Charging

Question
2 weeks ago I bought a pot belly pig she is about 2 months old now and a few days ago she started charging for no reason and biting people she is used to being around sonetimes she wakes up and does it and sonetimes they can just be petting her and she will all of a sudden do it but she has never charged or bite me, why is she doing this?

Answer
Piggy may be charging out of fear, or it could be a sign that she is getting comfortable in her new home.

Pigs see the world as a ladder, with each person, pet and pig having his or her own rung. When you brought your piglet home, piggy didn't have a rung. When piggy realizes she's here to stay, she has to find her own rung on the social ladder in your home.

The other possibility is fear. Pigs are prey animals. Pigs in the wild can be snatched up at any moment and eaten! Piggy needs a "safe" space that is all her own. It doesn't have to be big, in fact, small is better, like a bathroom, laundry room, or closet. Put her bed, a water dish and litter box in the space. When she sleeps in there, wake her by turning on a light and calling out her name.

When she tries to bite inappropriately, push her away gently and say "no". Push on her shoulder, cheek, or feet. The goal is to make her feet move just a little bit.

Dominant pigs in a herd show their superiority by making the subordinate pigs move. For example, one pig may be sleeping under a tree. A pig that's higher on the ladder will come along, and make the sleeping lower pig get up and move away. The higher pig then may, or may not, go to sleep in the comfy spot. The comfy spot wasn't the point, the point was that the higher pig can make the lower pig move away.

By making your pig take a step or two back, you are telling piggy in piggy language that you are higher on the ladder than piggy. Piggy may not like this and be unhappy at first, but if you are calm and consistent piggy will soon relax.