“I love pigs. I think they’re very cute. I really want a pet pig, but those micro pigs, they don’t stay micro.”
Nicole Byer, Comedian
Pros and Cons of Getting a Pig as a Pet
You think about getting a pet but you don’t want an ordinary pet like a dog or a cat?
Then getting a mini pig can be great for you.
While there are indeed many advantages of keeping a pig as a pet, there are also some downsides related to it.
In this article, I show you all the pros and cons of getting a pig as a pet so that you can better decide whether a pet pig really fits your lifestyle or not.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Getting a Pig as a Pet
- You will have what most other people don’t have
- Good alternative if you want something extraordinary
- Mini pigs are cute
- You will get the attention of many people
- You and your pig may become famous
- You can build a brand around your pet pig
- Micro pigs can just make your life much better
- They will really appreciate what you are doing for them
- Can help you overcome difficult periods in your life
- You may find meaning by raising a mini pig
- Mini pigs can have therapeutic value
- Good alternative if you are allergic to other pets
You will have what most other people don’t have
One advantage of getting a pig as a pet is that you will have what most people don’t have.
While most other people keep dogs, cats or other rather common pets, you will be the one who has truly something special at home.
This can not only make you feel unique, but many of your friends will also love to come over to your home to see how your pig is doing and want to take nice pictures with it.
In general, your pig will be the focus of attention every time you invite your friends to your place and you can just have a great time together with your pig.
Good alternative if you want something extraordinary
Mini pigs are also just not for the average person.
While some people are far too conservative to get a micro pig as a pet, it can be great for you if you have a special character and are just not like most other people.
In fact, if normal pets rather annoy you but you still want to have some company, you should seriously consider getting a micro pet since your micro pet will be as special as you and you both can build a unique team in the fight against everything ordinary and boring that you might not like at all.
Mini pigs are cute
Another upside of having a pig as a pet is that they are simply pretty cute.
Especially when they are young, your heart will just melt when you look at them and some people even think that micro pigs are cuter than babies.
This might be a little bit of an exaggeration, yet I think you get the point.
Hence, if you look for something cute but yet extraordinary, getting a micro pig can be a great way to go for you.
You will get the attention of many people
In general, you will also get plenty of attention when you walk down the streets with your micro pig.
Many people are still not used to pigs as pets and often can’t believe what they see.
Some of them will even ask you for pictures and you will be in the spotlight quite often thanks to your pig.
Thus, while some people don’t like the attention, getting a micro pig can be great if you love to be the center of the universe since you will be showered with attention and compliments for your pig all day long.
You and your pig may become famous
You may not believe it, but there is a chance that your pig and you may even become famous.
In fact, since mini pigs are quite cute, it is fairly easy to start a YouTube channel and show how your pet pig is doing.
Many people will subscribe to your channel and if you know what you are doing, chances are that you will reach hundreds of thousands of people who will watch your videos on a regular basis.
You can build a brand around your pet pig
If you are a clever person and understand how internet marketing works, you can even make a real business by getting a micro pig for your home.
In fact, by starting a YouTube channel or a blog, you can make serious money from various income streams.
You will also have the expert knowledge not many other people have when writing about mini pigs since you will deal with one of them on a daily basis.
You may even be able to sell merchandise with pictures of your mini pig on it.
Opportunities are almost endless and if you are willing to put in the work, having a micro pig at home can even turn into a real business and you may be able to quit your job sooner or later since you can make good money from other income sources.
Micro pigs can just make your life much better
Many people who have micro pigs at home also report that their small friends just make their lives so much better.
In fact, many people feel bored alone at home and an increasing number of singles out there just urgently search for company.
Your pig will be there for you and will give you a feeling of community, even though there might not be any human in your life right now.
Consequently, having a pig as a pet can also be great in case you feel alone and search for a companion to spend time with.
They will really appreciate what you are doing for them
Another benefit of keeping a pig as a pet is that your pig will really like you and appreciate what you are doing for it.
It will soon realize that you will be the one providing it with food, water and everything it needs for daily life.
In turn, your pig will be really grateful for your efforts and will show you real appreciation.
It will also be loyal and will only accept you as its owner while ignoring the commands of most other people.
Can help you overcome difficult periods in your life
Getting a micro pig can also make sense in case you currently struggle in your life and don’t know what to do.
Sooner or later, most people come to a point in life where they are close to giving up and don’t know how to get back on track.
In such a case, having a mini pig around you can be great since you will know that it needs you and these thoughts may prevent you from doing something stupid that you may regret later on in your life.
You may find meaning by raising a mini pig
Many people also find true meaning by raising a pig.
Many people also see it rather as a child than as an animal, especially those who can’t have kids themselves.
