Let's hear it for the diving pigs!
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381928)
Rockingham, Australia
September 30, 2018 4:55pm CST
I had the chance to wander round the show-grounds at the Perth Royal Show in Western Australia and I was desperate to see the racing and diving pigs. These drew huge crowds but Yay for me! I got a great photo of one diving off the platform. I also got a couple of photos of the water splashing after they landed in the tank.
The first part of the show involved four little pigs in starting boxes and when the boxes were opened they tore round a short track and disappeared back into their trailer. The next four pigs did two laps of the track before disappearing.
Then it was the turn of the diving pigs. One by one, three pigs ran up a ramp and launched themselves into the water. They scrambled and ran to their handler who had some piggy treats sitting on a mat. Once the three had finished their treats they took themselves back off to their quarters. Doesn’t this one have beautiful action? I gave it 10 out of 10 for style.
16 people like this
17 responses
@snowy22315 (208801)
• United States
30 Sep 18
That would be fun to see. I think they outlawed that kind of stuff here though..as some say it is animal cruelty.
5 people like this
@topffer (42155)
• France
30 Sep 18
I find extreme to tell that it is cruelty. Is training a domesticated animal to do something (a cow to plow or a dog to sit down) cruelty ? A pig is a very smart animal, he does it to get a treat and please his master (domesticated animals read very well the expressions on our faces).
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502266)
• Italy
1 Oct 18
@snowy22315 @topffer It is considered animal abuse also here.
2 people like this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
30 Sep 18
I read somewhere that pigs could match dogs when it comes to intelligence and loyalty since they are also social animals. I read another article where they are breeding a smaller variety in Vietnam I think if my memory serves me right, that's for the sole purpose of being kept as pets.
I understand that some people would judge these shows as animal cruelty but don't you thing it's better for them instead of ending up at the dinner table? Wonder which is more cruel and it's not for me to judge, so go pig go!
1 person likes this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
1 Oct 18
@JudyEv oh that is so cute but I agree a medium sized yard would be needed, hope they perfect it to the size of guinea pigs or hamsters.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 18
@louievill They'd be better off just to buy a guinea pig or hamster. Breeding smaller and smaller usually means inbreeding and results in a lot of health issues.
1 person likes this
I have been living in Perth for 4 years and I haven’t been to A single Perth Royal show. If I ever get the chance to go back I’d watch the next one.
that is quite grand. How much are they charging for the entrance fee?@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 18
@LadyDuck I hear what you're saying but I simply don't believe it. They would try to turn around and go back at least some of the time unless someone was there to force them on. Horses are trained to jump fences but if they don't want to for some reason, they will refuse and no amount of coercion will force them to jump. We might have to agree to disagree on this one. 
1 person likes this
@topffer (42155)
• France
1 Oct 18
@JudyEv I love animals and I do not consider that at all like cruelty. I do not believe that you can force a pig to dive.
I wanted to start a post against vegan terrorism (vegans, not vegetarians, there is no problem with them) a few days ago, it is starting to become a serious problem here : this week they burned a slaughterhouse, and they regularly attack butcher's shops and are threatening butchers at the point that they ask to be protected !
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135664)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Oct 18
He knows what he is doing for sure. I would love to watch them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 18
They barely hesitated at the ramp. Plunged in, a few short pig-paddles and they clambered out for some pellets then went galloping back to their pens.
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 18
They had diving dogs too and I'll write about them later. It's no different really - just that people don't equate pets and tricks with pigs. Most would think it's okay for dogs. They also have show-jumping for rabbits. I've only seen YouTube clips but that's another thing you couldn't force the animal to do. But to each his own.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 18
I can understand that people don't like seeing animals that can be ridden or driven being whipped into greater effort but these are operating of their own accord.
@JudyEv (381928)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Oct 18
They really seemed to enjoy themselves. The crowds loved them.
