When the Pig Becomes the Leader - Fixing Spoiled Pig Syndrome
Welcome back to The Pet Pig Podcast! In this week's episode Autumn tackles a big topic that so many pig families struggle with — Spoiled Pig Syndrome, or SPS. This is when your sweet, cuddly pig suddenly starts acting bossy, demanding, or even aggressive. They may bite, charge, scream for attention, steal food, or destroy things around the house. It can feel discouraging, but as Autumn explains, it's not your fault — and it's absolutely fixable. Spoiled Pig Syndrome happens when a pig believes they're the leader of the herd. In their mind, they're in charge — and pigs don't make gentle leaders! Autumn breaks down exactly why this happens, how pigs learn patterns of control, and how you can calmly take back your leadership role to restore peace at home. Learn practical steps to help you reset your relationship with your pig: -Don't react to bad behavior. Stay calm, don't yell, and don't give in. The moment your pig realizes their squealing or charging doesn't control you anymore, they'll start to change. - Reward the good, ignore the bad. When your pig is calm or relaxed, that's the time to praise and reward them. Attention should come from good behavior, not bad. - Make them work for every bite of food. Leadership starts with controlling resources. By asking your pig to perform simple commands like "spin," "sit," or "back up" before eating, you're building focus, respect, and patience. - Use helpful tools. For pigs with deep food anxiety, an automatic feeder can take you out of the equation and show your pig that food isn't controlled by their behavior. - Move the pig daily. Gently asking your pig to move out of your way reinforces that you're the leader — not them. It's simple, but powerful. - Teach obedience skills. Commands like "come," "stay," or "leave it" help your pig learn self-control and strengthen your bond. - Keep a predictable routine. Pigs feel safest when they know what to expect. A consistent schedule lowers anxiety and helps them relax under your leadership. Autumn also shares a personal story about a young piglet she trained out of food aggression by making her work for every meal — and how that transformed her from a biting, nervous pig into a calm, respectful companion. This episode is packed with encouragement and practical advice. Autumn reminds us that your pig isn't bad — they're just confused about who's in charge. With consistency, confidence, and clear leadership, you can absolutely turn things around. So whether your pig is just starting to show some pushy behavior, or you're already living with a little boss hog, this episode will give you the tools, mindset, and confidence to bring calm and balance back to your home. Autumn's Links: Website: https://www.autumnacresminipetpigs.com/ Email: https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs Educational Membership Group: https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs/p/autumn-acres-educational-membership-group Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autumnacresminipetpigs/ Facebook: HTTP://Facebook.com/autumnacresminipetpigs Free Community: https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs/p/autumn-acres-free-community YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA Stan Store: https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs Newsletter: https://stan.store/autumnacresminipetpigs
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