How to Test the Hearing of a Pot Bellied Pig

Pot bellied pigs have short, perky ears that stand up from their head in one direction. Because their ears don't move, pigs must move their whole head to catch the direction of a sound. Your pot bellied pig may seem to be hearing you sometimes, and not hearing you at other times. They are known for having 'selective hearing,' or responding to sounds they want to hear and ignoring others. There is a simple way to tell if your pig's hearing is intact and he's tricking you when he seems to not be listening.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pot bellied pig
• Large, heavy book such as a dictionary
• Hard floor

1. Bring your pot bellied pig into a room with a hard, non-carpeted floor, such as a kitchen, basement or garage.

2. Allow your pig to comfortably roam around the room. Give him time to think nothing is out of the ordinary.

3. Throw the book on the ground as hard as you can behind the pig, where he can't see it. If your pig hears something loud and doesn't know what it is, it will scare him and he will freeze in place, holding his breath. If he responds this way, you know your pot bellied pig can hear you.

Tips & Warnings

• Give your pig a pat on the head after you scare him.

References

• Eyesight, Hearing, Smell