Are you looking to get an indoor pig that’s potty trained? If so, know that pigs can be easier to potty train than a dog, but there are important steps to take.
Keeping a pet pig comes with a range of issues, including home hygiene, as pigs can be rather messy when it comes to potty training them.
You don’t want to keep your pig in disposable diapers or nappies and suffer with rash and nappy burn, so potty training them is the only way to go. But how?
Are pigs easy to potty train?
Pigs can be potty trained, but if they are intact (not neutered), it becomes harder to combat instinctual behavior like spraying their scent to attract a mate. When bored, a pig can become destructive, and this adds to the difficulty of training them to potty in one space. You can teach your pig to potty in their special space with patience and repetition.
If your pig has previously been potty trained but is now peeing in the wrong places or peeing everywhere, it may be a health issue such as a UTI.
Table of Contents for Potty Training a Pig
5 Easy Steps To Potty Train A Pig
You should consider potty training your pig if you’re tired of cleaning up pee and poop in your house. Pigs are intelligent animals and can be potty trained without fuss. Several pig breeds are more popular for indoor pets than others.
Whether you want your pig to go potty indoors or outdoors, you must keep them confined to a small area while they’re training.
You may be wondering: How do indoor pigs use the bathroom?
Indoor pigs can do their business in a specific potty space, such as a cat’s litter box. The soft and absorbent material in the litter box encourages the pig to urinate and poop in the box, though adding a splash rug under the litter box helps. Pigs tend to spray their pee, so having a domed cat litter box is best to keep things tidy.
You’ll Need the following:
- A shallow litter box or tray (your pig must be able to turn around in it)
- Pine shavings, paper pellets, or shredded newspaper with which to line the litter tray
- Velcro straps
- A playpen or closed-off room
- A leash and harness
Let’s take a closer look at five easy steps to potty-train your pig:
1. Pick a Good Spot For the Litter Box
Location is vital when it comes to potty training you pig. Ensure the litter spot is convenient and easily accessible for you and your pig. Remember, once you’ve picked a spot, your pig won’t be happy if you change the location.
You must secure your litter box or tray to prevent your pig from tipping it. Pigs are curious animals and will likely tip the tray over to see if anything is interesting underneath.
A neat trick: Fill the litter box with pine shavings or shredded newspaper. Secure it with velcro or use bricks to weigh it down. These methods will prevent your pig from tipping the litter box and making a mess.
2. Regular Potty Breaks Help Reinforce Pig Toilet Training
Initially, guide your pig to the designated litter box (or a designated spot in your yard) at least every two hours (but especially after they’ve eaten or woken up). Use a leash and harness to lead your pig. Unfortunately, they can get sidetracked on their way to the litter box.
Once your pig has learned the habit of pottying, they’ll no longer need the leash and harness.
A neat trick: Never clean the litter tray out completely. Make sure to leave a few urine stains and some feces in the tray. The scent will attract your pig to the litter box when it’s time to go potty.
3. Use Verbal Commands To Teach Potty Training
Your clever pig can learn and understand commands from you. Come up with an easy phrase to say when it’s time for them to use the potty. You could say something like “potty time” or “let’s go potty.”
If you train your pig to use an outdoor potty (or a designated spot outside), change your phrase so they know the difference.
You could say something like, “come on, outside potty time.”
4. Praise Your Pig When It Uses the Litter Box
When your pig successfully uses the litter box, you must reward them. This is an important step that starts when you bring them home. Compared to cats and dogs, pigs don’t do great when given treats as a reward.
Your little pig is very intelligent, and receiving a treat every time they use the potty can confuse them.
They’ll also start manipulating the situation by going to the potty more often because they want a treat. You don’t want to start this kind of routine. Instead, praise your pig with kind and encouraging words. A nice back scratch or petting will do wonderfully.
5. No Punishment For Peeing on the Carpet
Your pig is bound to have a few accidents inside the house, some even on the carpet. Punishing your pig is unnecessary, and you’ll get no results. Instead, when your pig has an accident say “no” in a firm tone and then redirect them to their potty.
