Porky-Pot Belly Pig

Question
Porky is a male and has been fixed. He is a year old and about 60 pounds.  He is so loveable with family members but is biting friends.  He will go up to them when we have put our guard down and bit toes or legs. I do not want to have him be another rescue pig.  In addition he still urinartes in different spots of the house at different times.  He is inside at night but outside all day long.


Answer
Pigs are clever and stubborn. If a pig does something once, it's an accident. Twice, it's probably intentional, and three times, it's a habit. Porky has learned some bad manners. He can unlearn them, but it can be difficult.
Pigs have an incredible sense of smell and memory. The first step to stopping the indoor urination is to thoroughly clean the problem spots with cleaners designed to remove urine odors. After that, wash them again with white vinegar.
The next step is to keep Porky away from those spots. It may mean re-arranging furniture, or banning him from a particular room. Because he's using to pottying in that spot, he will want to continue as long as he has access to that spot.
Also, do not let him in the house until he potties first. This can be a tricky thing to teach to an older pig. Many pigs potty shortly after waking up. So if he wakes up and comes straight inside without pottying, there's a greater chance he'll potty inside. Another time pigs potty is after eating, so you might try feeding him outside if the climate in your area is agreeable.
The biting at legs and feet could be a sign of aggression or simply another bad habit. If he's harness trained, try putting his harness on before guests arrive. Sometimes if the guests are brave enough, have them offer him a treat. Or, if he knows a simple trick or two, have them make him do the trick for a treat.
Pigs really need a private space of their own. So another alternative is to let him visit for a short while with guests, then, while he is still behaving, put him in his own space (like a laundry room or outside), and give him a treat. Let him stay there for a while, then bring him back to the guests to say "goodbye". Don't give him a chance to indulge in the bad behavior.
Priscilla Valentine has an excellent book on pig training and behavior. She is a professional trainer and her pig Nellie has a long career in TV, especially commercials. Her book is available from Amazon, her website (www.valentinesperformingpigs.com), and a number of rescues and sanctuaries. If you buy it from one of the rescues or sanctuaries, the proceeds go to the sanctuary.