the person they will become in the years to come, and these pigs in a teacup can be the perfect pets for them as training ground to develop something more than affection and need for another living being, and give them a lot of life insight in the process.

So before you go off and look for the nearest ad offering piglets for sale, there are a couple of requirements for you to consider: are you in a zone where pigs are allowed; your house should be ready to receive the pig; you should actually have your own residence (it wouldn’t make sense if you want a pet and you’re homeless now would it?), meaning you are not renting out an apartment (or your landlord wouldn’t like it); you have a secure and large yard for your pig; you know or you have a person who knows a veterinarian who knows how to handle a pig; and finally, you have the right motivation and drive to take care of a pig for the entirety of its lifespan.

To further put emphasis on the points, it’s actually not enough for you to want to take care of the pig (although it is important as well), but you need to have the resources to take care of the pig. Pigs, unlike the domesticated cat or dog, are very messy pets. They are used to mud, and wallowing in mud is like swimming in a pool of cool water for them. Mud helps keep the insects away from them, which brings us to another point – pigs normally smell bad. They are unlike dogs and cats in the sense that you need to keep giving them loads of baths and showers so that they are good enough to hug and cuddle. Another point to consider is that they have different set of diets compared with most pets, and for the most part this is the reason that they smell bad. It may take time to train a pig to have a proper diet (and not the normal pig’s diet which is composed of smelly food like corn, barley and wheat), but if we are talking about a tea cup pig then there is probably less of a concern for this. Pigs are also heavier in mass as compared to a typical domesticated pet like a dog or a cat – they may be the same in size, but expect your pig to weigh heavier. Be prepared for a typical afternoon crashing around the house chasing your pot-bellied pig (they are surprisingly nimble and fast for their weight), resulting in a wide variety of damage to your home if you plan on keeping your pet indoors. Which brings me to another good point: you should have a very wide fenced yard, enough to be able to accommodate your heavy duty pet. Dogs and cats have been around for ages, therefore they have already been accustomed to the way humans live. Pigs, on the other hand, usually live in farms with huge spaces, so you can see why the interior of a home can be a bit stuffy and constricting for them. While most pigs are well-behaved enough to let them continue on living inside your house, having a big enough yard might still be a good idea, especially during bath times. Before you consider all of the aforementioned points though, you should also make sure that your place of residence is in the proper zone; meaning not all of those who want to own a pig can be allowed to do so. It is important to note that not all people are open in owning a pig as a pet, and while cuddly and cute, some of them still see a pig as messy, offensive, and smelly.

So to summarize, pot-bellied pigs may be cute, cuddly, exotic and very tame as compared to owning a dog or a cat, but there are actually a lot of key differences on how, as an owner of a pot-bellied pig, you need to look into first. Always remember that no matter how cute, cuddly adorable your pet is, if you do not know how to take care of it then you are actually in for a lot of stress and worry.

As with a lot of pets, there are actually a lot of ways for a pet owner to get a hold of certain pets. Because of the boom in pet owning nowadays, a lot of people have been experimenting and breeding different species of pets. Before you go and report these people, experimenting and breeding among pet enthusiasts is a term loosely used to describe the way they produce a different breed of pet. Dog and cat lovers have been doing this for years: they find two of the most adorable looking dog or cat that they could find and then let these animals “mate”. The result may or may not be appealing, but through the years of “experimenting” (for lack of a better term) have allowed pet enthusiasts to produce a whole different variety of dogs and cats that has a certain appeal that domesticated level pets do not offer. The practice has since spread like brushfire throughout the entire pet enthusiast community, and now owning tea cup pigs might not be for the mere casual pet owner if the pedigree of the said pet does have a certain “rarity” or price to it. Yes, pet owning is now also being commercialized, so before you consider trying to own a pot-bellied pig, the most important question you should ask is should you buy one or should you adopt one?

