My avatar pig George is also incredibly nervous. He's 3 1/2 and this pic is quite unusual in that you aren't seeing the whites of his terrified eyes... I seriously didn't recognise him when I looked at the photo! I've had him living in the kitchen for 2 years now: he recently lost his female (Ivy) who was the dominant one(!) We tried to introduce him to a young female who seemed to really like him but after about 15 minutes he suddenly chattered teeth and went for her. I
think it was basically because she was young and moved suddenly which startled him - and that was that. I've never known a male reject a willing young female. She was fine BTW, but we're now on the hunt for an arthritic old Grandma.
I've always left him to it as he was happy piggin' around with Ivy and tame old Daisy (his lady-love) but in the few weeks since he's been sadly alone I've been trying to build more of a relationship to help him not be so afraid of life and I think it's actually starting to work. I'll tell you what we've been doing so you can see if there's anything you can try.
George has been handled more recently (partly because stress had led to a bit of impaction - enough said) but also we've been having breakfast together! I get up as it's starting to get light and make my tea/muesli. The pig(s) would normally wait to be uncovered, come and get a bit of veg and then start on pellets and hay. Now I sit on the floor and eat with George... and he's started to relax more around me. He'll come out to the bowl while I'm right there, and even though he's lovely I'm careful not to gaze at him too long or too directly (a predator 'stares'). I talk to him a lot more, 'answer' if he makes any noises, and go to the cage several times in the day just to pop my hand in and give a
very brief touch with just one finger on his head or cheeks. He's now stopped leaping away when he sees the hand (which occasionally has parsley). Every day at 4 we have tea and biscuits and another veggie treat together - I sat on the floor by his cage again, but this time I put him in my lap for a while. Now we've reached the point where I carry him around the house for a few minutes first to see the rest of the family ("The Adventures of George" says my son) and then have him in my lap for a telly break in the other room. At first he trembled so violently I thought he'd expire with his white, staring eyes, but after the same routine every day he's learnt he's
not going to die being lifted or carried or going somewhere different and there
will eventually be munchies. Even so, he
has to be settled on his towel in the same position facing left, with my left arm curled round him, and he
has to be almost completely covered with just nose and eyes visible. Then I give his treat and have my break with tv on quietly. I talk to him and stroke his nose and under the chin - as much as he can manage. In the first days he was shaking and rigid with fear - he wouldn't touch the treat... the next few days he took a bite or two but barely chewed... I think he was trying to stay silent. He's gradually got braver and braver though. His trembling comes in waves now as if he's really trying to relax. Early on, he started to give me a gentle nip after about 5 minutes - that was enough and he wanted to go back to his house. As he gave the nip his eyes went really wide and fearful so I knew he was being as brave as he could be. Today was something of a triumph: he settled in position to be carried and when we got seated he went straight in at the treat (a piece of cabbage leaf) and after 5 minutes or so he
finally stopped trembling! It felt really weird that he was so still - and I even felt him adjust his feet to settle into a more comfortable position. It has taken over 2 weeks to get to this stage. He relaxed for a good 15 minutes and then I felt the tiny nip. I was cheeky and pretended I'd not felt it - I carried on stroking him and telling him how brave he was. The a minute or two later another nip - definitely a little firmer and
held for just a moment. How clever! So he was taken back to his cage and released. The other thing is although I have to 'pick him up' with my two hands I don't 'put him down'... I hold him securely and lower myself to the floor (actually a cushion - I'm not that limber) and let him climb out of my arms himself. This means he waits and steps off rather than fighting to escape and maybe flinging himself into the air. I hope he also feels a sense that he's not just a passive parcel - he's getting at least some choice in the matter.
So we are getting there but he'll never be as tame as old Daisy. I did wonder if a nervous temperament went hand-in-hand with those lovely rosettes as all my 'tufty' pigs have been spirited! The short haired ones (both smooth and rough) have been way more placid. I think there is hope that your pig can certainly build more of a relationship with you even if he's never as tame the other. Let us know how you get on...