Pig Characteristics and Traits – Understanding their behavior will help you take care of pigs

Pigs are a great source of meat, but they also make great pets. Finding out what the characteristics of pigs are will help you take care of these intelligent animals. Although traits can vary by breed, there are several genetic characteristics among pigs.

Pigs are one of the most social and intelligent farm animals. The reason pig farmers create strong pens and fences is that pigs can escape even a relatively good fence. They have been known to work in pairs and sometimes the smartest pigs even open other pens to let other pigs escape. They can also learn new behaviors proven by experiments and research. They can move the cursor on the screen and remember drawings and doodles that they already knew. Scientists believe they are smarter than primates and even three-year-olds.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of pigs is their cleanliness. Contrary to the belief of other people, pigs are generally clean animals. This is demonstrated by their choice of bathroom away from their feeders and waterers and from their shelter. They also won’t sleep or lie down near manure. They use mud to block their sensitive skin from the sun and insect bites.

Pigs, like other animals, have sweat glands only on their snouts. This is why they love being around water or mud, especially in hot weather.

Pigs are short-sighted. They use their sense of smell and hearing to guide them where to go. They also use their snouts to search for food. They are like dogs that smell the things they want to find.

Pigs can generally live 10-15 years if they are cared for well. They will continue to grow until they are four or five years old. However, some breeds, such as the pot-bellied pig, do not share these general characteristics of pigs. They typically weigh only 60 to 300 pounds, depending on the type of diet they are given. Micro-mini pigs or teacup pigs weigh 29 to 65 pounds and are specially bred to be small.

Pigs are independent animals. Unlike dogs, they don’t care much about attention. They are more like plants that just need to be fed, watered, and pulled out of the sun. Of course, spending time with your pig will make him feel more attached to you, but not like dogs, they will not seek loving company.

Pigs can jump. They jump, only slightly low and only if they are reaching for something or freaking out. They will also jump if you train them to do so.

Pigs are highly trainable animals. Because they have a good sense of smell, you can train them to retrieve or hunt something for you. Just make sure you have treats in your food as a source of motivation.

With these characteristics of pigs, maybe you are really excited to have a pig as a pet. However, also remember that pigs require a lot of space as they can grow a lot. They also tend to be destructive when they are exploring. Some people think that pigs are too smart to keep as pets. Regardless of what people and scientists say, the decision is always up to you.