Because of their appeal, pot-bellied pigs now hold a special place in the hearts of pet enthusiasts. So if you are a proud owner of one, then good for you. But if you are still looking forward to owning one, I think you should consider heavily whether you should buy or adopt one first. Let’s look at the pros and cons of both options then:

BUYING a pot-bellied pig may be the easiest option of the two. The buying of pets has been around for decades. It started from small creatures like birds, and later spread out through dogs and cats. Due to the number of people wanting more variety in their pet collection, a lot of different animals have since become available. Nowadays, even wild animals like Siberian Tigers and Crocodiles are being considered as pets by certain individuals looking for pets exotic enough to brag about. The key here is “money” – if you have enough of it, you will be able to buy any pet that you want any time. Buying a pet can prove costly for a pet lover though, especially if he or she is aiming for a really good breed of pet. The differences between an ordinary pig and a pot-bellied one may not be obvious to the untrained eye, but for a pot-bellied pig enthusiast it can be as clear as night and day.

ADOPTING a pig may be the lesser known option of the two, because adopting a pet can be a very complicated process, as much as buying one will be. While adopting in the suburban areas might prove to be easier for some people who actually live in farms, a pet enthusiast might find it rather difficult locating one in the rural area, especially one that might be willing to give one for free. Yes pet lovers, most people would rather sell their pets especially if it comes from a different breed or a special line considered as rare for its kind rather than just give it away. Some of these owners who have spare pets may have different reasons. It might be the case of grabbing an opportunity to earn extra money OR putting a price on the pet will force the buyer to better take care of the pet. A pet that was bought for a sum of money can be a real hard pet to neglect, especially if it comes with a heavy price tag. Adopting a pet can also prove to be problematic especially if you do not know certain behaviors of the mother it came from. Some pet lovers have actually had real problems with the behaviors of certain pets, and it is all but proven that some habits and traits of these pets are hereditary. One more thing that people need to consider about adopting a pet is the paper trail; while most pet adoptions continue unregulated in certain areas, there are a few states that require certain “adoption papers” to be presented upon acquiring a pet from another individual.

So, whether you buy or you adopt, the most important thing to remember is that no matter what you do, your first priority is to have all the necessary means and requirements to properly take care of your pet, whatever you decide it to be. It might be a dog, a cat, a monkey, a snake, an elephant or even micro mini pigs, but as long as you know how to take care of it and treat it properly you shouldn’t have any problem at all.

What are the typical pros and cons about owning a pet pig?

Pigs are highly intelligent social animals and bond easily with humans. They are clean, odor-free, flea-free, non-allergenic, and are not expensive to feed and maintain. Unlike dogs, pigs do not bark and have no rabies. They also do not behave like dogs; dogs are eager to please their human masters. Pigs are demanding and manipulative. It is also suggested that they are adopted in pairs. Although they cost so much less to keep alive, when pigs become ill, then vet bills may run high. Moreover, qualified vets for pot-bellied pigs may be unavailable in some areas in the United States.

Can pigs be taken for a walk?

Like dogs, pigs can be walked on a leash and can be trained to ride in a car. But whenever a pet pig is taken for a walk, it takes its time to check out every little thing on the pavement like a leaf or a gum wrapper. You can also teach a pet pig to fetch certain objects, but it will only do so if it is amply rewarded because it does not enjoy playing catch.

Do pet pigs bite?

Pigs are naturally gentle, but they can also become aggressive, just like most animals, if they are competing for attention and food. Like dogs, they will bite if they are not trained properly.

Are pet pigs affectionate?

Pigs do not jump up like dogs and are not demonstrative of their emotions. What they love is to be scratched, massaged, and rubbed. Pigs also generally do not like to be picked up but they enjoy being cuddled.

What is the average life span of pot-bellied pigs?

When properly cared for, they live an average of twelve to fifteen years, some even for twenty years. As long as the pet pig is not kept obese and plenty of social interaction and outdoor activities are provided, then the animal will remain healthy and live longer.

What are the zoning laws for pet pigs?

Zoning laws and restrictions depend on which city and county you live in. Most cities do not allow farm animals to be kept as pets but several cities already revised their zoning laws to let pot-bellied pigs be kept as pets since miniature pigs can be considered as companion animals. The most important thing to remember before planning to own one is to check the zoning laws in your area first.

