litter train my pig

Question
hi,

I have just purchased a miniature pot belly pig after hearing how easy they are to litter train but no matter what I do I cannot get her to use her litter box, everyday when I get back from work I find the she has gone where ever she wants. what can I do to make her use the litter box and ONLY the litter box?? please help me, I love my pig but if I can't fix this I will have to get rid of her.

thanx Brandon


Answer
Pigs are very smart. But the cleverness can make training difficult, because they have strong "pig personalities".
Very young piglets need to potty frequently, and urge can strike suddenly, so they potty where it is convenient. When piglets are confined to smaller areas, they will confine their potty habits to smaller, or one specific, area.
A pig under 9 months old will not be able to "hold it" all day while you are at work, so a litter box is a necessity.
The box should be wide enough for her to enter and turn around. The sides need to be high enough to confine the potty activity to the box itself, but have a wide, low spot where she can step in and out easily. The bottom of the box should be skid and slip proof, or she will potty somewhere else where she has firm footing. Pine shavings are ideal for the litter. Pigs sometimes eat cat litter, and the treated cat litters (the clumping and scented kinds) can be poisonous. Shredded newspapers also work well. A small mat or throw rug positioned at the "entrance" to the box will catch any litter that clings to piggy's feet as she leaves.
The box should go in the spot where it will always be. Pigs learn to potty in a particular spot, and will continue to use that spot whether the box is there or not.
Piggy needs to be confined to a fairly small area with the box while you are at work. Most people use bathrooms or laundry rooms. Give her a bed, water, and lots and lots of toys and maybe even a radio or tv (if it can be plugged in safely. Make sure she can not reach the cord at all, and there is absolutely no way the appliance can get wet).
Make sure piggy goes into the box as soon as she wakes up, before and after every meal, and before you let her out of her room.
Pigs learn so quickly that she's probably already established a couple of "potty spots" in your house, and she'll need to re-learn these are not potty spots. The first step is to clean the whole area thoroughly with a cleaner designed to remove the odors of pet "mistakes". Pigs have an amazing sense of smell, and she'll be able to smell the spots even when humans can not detect any odor. Then, if it's possible, keep her completely away from that spot for several months, because pigs have very long memories! Ideally, re-arrange furniture so something large and heavy sits on the "potty spots".
Keep a close eye on her when she is out of her room. She will not like being confined during the day, and will "test the boundaries" by trying to get to, and use, her old potty spots. Keep her occupied and busy. Take her back to the litter box if she shows any signs of pottying or getting ready to potty.
I strongly recommend Priscilla Valentines book Potbellied Pig Behavior and Training. Pris really understands pigs and how they think. Her book is available from Amazon, her website (www.valentinesperformingpigs.com), and several pig rescues and sanctuaries.