These are the most adorable animals and they make lovely pets. They originated in the jungles of China and Vietnam, but have since become popular as pets because of their cleanliness, intelligence and cute appearance. These popular animals can be kept indoors or outdoors, provided they have shelter during cold spells and shade during the hot summer weather. They also like a pool to wade in and keep cool during hot weather. Pot-bellied pigs can be trained very easily and are naturally clean animals, using an area away from their living area as a toilet. Training is similar to that of other domestic animals and they respond well to treats when given simple commands and they can be taken for walks on a lead. They can be destructive if there is nowhere for them to root around, therefore an area of soft dirt or soil should be provided to keep the pigs happy.
Normally pot-bellied pigs will live for about 12-18 years and need very little maintenance apart from daily brushing and trimming of the hooves when necessary. They can be bathed using a mild shampoo, although they do not shed hair and do not have fleas. They are normally black in colour possibly parts of their legs and belly white. They do not have the normal curly tail of other pigs; theirs is straight and they wag their tails like a dog when they are happy. They make little noise and will eat most fruit and vegetables together with a commercially produced pellet.
The normal weight for a pot-bellied pig is around 125 pounds and as the name suggests, they have a large body. This is more pronounced in the female, whose belly can be very close to the floor. The female pig can be very fertile and can produce anything from 4-12 piglets, so if you do not want to breed from your pigs and have a male and female, it is best to have the male pig neutered. This can be done from about 3-4 months old. Pot-bellied pigs do suffer from the cold, so temperatures should be kept between 75 and 85 degrees. The main diseases for pigs are skin diseases and respiratory ailments such as rhinitis and pneumonia. They can suffer from sunburn or frostbite, but with care, these animals should lead a very healthy life.