2 Pigs. Should we get a dog?

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paulsin

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Me and my partner are just about to exchange on a house-were renting at the moment and we really want a dog as its got a big garden and in the countryside. We've got 2 piggies, and had them for about 14 months and want to know what advice people would give. Were looking at a labrador. The main thing is we let the pigs out to run around freely and want to carry this on, but not sure how the dog will be. We wouldn't leave them alone, as would keep the pigs in the lounge, and I think that raising a puppy with the pigs already there would be ok, but want to see if any of you had any experiences/advice. If we can't let the pigs out then we won't get one, because they get sad when locked in the cage, they've had a taste of freedom now.
 
Personally I wouldn't have a dog in a house where pigs run loose - there's not only the issue of the pigs getting nibbled but the stress on the pigs and the puppy would be enormous.

Labs eat absolutely everything and as gundogs they love to constantly have something in their mouths - in your household it'd probably be the pigs.

I can't imagine that this scenario would result in a happy household - you'd be constantly under stress worrying about the pigs and the puppy.
 
I agree with Miss Fi It is a labs natural instinct to have something in their mouths. Even if you are constantly watching them, It only takes a split second for a dog to grab a pig x
 
Andrea said:
I see. Is this in a room that can be closed off?
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At the moment no, but the house we are moving into will have a lounge that can be closed off. Its just that they are happy at the moment and we dont want to change that.
 
paulsin said:
At the moment no, but the house we are moving into will have a lounge that can be closed off. Its just that they are happy at the moment and we dont want to change that.
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I am more than sure that they will be happy with just the lounge.

Don't they make a lot of mess, just wondering around? When my 3 have floor time, there is poo and wee everywhere - good job I have laminate flooring an can mop. I put newspaper down, but I don't think I could cope with all that mess every day....

What type of cage are they in? Have you considered a C&C cage? You can make it as big as you like, so they have plenty of space and it means all the mess is contained. Plus it can be raised off the floor, well out of the way of your dog.
 
Some dogs would be okay with pigs other's won't. Don't go for anything with any sort of 'terrier' in the breeding or the dog will kill the pigs without a doubt. I have a Bichon - not everyones cup of tea I know - but I know I can trust him 100% with my pigs and rabbits - he kisses them.:)) Labs are very hard work when they are young and need loads and loads of exercise. I know of one that I see regularly that is around 6 years old and he's still an handful for his owner.:))
 
Nemo said:
Some dogs would be okay with pigs other's won't. Don't go for anything with any sort of 'terrier' in the breeding or the dog will kill the pigs without a doubt. I have a Bichon - not everyones cup of tea I know - but I know I can trust him 100% with my pigs and rabbits - he kisses them.:)) Labs are very hard work when they are young and need loads and loads of exercise. I know of one that I see regularly that is around 6 years old and he's still an handful for his owner.:))
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I have a Jack Russell Terrier who is absolutly fine with my pigs. I would never leave her alone with them, but I am comfartbale with them being on the floor with them. She doesn't pay them much attention, she mainly walks round after them eating their poos.

Here is a pic

Picture171.jpg


So I think it depends on the individual dog, but I do agree that some breeds will be more trust worthy than others as a general rule.

Lab's are retrievers and don't normally have the killing instinct - so I would say there should be fine, but there really is no reason for them to come together - unless you want them to.
 
i really does depend on the dog! i have 3 dogs 2 of them would like to eat the piggies my other dog pringle is just the sweetest softy he loves all creatures! he gently licks my piggies,my chickens have been found asleep snuggled into his thick busy tail and wild birds land right down beside him! labradors are usually pretty good especially if you get a puppy but beware of the retreive instinct!
 
Andrea said:
I have a Jack Russell Terrier who is absolutly fine with my pigs. I would never leave her alone with them, but I am comfartbale with them being on the floor with them. She doesn't pay them much attention, she mainly walks round after them eating their poos.

Here is a pic

Picture171.jpg


So I think it depends on the individual dog, but I do agree that some breeds will be more trust worthy than others as a general rule.

Lab's are retrievers and don't normally have the killing instinct - so I would say there should be fine, but there really is no reason for them to come together - unless you want them to.
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what a fantastic picture! they even have the same colourings! i wish my cairn terrier was like that with small furries!x
 
I've recently got a puppy and he is fine with my piggies. His a border collie. His very interested in them and watches them but doesn't do anything. I wouldn't let them together though obviously.
I think if you can close the room up that your piggies are in that shouldn't be a problem as long as your very careful. I have 8 piggies and the puppy and its no problem at all :)
 
I hold the belief that any animal can turn, just as humans can. If it was me and I do want a dog myself but my better half won't let me until we can afford one which is right of course then I would not let them meet unless guarded.

