Housebreaking Harley?Housebreaking Harley?
This may not be as big of a problem as I am making it, but I guess I need an
experts advice. Harley is the newest addition to our family. We already
have four dogs, my husband and I. She stays inside at night and has her
own lot to herself during the day. It is a big lot full of hay and a nice
size pig house. I try to bring Harley in early in the evening so that she
may interact with the others in the house. Unfortunately, she is not
picking up on the potty training too well. I end up having to put her out
every ten to twenty minutes, which is no fun for her or me.
Thank you for your time and quick response,
Susan
Sounds like you really love Harley, but have spoiled her just as much as you love her. (g) It is not normal for a pig to go to the bathroom that often. You failed to mention Harley's age, so I am including guidelines for any pig who is not completely housebroken. You will need to start over with Harley. If she is an older pig forego the litter box completely.
Another factor that plays into a piglet not housebreaking easily is if your piglet is born to a sow that eliminates in her living area. The piglet will learn this behavior from its mother. Or, if the piglet is removed from its mother at too young an age, the baby will not have the opportunity to learn that it is not supposed to eliminate in its living area. This alone is a good reason not to adopt a piglet that has been weaned prior to being six weeks old.
There are basically two methods used in housebreaking any animal and both of them can be related to the baby pig. Either method can be appropriate for you and your family, depending on your circumstances. Both methods start out the same. It is necessary to keep your piglet in a confined space that you control. You cannot let the piglet out wandering your home alone. When your piglet is out of this nursery it must be watched at all times by you or other family members. Remember it is much easier to do it right the first time, than to try and retrain your piglet after it has developed bad habits. Also do not expect too much too soon. This is a baby animal and like all babies it takes awhile before getting its bathroom habits under control. Pigs are not reliable in the house all day until they are at least six to eight months old. Their bladders are just not big enough to hold their urine for the entire day.
The first method in housebreaking is to take your piglet outside to its outdoors bathroom area every four hours or so. It is important to remember not to start this type of housebreaking training until your piglet will come to you when called or will come to you for food. This method is reserved until your piglet is completely comfortable with you and your family. You do not want to have to chase an unsuspecting piglet around your yard just because it is not completely at ease with you. Piglets need to go out immediately after waking up in the morning, right after each nap, about 5 to 10 minutes after they eat and before they go to bed at night. It is important to maintain a strict schedule for the baby when exclusively using this method. In the morning take your piglet outside to its bathroom area before you feed it breakfast. Feed your piglet its last meal in the late afternoon or early evening so that it will have a better opportunity to make it through the night. When your piglet has an accident, keep calm and remember that it is trying to do its best.
In today’s world most people are working eight to ten hours a day. Should this be true for your family, another approach to housebreaking is a modified version of the one described above. This involves using a litter box, which can be lined with pine shaving or newspapers. You should only use natural substances to line the box. Due to their curiosity, piglets may chew or even eat the litter they find in their boxes. It is also suggested that you not use cedar shavings around your pig. Some pigs are allergic to cedar.
The litter box is placed at one end of the piglet’s nursery away from its bed and food and water bowls. If your baby does not use the box the first time it eliminates, then use a paper towel soak up the urine or scoop up the feces and place it in the box so the piglet will be clear as to the purpose of the box. If the piglet still refuses to use the box you need to make certain that the box is the appropriate height and size for the pig. If it is too big the baby may think of it as a home, thus sleeping in the box and urinating on its blanket. If it is too small or the sides are too tall the piglet will not use it at all.
It is important not to move the litter box from location to location. Pigs actually learn a path or road to their bathroom area. By moving the box around your house, you are teaching your piglet that it is acceptable to go to the bathroom in various places in your home. It is better to gradually increase the living area of your piglet and let it make a route back to the original box, than to provide it numerous boxes to use. The litter box is only temporary. Your goal is to get rid of the litter box as soon as possible. Your pig should go outside to use the bathroom just as a dog would.
If you see your piglet starting to have an accident in your home, tell it to “Knock It Off” and either scoot it back to its litter box or outside. The key to housebreaking is to not allow your piglet the opportunity to go anywhere but in its litter box or outside. You want to use a consistent command when you see the pig using the bathroom area properly. When your pig eliminates in its bathroom area properly, be sure and praise your piglet for its accomplishment.
To clean up accidents, use products formulated specifically for that purpose. You can purchase animal neutralizing agents from your local pet store. What works for cats and dogs also works for pigs. Avoid household cleaning products and especially those with ammonia because the smell may actually attract the piglet to the accident area. Remember the pig’s smell is its best sense so you will need to make sure the accident is completely removed from the floor, carpeting and especially the carpet padding.
Using food as a reward can be a mistake in the long run. Some pigs have been known to pretend they are going to the bathroom just to get their treat. Another issue is most pigs do not like cold and/or rainy weather. You want to be able to scoot your pig out the door, give it your bathroom command, and remain dry and warm in your home. I will warn you that pigs have been known to fake going to the bathroom in cold or rainy weather just so they can get back inside sooner. So be sure your pig actually does follow your bathroom command before allowing your baby pig back inside.
All pigs can be housebroken, even if it is at your pig’s own pace. After four to six months, your piglet should be able to control itself between trips outside, but it will be at least six to eight months old before it is completely reliable. The four things to remember with housebreaking are confinement, consistency, praise and patience.
Copyright © 2000 by Kathleen Myers
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