Therefore, getting a mini pig can also be a real alternative to raising your own kids in case you just don’t have the option to do so due to various possible reasons.
Mini pigs can have therapeutic value
Pet pigs can also make a real impact when it comes to therapies.
Like many other pets, mini pigs can make you feel better and can also take plenty of stress away from your life since you will just see things from a different perspective and will know what really matters.
In turn, chances are that you will no longer complain about rather minor things and that you will be much happier in general.
Good alternative if you are allergic to other pets
While many people out there are allergic to cats, dogs or other pets, only few people are allergic to pigs.
Hence, if you suffer from those kinds of allergies and can’t keep other pets due to that, a pig as a pet can be a real alternative for you.
However, make sure that you get tested in this regard before you get a pig since you might also be allergic to pigs.
Now that you know all the advantages of raising a pig at home, we also have to talk about the negative aspects that come along with it.
Disadvantages of Having a Pig as a Pet
- Mini pigs may damage your furniture
- It’s harder to housebreak
- Pigs don’t learn as fast as other pets
- Your pig will need plenty of food
- You need many different vaccinations for your mini pig
- People may think you are weird
- Your home is not a natural environment for pigs
- Other pedestrians may be afraid if you go with your pig for a walk
- Some people are also allergic to pigs
- It’s time to say goodbye sooner or later
- You make a long-term commitment
- Difficult if you want to go on vacation
- Getting a mini pig may be problematic if you have small kids
- Many people underestimate the size of mini pigs
- Mini pigs may be aggressive
- Risk of accidents
- Your mini pig may ruin your garden
- Many people don’t understand how to raise a micro pig properly
Mini pigs may damage your furniture
One problem with getting a mini pig is that pigs often damage or even destroy your furniture.
Since they don’t have a good vision, they will often run over things that are in their way and will also not understand that they do something unpleasant.
Consequently, you will often have to repair or replace stuff and this can get really expensive, especially if you have valuable things at home that could break easily.
It’s harder to housebreak
Pigs will also be harder to get housebroken than many other pets.
Sure, sooner or later, your pig will learn what you want from it.
Yet, before you get to this point, it can be a real struggle and you may have to spend plenty of time and effort to finally housebreak your pet.
You may also often wake up in the morning and smell urine on the floor in the first weeks when you initially get your pig since it will often not be housebroken right from the beginning.
Thus, you should also have a certain level of patience in this regard before you make the decision for getting a micro pig for your home.
Pigs don’t learn as fast as other pets
While pigs are not dumb, they often also learn slower than other pets.
For instance, if you train a dog, it will often learn pretty fast and will also learn some decent tricks over time.
Your dog will also follow your commands pretty easily.
In contrast, your pig will not have the same learning ability and it can cost you quite a log of nerves to finally get to the point where your pig knows what you want from it.
Your pig will need plenty of food
You should also not underestimate the amount of food your pig will need.
Sure, in the beginning, your micro pigs will not eat that much since it will just be quite small.
However, it will grow quite rapidly and will need much more food.
Consequently, you will also have to buy more food and this can lead to significant additional expenses.
In fact, you will have to spend much more food compared to most other pets on your pet in the long run and you should make sure that you are willing to make this commitment.
You need many different vaccinations for your mini pig
Another downside of having a pig as a pet is that you will also have to get lots of vaccinations for it and you will also have to renew those vaccinations from time to time.
Not only will this cost you additional money, but it will also eat up some of your time since you will have to go to a veterinarian for it.
Moreover, from time to time, your mini pig may also get sick and you will often not know exactly what to do.
Also in such a case, you will have to make an appointment with a veterinarian who will need to find a solution for your pig’s struggles.
People may think you are weird
While some people really love mini pigs and can’t get enough from them, others think that keeping a pig as a pet is just weird.
In fact, if you live in a rather conservative neighborhood, your neighbors will not be happy about your small friend at all since it can be noisy and may just not fit into the overall picture.
Hence, just know that you will also get some snarky comments and that you are able to deal with those things in a relaxed and mature manner.
Your home is not a natural environment for pigs
Opponents of pet pigs also often claim that your home will just not be a natural environment to raise pigs.
And this is quite true.
Pigs are rather wild animals and have never been meant to be raised as pets.
In nature, they will also have much more space and freedom to play around and to follow their natural instincts.
Consequently, our mini pig may also not be as happy at your place compared to a state where it could have lived in the wild and keeping a pig as a pet can therefore also be considered unnatural and against mother nature’s plans.
Other pedestrians may be afraid if you go with your pig for a walk
Another disadvantage of keeping a pig as a pet is that pedestrians may often be afraid when a pig comes along their way.