I've had a terrier cross before and he was a big softy with animals and highly affectionate with humans as he suffered with anxiety as he didn't like being left alone.

Good luck whatever you decide. :)
 
We have two Yorkshire Terriers that are, as you probably know, 'ratting' dogs. They just about tolerate the guineas, although I'd never chance leaving them alone. Our pigs are either in the garden, shed or garage though.
Could you not consider getting an older dog, one who has already lived in a home with other small animals? Or, if you are really good at training dogs, I don't see why a puppy can't be a possibility. It'd be great for you to have a dog who could enjoy all that freedom and outdoor space.
 
Andrea said:
I have a Jack Russell Terrier who is absolutly fine with my pigs. I would never leave her alone with them, but I am comfartbale with them being on the floor with them. She doesn't pay them much attention, she mainly walks round after them eating their poos.

Here is a pic

Picture171.jpg


So I think it depends on the individual dog, but I do agree that some breeds will be more trust worthy than others as a general rule.

Lab's are retrievers and don't normally have the killing instinct - so I would say there should be fine, but there really is no reason for them to come together - unless you want them to.
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Yes I suppose there are some exceptions. My sister has a Yorkie and two Yorkie crosses and they would definitely kill if they got the chance - they killed an hamster I gave her and I actually saw one grab and kill a baby pigeon that fell out of the tree.:... Think in the past they have also killed a guinea pig.:...
 
lincolnsmommy said:
I've recently got a puppy and he is fine with my piggies. His a border collie. His very interested in them and watches them but doesn't do anything. I wouldn't let them together though obviously.
I think if you can close the room up that your piggies are in that shouldn't be a problem as long as your very careful. I have 8 piggies and the puppy and its no problem at all :)
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He'll be rounding them up in a bit Chez like sheep.:)):))
 
SunshineAndTwinkle said:
I hold the belief that any animal can turn, just as humans can. If it was me and I do want a dog myself but my better half won't let me until we can afford one which is right of course then I would not let them meet unless guarded.

I've had a terrier cross before and he was a big softy with animals and highly affectionate with humans as he suffered with anxiety as he didn't like being left alone.

Good luck whatever you decide. :)
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I agree that dogs can turn just like humans. My Brother and Sister in Law have 2 dogs. They are both really well behaved BUT one of them Tigger managed to get in to my Sister in Laws friends guinea pig hutch and killed one of them :( As soon as she saw the guinea pigs, her nature just turned and her instincts kicked in.
 
be very careful i've had a disaster this morning my puppy was let out of her crate (while i was out) and has attacked one of my hens,she usually ignores them. the hen is in a terrible state and i have got to decide today whether to put her to sleep:(
 
My boy doesn't bother with the pigs and I trust him 100%.
With us living in the flat, all the rooms are on one level and he was rounding up the chinchillas yesterday and when I had some escape pigs, he woke me up so I could catch them.

It really depends on how you socialise them with your pup/dog. Some dogs like terriers where originally bred for ratting and guinea pigs are similar shape and could give them a good shake and kill them, I had this happen to a pig when I was growing up, the dog was a West Highland Terrier. The pig died of shock, we took Huxley to the vets and he died on the table, 1 hour after the incident.

Emma x
 
I have a labrador who has grown up with guineas and he is used to them being around and doesn't react to them at all now he's used to them. They can literally walk right past him and he just looks at me and sighs... Of course I wouldn't leave him alone with them, but I do trust him (as much as you can).

I also have a terrier-x who absolutely can't be trusted - even after a good effort to train him - he now knows he's not to go for them, but if they move quickly his instinct gets the better of him and he just sees red. He is not allowed anywhere near them, or even with me in the garden while I'm cleaning or feeding him - if he sees an opportunity he would take it.

I think it depends on the dog and the training as much as the breed, although of course terriers are born to kill small furries! Even the lab will have a sniff when new pigs come in, once he knows they're part of our 'pack' he's fine, I always let him know there are new pigs so that he accepts them. On the one occasion I didn't, is the only time I've seen him look at the new pig as if it were a spit roast!

Sophie
x
 
It's all down to the socialisation of puppy with other pets and of course the dog itself.

I volunteer for a few dog rescues around North Somerset and South Wales and this weekend there has been over 25 puppies brought it, all different shapes, sizes and breeds - so there are a lot out there to choose from.

Good luck with your searching, also if you get a rescue puppy, the rescue will be able to help you with the socialisation and many have come in with their mums, so you would be able to see them as well.

Here is a link to see some of the puppies:-

http://www.fourpawsanimalrescue.org.uk/puppies_ahoy.html
 
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