How big can pot-bellied pigs grow?

Potbelly pigs typically grow between eighty to one hundred sixty pounds. The average weight is roughly one hundred twenty pounds. For miniature pigs, they grow continuously and finally reach their full maturity after three to five years.  Compared with farm pigs which reach the weight ranges of six hundred to one thousand pounds, pot-bellied pigs look light and cuddly enough to tote around as pets.

Does the size of their parents give an approximation on the eventual size of the pot-bellied pig offspring?

 There is a correlation, but no complete guarantee that the offspring will take on the same size as their parents. In some cases, small parents produce large offspring.

What do pet pigs eat?

Pigs are fed a diet of grain, vegetables, and sometimes fruit. They also enjoy hay. Dog or cat foot must not be fed to a pet pig. Moreover, growing pigs and nursing mothers require more sustenance and calories compared to older and sedentary pigs. Feeding must be done twice each day coupled with yard grazing activities and lots of fresh water.

Can a pet pig stay indoors most of the time?

Pigs need sun and outdoor time and preferably, some exercise. They need certain nutrients that they can only derive from the soil, thus they must be given a chance to be outdoors. If you have a secure yard, then that would make a great difference in the life of your pet pig.

Where do pet pigs sleep?

If you keep your pot-bellied pig outdoors, you may use a doghouse or a shed in your yard. If indoors, then you may fashion a soft straw or hay bedding inside a large crate.

How best to pig-proof a house?

Like when owning any pet inside the house, you must stow in safe places all domestic cleaning items, chemicals, medicine, and toxic substances. If you have indoor plants (some of them may be harmful to your pig), then you must keep them off the floor. You must also take care not to feed your pet pig directly out of the refrigerator because they can easily learn and may soon open the refrigerator on their own. All wires, especially electrical cords, must be kept away. Most importantly, pet pigs must never be around open swimming pools.

Will the pet pig be allowed to play with pet cats and dogs in the house?

Cats and pet pigs can mingle safely, but not dogs. Dogs are natural predators of pigs and they can easily kill your pet pig. It is best to keep them away from each other.

Is a pot-bellied pet pig right for you?

All you have to do is to consider everything that’s been detailed above. Also, think if you can take the responsibility of owning and caring for a pot-bellied pig and if you are up to the challenge, then it is just the right pet for you and your family.

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.

Now if your pig is overweight or old, it might be a challenge getting them to walk.  The secret to getting your pig to move is to make your pig think it’s his idea and not to force him.  You can teach your pig to “come” and “follow” before you go for your walk.  You can teach your pig to “follow” be taking a special treat he never usually gets and let him smell it.  Say “follow” and then make him follow you and walk forward a few feet so he can claim his prize.  Slowly increase the distance, from 3 feet to 6 and then 10.  You should only use “follow” for special occasions, for example when it’s hot outside or he’s afraid.  If you use it too many times it will lose it’s effect.

So a routine command you can use is “come”.  You can train him in the same way as follow, but use regular treats rather than a special treat.  You need to make it his decision to come to you rather than simply standing there and most pigs would prefer to get free food rather than playing a game of how much they can annoy you.  Once it’s his idea to come to you, you can pay him his treat.

If your pig refuses to come, there could be a few reasons.  You could be trying too hard or being impatient.  You could also be giving too many treats to your pig and he feels that he doesn’t need to move because he will get another treat from you (or another family member) soon anyway.  There’s no motivation for him to move.  When he does move, make sure you pay him his treat and give him praise for following your command.

So you can now use “come” for general walking and if your pig is especially scared or needs to go up stairs or other out of the ordinary situation, you can use “follow”.

It all comes back to how the potbelly has been hand fed.  When a very young pig is brought home, you probably remember that they are very hesitant to even approach your hand – even if there is food in it.  As time goes by, they get more confident and more importantly they start to trust you and will happily eat food from your hand.  At this point, they will stay respectful and generally won’t bite the hand that feeds it.