You’ll need to do this several times during the potty training process.
Depending on your pig, the time to potty train a pig can take a while. If they continue to have accidents, you may have to start the process again. Be patient and keep trying. Your pig will get the hang of it.
A neat trick: When your pig has an accident, clean the area well. Vinegar and water mixed are great at removing urine stains and odor.
If you don’t clean up, your pig will smell the urine and use that space as their potty.
How to Get Used to Pig Pee Smell
Pig Litter Box Supplies
| Pig Litter Box Supplies | Benefits of Material | Cons of Materials |
| Pine pellets | Cost-effective Good at absorbing pee | Can turn to powder when too much liquid |
| Newspaper pellets | No odorCost-effective | More costly |
| Wood pellets | Cost-effective | Scatters easily Less absorbent |
| Puppy pee pads | LightweightNo-mess cleanup | Shred easily by pigs More costly Not recyclable |
| Newspapers | Cheap (Free) | No odor controlLess absorbent |
| Litter-Free Potty Systems | No litter mess Saves money long term | Daily urine dumping potential spills |
Potty Train a Pig FAQs
How Long does it take to potty train a pig?
Depending on the age of your pig, you can successfully potty train them in a matter of days. Pigs are highly intelligent. Piglets take longer to train as they can’t yet hold their bladders long enough to get to the litter box in time for number one.
Using disposable nappies helps, but hands-on training with multiple litter stations is best.
Can You Train a Pig to Use a Litter Box?
Pigs can learn to use a litter box as they learn well when a reward is offered.
An indoor pig will quickly learn that urinating and pooping in the same spot (the litter box) every time is how they get a treat, and so they will repeat the reward-triggering behavior.
With patience and repetition, a pig learns, like any other pet, to use a litter box.
How Long Can Pigs Hold Their Pee?
Dwarf and larger pigs that have been sterilized can hold in their pee for up to 12 hours. Mini pigs and teacup pigs have smaller bladders and need to pee more frequently (but with less volume) than larger pigs, which means they need regular access to a litter station.
The pig’s intake of water will also determine their need to pee.
Do Pigs Make Good Indoor Pets?
Pigs are excellent indoor pets when they are correctly socialized and potty trained. With their natural flare for antics, they entertain and earn affection from their owners. Surprisingly, a pig can also be a good emotional support animal as they are often lazy animals that love to cuddle.
When taught to be obedient, they are respectful house pets.
Can Miniature Pigs Be Potty Trained?
Miniature pigs can be potty trained, but their small size means their bladders are also tiny and can’t hold urine for long. It is often easier to use diapers or nappies to manage potty issues.
However, a miniature pig can learn to use a potty station and make it to their potty place in time with several stations.
Conclusion
Training your pet pig is a really fun activity and it’s rewarding to know your pig is a responsible member of your household and won’t leave a big mess wherever they go.
Surprisingly, pet pigs learn to love activities like pottying, bathing, or enjoying a good dry-brush session, which all add to a cleaner home with your little oink-friend.
My Most Used Pig Supplies
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Purina Pig Chow will last well (or Mazuri is popular, but I haven’t tried it), and the stainless steel non-skid bowls that will help keep the mess down.
A pig blanket to keep her warm. This one also has bright colors and helps to provide rooting without the destruction.
Pig Harness for walking and handling your pig. There are a lot to choose from, but this one is pretty easy to use. If you want one that has a separate leash, this looks like a good one.
A large crate for keeping her safe in your house at night and when you leave the house. This is essential. You’ll also want a litterbox, and I like mine with a lid for nighttime. Pine shavings are best, and you may be able to find them in larger quantities locally.
When you have accidents, Odoban will help eliminate odors. When you are potty training, these floor pads work great for keeping your house clean while training her to go in certain places.
You’ll also want an outdoor house to keep her warm when she gets outside time, an essential part of her development.
Dewormer- Ivermectin is the primary dewormer I use, although I do rotate with a non-ivermect ingredient once so that the worms don’t get immune to it.