At House Pet Mini Pigs
we specializes in house pet size,
standard and medium body type, miniature pigs
that can be comfortably enjoyed as part of
an urban or suburban family
and are comparable in size to house-kept dogs.
(Not our smallest, but one of our cutest fully grown momma piggies!)
Understanding Pig Sizes and Size Classes
There are currently no uniform guidelines for pet pig sizes and size classes.
Most breeders vary in their definitions of terms like mini, micro, tiny, etc... .
Weight is an inpresise form of assessing the size your pig will be at maturity, as pigs can be all lean muscle slender, all lean muscle stocky, or very over weight. Height is a much more accurate way of assessing the size your pig will grow into. Therefore on this website you are provided with height estimates rather than weight estimates at maturity.
But, just for the record,
here are our definitions of mini-pig size classes for lean weight:
Farm /Livestock pigs - more than 200 lbs
(Usually 300-800 lbs, but 1000 lbs is possible.)
Mini Pig (tea cup) - less than 100 lbs (They only fit in a tea cup when new born.)
Micro - less than 65 lbs
Small Micro - less than 50 lbs
Tiny Micro - less than 40 lbs (rare)
Super Micro - less than 30 lbs (very rare)
Nano - less than 20 lbs (extremely rare)
When assessing the size of a mini pig, please keep in mind that a mini pig is packed with much more muscle than a dog and so can weigh much more than a dog of the same height.
Understanding the difference between
a miniature pot belly pig,
and a miniature standard body type pig.
Pot Bellied Pigs began with a Vietnamese breed of pigs, but in the USA, are now a mixture of several breeds with varied characteristics. Most (but not all) have large hanging bellies (pot bellies) that are low to the ground with short legs, a sway-back, and very large head with a very short snout. (Google Images has lots of real examples/photos of this, search: "pot belly pig".) Pot bellies exist in all weight ranges of miniature pigs and also a little above. The smallest are extremely rare and usually are valued between $5000 and $7000 USD.
Standard Body Type Mini Pigs are also a mixture of breeds including the pot bellied. They have slightly longer legs, a straight back, and a more stream-lined belly that is carried higher from the ground. Their heads tend to be smaller and snouts are usually, but not always, longer. We promote these characteristics for a more attractively proportioned and more graceful body appearance with a more elegant profile as a fully mature pet. Prices vary according to size, color and quality of conformation.
A Fully Grown Pot Belly Momma.
Market Values
The lowest cost range for standard body type generally starts at $500 for a mini pig with low demand color, less coveted attributes, larger or older piglet.
(Although, sometimes lower prices can be found in unusual circumstances)
The high cost range for standard body type is $5000 and higher
for the smallest, rarest colors or highest demand colors, and best conformation.
The very rarest and best prized piglets can sell for as much as $10,000.
Please do your reviews on breeders.
Make sure they can back up their claims with facts and references. Ask about the bloodline and parents weights, height, age. Ask about the age, birth weight and growth rate of the piglet. A breeder that knows these details and provides them without hesitation is your safest choice for a great pet without unpleasant surprises!
But. the best references are the mother and father pig!
See the babies nursing from their healthy, well-fed mother and you know what they are likely to grow into. And also, see them interacting with a gentle, well-fed father.
They are the best, most honest and reliable references you can get!
A client originally purchased a mini pig from a well referenced breeder. She promised him a 35 lb pig when full grown. His pig is growing 2 lbs weekly! At six weeks old this piglet is already 12 lbs and 16 inches long! The father of this piglet is a "teacup", which can grow to 100 lbs +. The growth rate of this piglet indicates a projected adult weight of 150 lbs!!! The client was told by the breeder that he was getting a "micro" piglet that would be ONLY 35 lbs at 2 years of age for $1500. This is a common story that has a less than happy ending, so get all your detailed info up front and check out the parent pigs in person for a great pet and the years of happiness that an accurately represented and well matched happy house pig can bring to your family.
Although it is an unpleasant surprise to realize that you have a much larger pet than you anticipated, and have been ripped-off by an unscrupulous pig breeder, please understand that there is nothing wrong with having a pet house pig that is 100 - 150 lbs. People have Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Mastiffs and many other large breed dogs that can be both bigger and heavier than this. And, pigs are so much more intelligent and emotionally sensitive than dogs, more like people. The problems arise when people treat their pigs like dogs instead of like a child-family member. If you always give consistent gentle correction, affection, and adequate supervision early on, just as you would a very young human child, it doesn't matter how big the pig grows. It will still be a well mannered, affectionate family member. If you treat it like a dog, well then, it will act like an animal or worse, just as your child would if you treated it like a dog!
The Good Nature of Pet Pigs.
Miniature pigs are the fourth smartest animal on the planet.
(1st Humans, 2. Chimpanzees, 3. Dolphins, 4.Pigs!) They are inquisitive, playful and interactive. They love the attention that comes with learning and they love to entertain. Ringing a bell, shaking hands (hooves), rolling over, playing dead, sitting at the dinner table and drinking out of a cup, saying, "Mama", getting dressed up in costumes for parties and holidays, or just taking a relaxing stroll on a leash through the neighborhood with you; these are just a few of the many things pigs learn to do. They get along well with other kinds of animals, and can easily learn anything you would teach a dog ...and so much more.
In order to assure appropriate behavior for a pet,
all our pigs must be spayed and neutered before shipping, delivery, or pick-up..
We do not provide breeding stock,...ever.
House-Breaking
Pigs are very CLEAN animals. They are not inclined to soil their living space and so are extremely easy to litter train like a cat...well, actually they will automatically use a litter box placed in their area, if you can call that training! In larger living spaces, they do need supervision and direction temporarily (like a puppy). Taped-down potty pads can be substituted for litter if you don't like litter. And, many people teach their pigs to ring a bell hanging from a door knob when they want to go out and relieve themselves, or use a doggie-door if they don't want to be bothered with litter or potty pads!
Tractor Supply Stores have flat-topped small,
medium, large and extra-large dog crates. When you separate the top from the bottom, you get two of the very best "Piggy Litter-Box Potties" !
General Cleanliness
Pigs sweat very little and so do not smell (the only smell may be from their litter box if you are too slow to clean it!). They can not clean themselves like a cat, but they also do not get dirty (unless you take them to a "dirty/dusty" place to play). They appreciate a sandbox to play in, and as long as it is "clean" sand (such as pool filter sand or rinsed sand) sand doesn't stick to their coat so they stay perfectly clean. They will also rub themselves against objects to clean themselves off. Providing a rubbing post or other rubbing surfaces is a good idea. They will use a hairbrush or a slice of tree bark taped to a vertical surface to clean/rub themselves.
Clean kiddie swimming pools full of cool water are also much enjoyed by little pigs
on a warm day!
*Due to hormones, male pigs are neutered to be odor-free.
House pigs are easy to train, easy to house-break,
many practically don't shed at all, others shed very little.
are hypo-allergenic for most animal allergic people,
are cleaner, quieter and more thoughtful, than cats and dogs, and they are much more intelligent.
They DON'T BARK, and they are so much more curious, so funny and just more fun!!!
WHAT GREAT PETS !!!
