The Pet Pig Podcast Autumn Whitacre

Recently I made a statement on social media that many pig owners and pig lovers did not like. So I am going to share what I said and why I said it. First of all, the statement I made was, “Pigs are not people. They do not need lunch or snacks.” Why did I say that? Well, It’s true. Pigs are not people, they are actually wild animals that have been domesticated within the past 40-50 years. In those years is when we started to bring pigs into our homes. Before that people raised pigs as livestock. Bringing pigs in the house changed the game for pigs. They began to be viewed as more of family members than they did farm pigs.  Pigs are more like a puppy or a dog in the house now. That has caused a lot of people to begin to treat them more like people or a family member. I am not opposed to pet pigs, I have several of my own. I am not saying we should treat our pigs like livestock, but when you really understand pigs and what anthropomorphising a pig does, you will understand that they do have emotions but they do not have the same needs as a human does. They do not need to be treated like people, and doing so can cause issues.
Now, let’s talk about why. Pigs in the wild have 3 jobs, reproduce, hunt for food, and make a nest. These three instincts drive a pig. A pig has no control over these things. As we domesticate them, we don’t change their instinct. We may lessen them by a tiny bit but those instincts are still there. When we make them a pet we take away their jobs. This causes a pig to become bored, destructive and even aggressive. We love our pigs and we want to provide them with the best kind of nutrition but you have to think about the repercussions of this. If you feed your pig constantly throughout the day your pig will become dependent on that. It will become a routine of eating all day long and it will make it very difficult to take care of them. Two meals a day is all a pig needs. The more you feed them will make them become more entitled towards food and very food aggressive. When it comes to snacks, I did not mean treats. In my opinion, treats are for training and for keeping your pig busy. I am very methodical when it comes to giving my pigs treats. They have a purpose. A treat is a reward for doing something hard or to reinforce good behavior. I also put them in a treat dispensing toy or in the grass so they have a purpose. 
So what is the takeaway from this episode? Pigs are wild animals. We bring them into our home and make them a part of our family. Although we change the environment, we don't change their instinct to survive. So when we bring them into the house we need to really be knowledgeable about what a pet pig is and how they think. 
 
Autumn’s Links: 
Website:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/
Email:
Autumn@autumnacresminipetpigs.com
Educational Membership Group:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/support-group-subscription/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/autumnacresminipetpigs/
Facebook: 
HTTP://Facebook.com/autumnacresminipetpigs
Mighty Networks:
https://autumn-acres-mini-pet-pigs.mn.co/share/EPW2Ie5isMX4T0Ve
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
Stan Store:
https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/hDNizT
 

Rebel Rescue Ohio is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that was created in 2018 to help small domestic and exotic animals in need. The rescue moved to the “Ranch” in 2020 as the need to take on larger "farm" pets grew. Rebel Rescue Ranch, located in Berlin Center, Ohio has the space and availability to take in and help more critters!
We provide sanctuary, funding, education, vet care and find homes for unwanted or abandoned pets. If ever there is a case that we can not take on, we try to find someone who can! As of now there are about 140 animals on the ranch.
Amy tells us about her motivation to create the ranch and how she has grown and keeps it going. She shares how she has gotten different animals at her rescue and what life is like with each of them. She also explains what it takes to run the ranch and how we are each able to help her continue to help these animals. 
Her one piece of advice to anyone who wants to bring a pig home is to do their research and schedule a visit, not just a meet and greet, to really meet and learn about the pig that you want to be part of your family. Also, make sure you know that this life is what you want. 
 
