How to make my PBP stop squealing

Question
QUESTION: Help!! we just bought a 7 mo PBP from a couple that could no longer keep her due to a small yard. We just got her last week (9/19/11) and so far things have been great. Starting yesterday she started squealing (REALLY LOUD) at the back door, or tries to get in through the doggy door. I go out right away and say NO, and push on her shoulder. She still does it so I tried saying NO and cup her behind her ears and push down. (I read that those are the ways to discipline a pig) She still is squealing! I don't know what to do. I am afraid the neighbors are going to complain and we are going to loose her. Please help!!
-Wyndi-

ANSWER: Believe it or not, her bad behavior is actually a good sign. It means she is comfortable with you and has settled in. Pigs see the world as a ladder, with each person and pet having their own rung. Now, she's ready to try to find her rung in her new home.

Pigs learn quickly but unlearn very slowly. In pig think, doing something once is an accident, twice is intentional and after three times, it's a habit. They need time and consistency to unlearn bad behaviors. If she had bad habits at her previous home, watch for them now and correct her promptly. You have the advantage in that she is in a new environment.

First off, is your piggy spayed? If not, she may be going into heat. Pigs in heat can be difficult. They may forget potty training, destroy things, escape to look for love, or pick a particular person or pet to harass. If she's in heat the whiny behavior should pass in a few days. The best thing to do is get her spayed, to prevent both the behavior problems that come with heat and future uterine problems like infection or cancer. There's a list of vets that treat pot-bellied pigs at www.farec.org

At 7 months, she's going to need to potty about every three hours. Maybe she's trying to tell you she really needs to go potty. Take her to her potty spot or litter box, and see what she does.

If she's just trying to get out to get out, you could use this to teach her to ring a bell if she wants to go outside.

Piglets like yours (she won't be grown until she's age 2) need to keep busy. It sounds like your pig enjoys being outdoors. If you can set up a pen with a shelter, like a dogaloo, she'll spend many happy hours in it burning off piglet energy and practicing her natural rooting instincts.

If you must keep her inside, give her lots of toys. Pigs enjoy things they can shred, like paper bags and phone books. They enjoy toys that drop bits of food, like an empty soda bottle with holes punched in the sides and filled with puffed rice, or toys that make noise like infant toys.

I highly recommend the book Pot-Bellied Pig Behavior and Training by Priscilla Valentine. Pris really understands how pigs think, and why they do the things they do.

 

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for your answer. Yes, she is spayed.she was by the previous owners and we have the paper work from the vet so we know it is true. About the time of the squeeling she is outside. Our roommate has two dogs so during the day the dogs are in and she get the yard. So in the morning we gets fed outside ad had the yard to herself.  She plays with the dogs under supervition about 12. Then at 4 when i come home she plays with the dogs and gets some carrots and lettuce. Then the dogs go back inside. At 7 he gets fed still outside. Then at about 9 we let her in to sleep.and the dogs get the yearx. We are in the prosses of giving Kalua her own space in te yard with a house and wallowing area and everything she wants. She does the squeeling after he eats.she trys to get into the house. I am also worried when she gets her area she is going to squeel at the gate. I want her to be happy, but the squeeling needs to stop. I am afraid the neighbors will complain.

Answer
She may be trying to get in because going inside is a habit she had at her old home. Or she could be trying to get inside because she wants to be with you. Pigs are natural herd animals and young pigs often do not like to be left alone. Or she might want to go to her bed to sleep.

Try keeping her busy while she is outside. Scatter some air popped corn, or even her pellets, along the ground so it takes her longer to eat. Give her an outdoor house and stuff it with straw or old blankets. Sprinkle a little vanilla extract inside her house and on her bedding. Pigs love the smell of vanilla, and she'll feel compelled to investigate the scent.

The only way to make her stop is to ignore the squealing. Pigs can scream loudly, so this can be awkward or difficult. But, if the squealing is not rewarded, she will stop. Pigs seem to be able to tell time. Bring her in at exactly the same time every night, and she will learn to be quiet until then in a few days.

Weather can be an issue. If it's raining or windy, she may not want to be out in it! But, if you bring her in right away, she's learning that she CAN come in early. If she's got an outdoor house, she can stay outside until it's time to come in, and that reinforces the right lesson.

I don't know your neighbors and people are unpredictable at best. But, sometimes, in some situations, it helps to tell neighbors right away you have adopted a rescued animal. Explain that piggy might be a little loud at certain times for a few days, until she's learned her new routines and adapted to her new home.