12 Cute Pigs That Will Bring a Smile to Your Face

With 2019 being Year of the Pig , what could be more fitting than a round - up of these lovely oinking mammals ? Often the movieBabeor a plate of tasty bacon first come to judgment when people think ofpigs , but there ’s much more to these brilliant barnyard creature than breakfast . Did you know , for example , that hog are wise than most kids under the age of three ? Or that there are doubly as many pigs as there are people in Denmark ?

Read on to learn more entrancing facts about pigs — including the history of the dinosaurpig that cast the earthly concern over 15 million years ago ! And mark off out some cute pic of the farm ’s smartest , most social animals .

Pigs Have a Long History Around the World

Nope , it was n’t a breed of cat or dog — pigs were the very first animals to be domesticated by humans . The earliest written grounds of a grunter farm dates back to 3468 BC China , but many historian think pigs were domesticise as long as 6,000 age ago .

A few class later — in 1539 , to be precise — squealer cross the ocean and make it in America with Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto .

A Dinosaur Pig Lived During the Late Eocene Epoch

grant to fossil record , entelodonts , pig - like dinosaur , roamed the planet about 16.3 million years ago , during the tardy Eocene and former Miocene era .

Enteledonts did n’t completely resemble today ’s domesticated pig , however . They stood about seven foot magniloquent at the shoulder , had multiple ( yes , multiple ) sets of teeth , similarly to sharks , and weigh around 1,000 pounds . Because their appearing was so daunting , entelodonts are often referred to as " terminator pig " or " hell hog . " Quite the dividing line to the sweet pig in the movieBabe , huh ?

Pigs Are Incredibly Intelligent Animals

slob are n’t just near wait with their cute snout and curly tails — they’re incrediblyintelligent animate being , too . In fact , it ’s been proven that pig are saucy than andiron , certain form of primates , and even human children under the age of three .

So , just how smart are these barnyard geniuses ? Research has shown that pigs have excellent long - terminal figure memories . They can secernate between pigs they know and pig they do n’t ; they know when human are being squeamish to them and when they are n’t , and they can socially manipulate other pigs into doing their bidding ! Sure , toddlers can be manipulative in other kinds of slipway , but socially ? We do n’t think so .

Piglets Can Recognize Their Moms' Voices—and Learn Their Names

think of that whole thing about pigs being brain ? Well , those major smarts are n’t just limited to adult pigs — new-sprung piggy are pretty darn brainy , too . In fact , they ’re so reasoning that piglets can find out to function towards their mother ' voicesandlearn their human - given gens within only two workweek of their parentage . When are you gon na catch up , human child ?

Pigs Love to Talk

pig are best cognize for their high - pitched squeals — which , by the way , can extend to a whopping 115 decibel in volume — about three decibel higher than a jet engine . But that ’s not their only form of communicating . Pigs are always chatting it up and have been known to utilize over 20 different vocalizations , all with different import .

Because pigs are so smart , it should come as no surprisal that they ’re exceedingly social . Not only are they playful , curious , and communicative , but they shape faithful bond with pigs — and other mintage of animals — too . When they ’re sleeping ( or if it ’s just a fiddling chilly out ) they hump to cuddle up , often snout to nozzle , for warmth and comfort . Can you think of anything cuter ?

Related : Awesome Names for Pet Pot - belly out pig bed

Pigs Can Run Faster Than You Think

Have you run a mile late ? What was your time ? If it was around seven minutes per Admiralty mile , you’realmostas speedy as a typical domesticated pig . Yup , you read that right . An grownup pig can bleed about 11 mile per minute , or seven minutes per mile .

Do n’t partner up with a piggy for your marathon training just yet , though — fuzz ' lung are comparatively little in symmetry to their soundbox size , make their seven mi per 60 minutes pace unsustainable over longer distances .

Pigs Have Super Powerful Noses

Although pigs have the poor vision among barnyard animals , their signified of smell is incredibly hefty . It ’s so unassailable that many Farmer habituate their pigs to find rare ( and pricey ) truffles enshroud underground — hence the name " truffle slovenly person . " Plus , their schnoz are extra sturdy and flexible , so they can easily root around in the turd and mud .

Sows Sing to Their Piglets

Pigs love to communicate with each other . But here ’s the sweetest sport fact you ’ll hear today : Momma pigs — otherwise known as sow — are often learn " sing " to their piglet while they ’re nursing . I ’m not crying , you ’re crying .

Pigs Can’t Actually Sweat

We ’ve all enounce it hundreds of time : " I ’m sweating like a pig . " Well , this old adage is factually inaccurate because pigs actually do n’t sweat . They have very few stew glands , making it nigh insufferable for them to perspire . Their preferred method acting of cooling down ? squish around in a body of water or a elephantine clay pool . There ’s even an island in the Bahamas you may visit to cool off and swim around with them .

Pigs Don’t Really “Pig Out”

When it comes to piggies , there ’s no such thing as " eat like a pig " or " pigging out . " It ’s true that pigs will eat just about anything — including refuse and human osseous tissue , according to some story — but they incline to eat tardily , savor each raciness of nutrient with their banging 15,000 tastebuds . For reference , we humans only have about 9,000 tastebuds .

There’s No Such Thing as Teacup Pigs

Despite all of those cunning Instagrams you ’ve get word , teacup squealer arenota breed of pig . In fact , teacups do n’t exist at all . Rather , " teacup " is a name breeders give everyday abdominous pigs that have been undernourish or inbred to stunt their increase .

There are many myths and misconceptions around so - called " teacup " pigs , so if you ’re consider impart one to your family , do your researchfirst . Not only is it unethical to corrupt a " teacup " pig — breeders often expend highly fell methods to achieve a smaller pig sizing — but doing so can have serious consequences for the health of the pig and your menage . What ’s more , " teacup " pigs mostly only live for about five class due to issues with their skeletal and resistant systems that ensue from starving and inbreeding .

If you ’re considering getting a pig as a ducky , count into these two common breeds :

front view closeup of black and white spotted piglet on hay on a sunny day