“Happy pig = happy home.”
-Shannon S. and La-a
We Know You Have a Good Pig!
Pigs are incredibly intelligent, which is part of what makes them such wonderful companions! It can also be what makes them some of the most difficult pets to live with! Many methods, such as “move the pig,” emphasize becoming dominant or “top hog.” We know that regular shoving matches weren’t what you envisioned when you brought home your pig. We suggest something more fun (and more effective!) for both of you!
You CAN Have a Happy Home with Your Pig!
Our pig training can help you with:
Aggression
Fear of strangers
Fearfulness/shyness
Harness training
Manners training (obedience)
Food aggression
Other behavior issues
Why We Do Things Differently
Pig owners know that pigs are incredibly smart, sentient, and sensitive! What most people don’t know is that training methods based on punishment have been demonstrated to increase aggression, the most common pig behavior issue. No one goes through the time, effort, and expense, to adopt a pig with the vision of having to repeatedly intimidate them just to coexist peacefully. Yet, this is the most commonly given advice out there. Not only that, these methods rely on the theory that a human has to be “top hog,” and there simply is no science behind that. Our goal is to get you the results you want, so we avoid these unsubstantiated approaches.
Our evidence-based training methods use positive reinforcement, well-known for having no side effects and boosting the relationship between you and your pig. We work to increase trust and communication, which ultimately leads to reduced aggression, a happier pig, and a peaceful home!
You CAN Have a Happy Home with Your Pig!
How We Do It
Clear communication is the key to a well-mannered pig. Pigs are smart, but they are also prey animals. They get scared easily, so teaching them what to expect is key to mitigating unwanted behaviors such as aggression or squealing.
Behavior Consultation
Our behavior consultations are the best way for us to create a customized training plan for you and your pig. We have 2 session styles: virtual and in-person. Both deliver the same great coaching and information, the difference is your preference! Here’s how our process works:
1. We chat with you about your pig’s history and behavior issues.
2. We streamline this conversation to create and prioritize concrete behavior goals.
3. We create a behavior plan based on our initial discussion.
4. We coach you live through your plan, either virtually, or in person at your home.*
*Our service area includes the Temple Terrace region. To keep things safe, we require an initial call before beginning any in-person services for pigs.
Virtual Behavior Consultation
Virtual training takes place over Zoom. Our 45 minute session will consist of discussion and live coaching. All you need is a laptop with a webcam, or, if you prefer, a phone with a forward-facing camera.
During these sessions, we give you the tools you need to train your pig, and then provide guidance while we watch you in action! We also will help you read your pig’s body language so that you can understand them better!
Virtual behavior consultations are $75/session.
In-Person Behavior Consultation
In-person training takes place in your home. We come to you! Our one-hour session will consist of discussion, live coaching, and, depending on the circumstances, we will work directly with your pig. Our goal is to teach you the skills to confidently train and live with your pig! In-person training is available only in Temple Terrace, and is $100/session. Before we get started, we require have a brief call to discuss your pig’s behavior issues.
Reduction in stress and unwanted behavior
“Using their training techniques I was able to understand the “why” behind La-a’s behavior. This enabled me to make positive corrections, reducing her (and my) overall stress level, leading to a significant reduction of bad behavior.”
No Need to Move the Pig, I’ll just come with you!
FAQs
How long will it take to change my pig’s behavior?
The behavior issue, your pig’s history, and your fidelity to implementing the behavior plan impact how long the change will take. When it comes to unwanted behavior, particularly aggression, our goal is to create a management plan during our first session that acts as a “triage.” This is designed to stop the problem immediately while we work on training for longer-lasting results.
Does Zoom training really work?
Yes! We actually find Zoom training to be quite practical for working with pigs, who are often fearful of strangers. Coaching you from a distance keeps your pig comfortable and allows us to empower you with the skills to empower your pig!
Honestly, I’m not even sure if I can keep my pig.
We understand what an incredible difficult situation it can be when you feel you may need to rehome your pig. We know you never expected to be here when you first brought them home! We are here to support you with the realities of what it will take to change your pig’s potentially non-negotiable behavior problem. We know you want what is best for your pig, and sometimes our role in your journey is to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. We are here to support you, no matter what.
Message from the trainers:
We know that pig people are unique! It takes a really special person to bring a pig into their home. We know you’ve put a lot of thought and time into making the decision, and not a lot of people get it. We do, because we’re pig people, too! We know how hard it can be when your piglet doesn’t trust you or your best friend suddenly starts to become aggressive. We want to help you achieve the goals you had in mind when you adopted your pig, whether it’s harness training them so you can go for a walk together, helping them get comfortable with strangers so you can invite your friends over again, or just being able to leave them with a petsitter so you can go on vacation again, we are here to help you! Pigs are incredibly smart, and that sometimes means that new problems can develop quickly. Our coaching strategies not only help you have a pig who is a joy to live with, but we empower you with the skills to prevent and solve behavior problems long after our sessions have ended!