A Pig Named Sue

Here is a great story I came across recently. I thought I would share it with Animal Friends Pet Insurance customers. Most people are not surprised to see pigs roaming around freely at the Barton Hill Farm in Herefordshire, England. However, one small black and white pig stands out from the rest. Whilst the other pigs are wandering around aimlessly, this pig is running an obstacle course. He is zig zagging through cones, walking up and down ramps and running through a plastic tunnel all on command.

Wendy Scudamore is the proud owner of this smart male Kune Kune (pronounced cooney cooney) breed of pig. The pig s name is Sue and is the smartest pig Wendy has ever seen. She named him after the Johnny Cash song A Boy Named Sue. Sue was supposed to be a breeding boar for the farm. However, there was a mix up at the vet s office and Sue was neutered.

Wendy s daughter Lucy was putting her dog through the paces on an obstacle course they have in their yard. Sue followed right behind the dog and the Scudamores realised the little pig was special. Entertaining other seems to be Sue s calling.

They take Sue to farm shows and use his skills to promote the Kune Kune breed. Lucy says that since Sue is a Kune Kune it gives him a natural advantage, because that breed is more affectionate and pick up things really quickly.

Wendy is trying to promote the Kune Kune breed in Britain as pets. She says Sue is so attached to her it makes it easier to train him. She is training Sue differently than she trains most pigs. He responds to voice commands and she is also doing touch training. Touch training is when he touches his snout to a white pad she rewards him. She hoping later on this will lead to more complicated tricks, such as playing a keyboard.

This little pig is named Sue and it sounds like he was born to entertain people.