Micro mini training

Question
One week ago today I picked up my adopted micro mini pig from the airport! Penney is 8 months old and weighs just ove 5 pounds.   Within the first two days I taught her to come when I say "here" and to stay still when I say "touch". She seemed comfortable very quickly in my home, as she snuggled up to me in a quilt the second night she was here. But now she seems vey bored. She has begun turning over her potty tray and water bowl, peeing on the carpet and shredding the newspaper lining in her "cage"... Which is actually just her room. It is an open crate for a 70 pound dog they got so she would have a place to go to feel safe. She has never been locked inside.

Also, I have a mid sized dog who is completely intimidated by the little pig. The piggy has recently shown a near obsession with the dog's bone. She chews on it all the time. When I realized that it could possibly be a hog bone I was so upset! Is this a problem? What are some good subsitutions for this bone and what types of toys or activities do you suggest for keeping my piggy from becoming bored and destructive?

Answer
Piglets are energetic, intelligent animals that get bored quickly. They also have a deep, instinctive need to root, because rooting in the dirt is how they get important nutrients.

Giving your piggy outdoor time will help a lot. The second option is a rooting box. That's any large box, filled with rubber balls, rocks, or even potting soil. Scattering a few Cheerios in the box will give piggy hours of fun.

Baby and toddler toys, especially ones that can be pushed or make noise, are great piggy toys. You can find them inexpensively at garage sales and flea markets.

Trick training is a great way to keep piggy busy, and for piggy to learn his place in the world, and for pig and person to learn how to communicate with each other. Harness training is also important. Use a harness designed to slip under piggy and fasten on the back. Pigs do not like to stick their heads into things, so piggy will not like a harness that has to slip on over his head.

I highly recommend the book "Pot-Bellied Pig Behavior and Training" by Priscilla Valentine. Pris really understood how pigs think and why they do the things they do. Her book is in between printings, but last time I checked a few copies were still available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Two other good resources are the dvds "There's a Pig in the House" and "Amazing Pig Tricks", from Tophogs.com