If you go for a walk, many people will be quite happy to see your pig walking down the street.
Yet, there will also be a minority of people who will not be happy at all and may even call the police.
Thus, be prepared that not all people will like your pig and that some of them will even get out of your way when you walk down the streets.
Some people are also allergic to pigs
While the majority of people will have no problems with allergies when keeping a pig, some people are still allergic to them and you should definitely make an appointment at your local doctor’s office and test yourself in this regard before you decide for getting a pig which you might regret later on.
It’s time to say goodbye sooner or later
You should also be aware of the fact that nothing is forever and that your pig will not have an eternal life.
In fact, it will be time to say goodbye sooner or later and this can be really hard since you will have built a real connection with it and it may just have become your second child.
Also in case you have children, it can be really hard to tell them what happened and your kids may struggle to deal with this loss in an emotionally healthy manner.
You make a long-term commitment
You should also not forget that getting a mini pig will be a long-term commitment.
Mini pigs often live more than 10 years and you should be willing to accept your pig as a family member in the long run.
Hence, don’t get a micro pig if you are not entirely sure that you will be happy with it for many years so that it doesn’t have to end up in an animal shelter sooner or later.
Difficult if you want to go on vacation
While it will often be rather easy to find a pet sitter if you own a cat or a dog, it can be much harder to find someone who wants to take care of your pig when you are on vacation.
This also means that you may have serious trouble in this regard and may even have to cancel or change your vacation plans so that you can take care of your loved pig instead.
Getting a mini pig may be problematic if you have small kids
Having a pig as a pet can also be problematic in case you have small kids.
Especially if your pig is already mature, it will be quite big compared to your kid.
This also means that your pig will have much more power and in case it has a bad day, it can seriously hurt your child.
Hence, you may want to wait with getting a mini pig until your kids are old enough to handle it in a proper manner.
Many people underestimate the size of mini pigs
You should also not underestimate the size of mini pigs.
While they are pretty small when they are young, they can reach enormous sizes once they get older.
Thus, don’t fall for the trap of thinking that your mini pig will always stay as cute and small as it is in the beginning.
Times will change and you will need plenty of space to accommodate your pig friend.
Mini pigs may be aggressive
While mini pigs are rather calm animals, they can also have bad days.
During those days, they may just be more aggressive and you should be careful not to get into their way.
Otherwise, your pig may even attack you and you may get seriously injured.
Risk of accidents
Having a pig at home increases the risk of accidents and injuries in general.
You will just have an additional character at home that could cause a lot of trouble and you should make sure that you are willing to take on this additional level of insecurity before getting a pig pet.
Your mini pig may ruin your garden
Your pig will also not care that much about the visual appeal of your garden.
In fact, it will dig holes in your yard quite often and your lawn will therefore not look as tidy as the lawn of your neighbors.
Many people don’t understand how to raise a micro pig properly
Many people also underestimate the level of knowledge you need for raising a mini pig.
Sure, you can learn almost everything online.
Yet, many people are still too lazy to put in the work.
Thus, before deciding for getting a mini pig, make sure that you are willing to put in the hours and to inform yourself regarding how to raise a mini pig at home in an optimal manner.
Top 10 Mini Pig Pros & Cons – Summary List
| Mini Pig Pros | Mini Pig Cons |
|---|---|
| Mini pigs are cute | Caring for mini pets can be expensive |
| Miniature pigs give you company | Having a micro pet is time-consuming |
| They are loyal | Your mini pet will ruin your lawn |
| Mini pigs really appreciate you | Your neighbors may not be happy |
| You can find meaning in life | Mini pigs can make loud noises |
| You get the attention of many people | Some people may be afraid |
| You and your mini pig may get famous | You may be allergic to pigs |
| Mini pigs have therapeutic value | You have to see the veterinarian |
| You can build a brand around your pig | Risk of accidents |
| You will have an extraordinary pet | People may think you are weird |
Should You Get A Mini Pig For Your Home?
Now that you got all the advantages and disadvantages of getting a mini pig, it is time to evaluate all the arguments yourself so that you can make a profound decision with regard to your individual circumstances and preferences.
Before getting a pig as a pet, make absolutely sure that it is the right decision for you so that you can avoid giving it away to an animal shelter in the long run.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_pig
https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/mini-pigs
https://americanminipigassociation.com/mini-pig-education/caring-for-your-mini-pig/
About the Author
My name is Andreas and I’m really passionate about our environment and also about growing plants. In fact, I have grown several different plants over many years. I love to see my own plants grow and also always try new things to improve my overall conditions at home.
In my blog posts, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can become successful in growing various different plants and improving your home as well, even though you might still be a beginner right now.