What happens next depends on how the teacup is fed from now on.  If your piglet sees you as a machine that drops food on command, it will keep going back to the machine, continually asking for more and more treats each time.  It will get more aggressive and will try to take the food more quickly.  The result of course is a pig that lunges at your hand and now demands to be fed.

If you start to get intimidated by this behaviour and feed the food even faster, what’s a bit counter-intuitive is that it will encourage the pig even more!  He will start to see it as a game – how fast can I make this food appear when I ask?  Now if you start yelling and dropping food on the ground – well now he has fun as well as getting fed.  You now have a pig who is in control.

You need to educate your piglet that there is no treat unless he has done something to earn it.  When he has done something to earn it, you reinforce this by saying “treat”, don’t just feed him for no reason.  This tells the pig that there’s no point in pestering you or getting aggressive to be paid a treat.  You need to show the pig that you’re in control and that he won’t be getting a treat unless you decide he is having one.

When you do hand feed your piglet, make sure you don’t tease him or suddenly pull back your hand as this teaches him to lunge for the food.  It’s not recommended that small children hand feed the pig either, because the teacup will soon find out that small children can be overpowered to get the treat and will try to assert its dominance over the child.

When training a small piglet for the first time, it may accidently nip you when you dispense a treat.  You need to address this immediately by saying “ouch” and then “NO”.  Don’t dispense any more treats for at least an hour and your piglet will quickly learn to calm down and wait for his treat.  You can also try using larger pieces of food if you think it’s because the piglet is having difficulty taking small pieces.

Finally, you need to be consistent when feeding your teacup pig.  Use verbal commands to call him, make him earn the treat, then tell him he’s being paid.  This will make sure your pig knows that it is you that is dispensing the food – you’re in control, not the pig.  Once he understands this, things will go a lot more smoothly when feeding your piglet treats.

A domesticated pig will grind their teeth for a few reasons.  If they are around 2 years of age, your pig could be teething and once that’s finished the grinding should stop or at the very least reduce.  Your pig could also be distressed for some reason, so you might want to make sure that there hasn’t been any major changes in your piggie’s life or anything that might make your pig stressed for some reason.  Remove the source of the stress and the grinding should cease.  A third reason is that your pig could simply be happy and content!  If this is the case, sadly lthere’s not much you can do to stop the grinding directly.

You can try to lessen the effect of the grinding by giving your pig a soft toy to chew – some of the dog chewtoys can be quite good for this purpose.  At least your pig doesn’t bark.. it’s a much more annoying trait

Firstly, as with all training, don’t punish your pig for jumping up.  She’s just being affectionate and obedient by performing what she’s previously been trained to do.  You also need to apply the training consistently – either your pig is allowed to jump on the couch or she isn’t, it’s unfair to let her do it sometimes and not others and it will confuse her.  Also, don’t teach her something when she’s a tiny piglet, then change the rules later.  If you don’t want her on the couch when she’s 120lbs, don’t let her on there when she’s 10lbs.

To start, what you need to do is learn to identify the point just before she wants to make her jump to your lap and then clearly say “NO” before she jumps.  When you’re doing this, extend your hand (palm out) in front of her snout.

The command along with the hand signal will start to send the message that she shouldn’t jump.  You then need to stand up and lead your pig away from the couch.  Circle the room and return to the couch and sit down yourself while giving your pig a nice tummy rub.  After you do this a few times, your pig should volunteer to roll over for a scratch instead of being led around the room first.  She may even be relieved that she no longer has to make the effort to jump on the couch!

Now if she still manages to jump on your lap, put her back down on the floor and say “No Jumping” and then ignore her.  Keep using the hand signals and eventually she won’t try to jump up.  When she stays on the ground giver her praise (“Good pig”) and then walk her around the room as per the above instructions.

If you want you pig to stay off the couch permanently, even when you’re not there, you can apply similar training – when she jumps on the couch, say “NO” and immediately lift her off.  Give her a small treat and put it on the floor.  You don’t want to train her to jump on the couch to get a treat, so use treats like this very sparingly.

Using these simple rules and training techniques, you should be able to keep your tea cup pig from jumping on your lap when you sit down!