Pig training

This is Nutmeg. She was a house pig living in a city that doesn't allow house pigs. She escaped one too many times, so now she's living at my barn while her owners petition city hall to have the law changed.

Shortly after she arrived, I told Sarah, the resident trainer, that I wanted to introduce Olive to Nutmeg. Sarah has seen more than a few Olive outbursts, so she laughed and said, "Only if you're holding Olive!"

"Deal!" I responded. Then I added, "It's probably going to be a non-event. I don't think she's going to be afraid. Olive really, really, really likes small, hairy animals."

I wasn't present the first time Olive met Nutmeg, but Sarah sent me a video. Sure enough, Olive wasn't scared at all, just really, really, really interested.

Since then, I've been begging Sarah and Reece to get Nutmeg out for her daily walk in the morning, while I'm at the barn. 

A couple days ago, it finally happened.

Olive and I were ready.

This was her first time seeing Nutmeg without a fence separating them.

Olive didn't hesitate.

She wanted to touch the pig.

She really, really, really wanted to touch the pig.

It turns out, the only difficult thing about introducing Olive to Nutmeg was protecting Nutmeg from Olive.

Kaffi also met Nutmeg.

His response was equal parts curiosity and caution.

I hope Nutmeg's owners succeed in getting her returned to their care, but maybe not right away.

Like Olive, I really, really, really like having her at the barn.