Everyone knows how to play with a puppy. But do you know how to play with a piglet?
Step 1
Crouch down so that you're on the piglet's level.
Step 2
Hold your hand out in front of you, palm side up.
Step 3
Wiggle your fingers - by now the piglet(s) should be looking curiously at your hand, from a distance.
Step 4
Call the piglet(s) by name, snap your fingers, and/or make kissing noises to get their attention.
Step 5
Keep it up until a piglet approaches.
Step 6
Let the piglet sniff at your fingertips. He or she will probably nibble - let them. If they nibble a little too hard, pull away slowly. Sudden movements will send them squealing away.
Step 7
Allow the piglet to circle you, and be prepared to let it have some complimentary nibbles on your clothes and shoes.
Step 8
Reach slowly and put your hand on the piglet's back. Pat and rub gently. If the piglet runs away, start again at step 1 and repeat the process until they're comfortable being touched by you.
Step 9
Rub the piglet vigorously on its stomach and if you're lucky, he or she will tip over in delight, like so:
Step 10
Play with the piglet(s) as you would with a puppy!
Tips
- If it's a hot summer day, splash the piglet gently with water from a hose.
- Piglets (and any animal, for that matter) are more likely to warm up to you if they think you've got food for them.
- Piglets absolutely LOVE being scratched/rubbed on the soft skin behind their ears and also eating grass or any kind of plant
Warnings
- Most piglets will end up heading for the slaughterhouse, and you should always keep that in mind and not become too attached, but while they are alive you will have a duty to make they lives as pleasant as possible. Not only do pigs enjoy human contact, but more importantly they have to be handled routinely so that vet checks and eventual slaughtering will be less traumatic for everyone, including the pig.
Don't do this near Mama Pig. They can be very protective of their Piglets and think that you're trying to have them for dinner. The last thing you want is a 500 lb. pig charging at you.
- Always wash your hands afterwards. Since pigs don't have sweat glands, they like to wallow in the mud to cool off. Mud can contain bacteria that you don't want to eat with your next meal, so wash up!
If you are going to give the piglet a treat, put it in your palm with your fingers flexed as far back as they will go. This is the best way to do this, because the piglet may, in his hurry to gobble up the treat, accidentally bite some of your hand. Ouch!
