The pig that thinks he's a dog earns himself a place in CANINE display team
By Daily Mail Reporter
2nd February 2011
Louie the pig has become so good at mimicking his performing canine comrades that he's won himself a place in a canine display team.
Just like a real life Babe, nine-month-old Louie goes for walks on a lead alongside his doggie friends, responds to his name and even plays fetch.
However, so intelligent is Louie's pig mind that on command he will leap over jumps, weave round poles, sprint through tunnels and tackle moving see-saws as fast as his little pink legs will carry him.
Louie's owner, Sue Williams, 46, from Porthmadog in Wales is in charge of the Cheshire dog display team and is a professional canine trainer and animal behaviourist.
Since Sue took ownership of Louie last June, when he was only three-months-old, she has taken him to agricultural shows across the country to perform alongside her highly trained team of 15 dogs.
'Louie is very similar to a dog but actually he's a pig,' explained Sue.
'I use rewards based training to reinforce good behaviour. He retains information quicker than a dog.
'So once he's done a trick a few times he knows what he's doing.
'Plus he absolutely loves his ginger biscuits - he can't get enough of them.
'His appetite definitely helps motivate him.'
As well as Louie, Sue also owns seven other pigs. While he was still a piglet Sue had to keep him out of the pen with the bigger pigs and instead he was free to explore the grounds of Sue's home.
Often he would excitedly run up to the field where she was training her dog team and avidly watch them.
'He was always quite happy around the dogs,' said Sue.
'One day when I was training my dogs I was trying to get one to run through a tunnel.
'Louie decided to zoom through the tunnel instead. I was really taken aback.
'I thought hold on a minute- the pigs doing a better job than the dog! So it came from that really.'
Louie fits in well with his fellow dog performers, as according to Sue he has earned his place amongst the team.
Together they have appeared in half a dozen agricultural and talent shows and once Louie is granted an official animal exhibition licence from the local council Sue will be taking him to compete in real dog shows.
Her ultimate ambition is for Louie to participate in Crufts one day.
'The crowds are always totally amazed when they see what Louie can do, and how well he performs in comparison to the dogs,' said Sue.
'I think it's fantastic that he can join in.
'It just shows dog and animal owners that if you use the right type of training and reinforce good behaviour through reward you can do anything with any animal.
'Allowing Louie to take part really is a good way for people to realise that if they get it right they can train anything.'
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You can't be serious.