introducing a puppy to my pig

Question
I would like to bring a bulldog puppy home for my 2 year old pig to have a friend and grow old with.  Any thoughts on this?  

Answer
Dogs and pigs are an unpredictable combination. Dogs and pigs speak different "languages". Pigs are prey animals. Dogs are predators. Some dogs and pigs live happily together - other times a pig and dog are a deadly disaster, and the pig is usually the one that ends up badly hurt or even killed.

Often, a pig will act or move in a way that triggers a dogs predatory instinct. This is not the dogs fault, it's just the way a dogs brain is wired.

Other times a pig will decided to be "Alpha Animal" and push the dog around. When the dog gets mad and fights back, the pig is usually the one who looses. Even small dogs have very sharp teeth and strong jaws.

By starting out with a puppy, you have the opportunity to teach the puppy that the pig is a respected member of the family. However, some dogs do have a "hunting instinct" that just pops up, because, as I said, it's in the way a dogs brain is made. This urge is much stronger in some breeds than in others.

I'm not familiar with bulldogs, so I can't comment on how a bulldog might react to a pig. Each breed of dogs has it's own set of typical characteristics, and each dog has it's own personality. Sport breeds used in hunting are generally the worst dogs to have around a pig. Working breeds can be good or bad. Some sanctuaries used livestock dogs to guard the animals, and these dogs, bred and trained for the job, are usually safe around pigs. But even a working breed kept as a pet can be unpredictable, and can turn on a pig even when the two have lived together for years. A lot depends on the individual dog and training. A very easy going or very highly trained dog is safer than a nervous, snappy dog, an untrained dog, or a dog whose breed is used for hunting.

So my suggestion is to research the bulldog breed. Find a good dog trainer who understands the situation (keeping a dog with a pig). Finally, do not leave the two alone together unsupervised until the dog is well trained, full grown AND the dog and pig do not fight or scuffle. If the dog shows any interest in hunting (like snakes or squirrels or rabbits), it might not be safe to leave them together unsupervised, ever.