If you are wanting to help please reach out to Amy by contacting her at the links below!
Amy's Links: 
Email
RebelRescueRanch@gmail.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rebelrescueranch/
Autumn’s Links: 
Website:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/
Email:
Autumn@autumnacresminipetpigs.com
Educational Membership Group:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/support-group-subscription/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/autumnacresminipetpigs/
Facebook: 
HTTP://Facebook.com/autumnacresminipetpigs
Mighty Networks:
https://autumn-acres-mini-pet-pigs.mn.co/share/EPW2Ie5isMX4T0Ve
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
Stan Store:
https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/hDNizT
 

*** This episode is sponsored by Mikko's Choice. Mikko's Choice is a small women owned business that provides high quality CBD for your pig.  Use code pigpodcast to get 25% off your first order. $5 from every sale is donated to animal rescues. Go to Mikkoschoice.com or email info@mikkoschoice.com for more information. ***
Food aggression is so common in pigs. It’s easy for them to become food aggressive because they are so food obsessed. If we can work with them while they are young, so they don't become food aggressive, we will save ourselves so much stress in the future.  What is food aggression? Food aggression is when a pig can not focus on anything else except the food in front of them. They become aggressive and try to get the food. They are not always deliberately trying to hurt us. Many times they are just trying to scare us so we let go of the food more quickly so they can have it. We have to remember that in the wild pigs are foragers and scavengers, this is how pigs find food. They spend a lot of their day trying to find food. Since they do not have that stomach to brain connection they always feel hungry. They are always starving and think if they don't eat now they will die. So we can have a little empathy for them, nobody wants to be starving. But as a pig owner, our job is to keep our pig healthy so that means enough food. They shouldn't have too much and too little food. We love our pig but that doesn’t give them the right to bully us. Food aggression is one of those things that we do not want to happen with our pig. 
In my opinion, many times food aggression is caused by us. I see it in underfed, malnourished pigs. But, another time I see it is in spoiled pigs. If we are not a leader and inconsistent in making them work for their food they can become aggressive because they feel like they have to fight for the food that they get. We are not talking about squealing for meals. Squealing for meals is not true food aggression. Food aggression is sheer panic. They are on edge because they feel like they have to fight to get that food. What are some examples of when we might see food aggression and how to handle it?
Training sessions
Before or during meals
People food
By following the tips I share in this episode you will be able to prevent food aggression or fix food aggression if they already are aggressive. We have to remember that a lot of lessons that we teach our pigs can only be taught when they trust us. If we build a bond and they trust us they will know that what we say we will do will happen. Pigs are naturally food obsessed so we have to teach them that they will get their food but they can not have it if they are being mean, bossy, aggressive and rude. 
 Kitchen Shenanigans Episode:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5sGXPKGVDmnZx2iKgBI0GX?si=f33dd09d1f1b415e
https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/thepetpigpodcast/Kitchen_Shenanigans.mp3
 
Autumn’s Links: 
Website:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/
Email:
Autumn@autumnacresminipetpigs.com
Educational Membership Group:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/support-group-subscription/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/autumnacresminipetpigs/
Facebook: 
HTTP://Facebook.com/autumnacresminipetpigs
Mighty Networks:
https://autumn-acres-mini-pet-pigs.mn.co/share/EPW2Ie5isMX4T0Ve
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
Stan Store:
https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/hDNizT
 

Rose is a High Ticket Affiliate Marketer, Beginner Homesteader and Animal Lover. She resides in Northwestern, Pennsylvania with her husband Alex and 13 animals. She has always dreamt that her life would be centered around the outdoors and animals so she decided instead of dreaming about it - she was going to make it happen. Rose has always been an animal lover but a pet pig was not on her list until her husband suggested it. She immediately started to research ethical pet pig breeders and came across Autumn Acres and that is how she became a pig owner. Rose knew about farm pigs but never really knew anything about mini pet pigs. Rose tells us her experience of bringing her pet pig home and how she fit in with the cats and dogs. 
We learn about Olive and her personality and what life is like with her. Rose shares a story about a situation where Olive got into grain for her other animals and got sick and how she cared for Olive during that situation. We also hear about their challenge of having a pet pig with having other animals in the house and on the farm.
Rose shares her biggest piece of advice to someone thinking of getting a pig is: Do your research and make sure that you have someone on call that you can contact at any time if something or an emergency comes up that you can talk to or ask questions.  Just having that person that you can get those answers from is huge. 
 
Rose’s Link:
https://www.instagram.com/therosekilgore/
 
Autumn’s Links: 
Website:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/
Email:
Autumn@autumnacresminipetpigs.com
Educational Membership Group:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/support-group-subscription/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/autumnacresminipetpigs/
Facebook: 
HTTP://Facebook.com/autumnacresminipetpigs
Mighty Networks:
https://autumn-acres-mini-pet-pigs.mn.co/share/EPW2Ie5isMX4T0Ve
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
Stan Store:
https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/hDNizT

Training is so important if you want your pig to grow up enjoying interaction with people. If you don’t train a pig when it is young and continue that training throughout their life, you end up with a pig that is stressed and doesn’t know how to do anything outside of its normal daily activities. Things come up in life that we can not control, so there is no way to keep our pigs' lives exactly the same every single day. When we don’t work on training while our pig is young then we have a pig who doesn't do well with any change at all. Why does this happen? Piglets are born terrified of everything because they are prey animals. Being a prey animal, that fear of anything new is what keeps them alive. When we bring them into our home and they become a pet results in our pig not having to be afraid of everything because we keep them safe. At a young age, our pigs need to be taught what to enjoy and how to enjoy it. Training can help so our pig is not afraid of every little thing. They are able to have a flexible mentality, they are open to new things and challenges and they have confidence. When you have a pig that has a good level of confidence, you are able to enjoy them and they will enjoy their life by being calm and content. What are the real benefits of training a pig when it is young and keeping up on the training?
We build a deep bond and trust with our pig.
A pig will be more easygoing and flexible in life.
You will have a better behaved pig.
What are some examples of training?
Manners
Harness training
Leash training
Tricks
Using stairs or a ramp
Walking on slippery floors
Walking on gravel
Crate training
Car rides
Strangers
Loud noises
Touch
What happens if we do not keep up on the list above or if we never teach them these things? We end up with a terrified, stressed out pig that is in constant panic mode. What can this result in?
Food aggression
Spoiled pig syndrome
No confidence
No trust 
How can you help a pig that is older that you didn't keep up with training that is very afraid of anything new? Restart your training today. Pick something that is easy that your pig doesn't know how to do and feels uncomfortable with and be consistent. Use treats, build their confidence and their trust in you. By working on one thing at a time you will have a pig that is more confident and happier.
 
Autumn’s Links: 
Website:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/
Email:
Autumn@autumnacresminipetpigs.com
Educational Membership Group:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/support-group-subscription/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/autumnacresminipetpigs/
Facebook: 
HTTP://Facebook.com/autumnacresminipetpigs
Mighty Networks:
https://autumn-acres-mini-pet-pigs.mn.co/share/EPW2Ie5isMX4T0Ve
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
Stan Store:
https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/hDNizT

In this episode I interview Emmaly about her pet pig Chevy. Chevy is a 2.5 year old potbelly she adopted as a piglet. Chevy and Tahoe(husky) bonded immediately and have been brothers ever since. They are both mamas boys who love to snuggle each other when mom is busy. They are always on the road exploring new places and putting smiles on people’s faces. Oh and he’s quite the fashionista! Emmaly always had a love of animals and dropped out of college to start working with animals. Now she specializes in behavior modification for highly aggressive animals. She is also a Vet tech now because she got interested in the medical side of animals as well. Emmaly tells us the story of how she got Chevy and what it was like bringing Chevy into her home with her dog Tahoe. She tells us all about how Chevy is with her different rescue animals that come in and out of the home and shares what his personality is like. She shares her story about Chevy getting into Foxtails and what ended up being needed at the vet to remove them. She shares the danger of foxtails and the process of how to remove them and why we as pet owners need to be aware of the damage this plant can cause to our pets. She tells us how much she enjoys getting Chevy dressed up and tells us about all the costumes they have. She tells us her favorite thing about having a pet pig.
 
Emmaly's Link:
https://www.instagram.com/pupsandpig/
Autumn’s Links: 
Website:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/
Email:
Autumn@autumnacresminipetpigs.com
Educational Membership Group:
https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/support-group-subscription/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/autumnacresminipetpigs/
Facebook: 
HTTP://Facebook.com/autumnacresminipetpigs
Mighty Networks:
https://autumn-acres-mini-pet-pigs.mn.co/share/EPW2Ie5isMX4T0Ve
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
Stan Store:
https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/hDNizT