Dougie the piglet takes his first steps towards stardom as he learns to walk on a lead
- Hayley O'Keeffe
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
A tiny Buckinghamshire piglet is taking his first tentative steps towards becoming a celebrity therapy pig under the watchful eye of one of the country's most experienced pig trainers.
Dougie, a young miniature pig at Kew Little Pigs in Old Amersham, has begun learning how to walk on a lead as part of his training to become a travelling ambassador for pigs.
The youngster is being guided through his lessons by animal trainer Amelia Johns, 19, with plenty of encouragement from his older brother Theo, who has already become something of a star in his own right.
Theo previously made national headlines after mastering a dog agility course and learning to walk confidently on a lead through Amelia's patient clicker-training techniques. His achievements helped challenge perceptions about what pigs are capable of learning and demonstrated their intelligence and eagerness to engage with people.
Now it is Dougie's turn.
The piglet has started his training with short lead-walking sessions designed to build his confidence and help him become comfortable exploring the world beyond his enclosure. If all goes to plan, Dougie will eventually follow in Theo's hoofprints as one of Kew Little Pigs' show pigs.
Once fully trained, he will attend therapy visits, educational events and public appearances across the country, helping introduce more people to miniature pigs and promoting responsible pig ownership.
Visitors to the farm have already fallen in love with the youngster, who has quickly become one of the most popular piglets at the attraction.
Olivia Mikhail, owner of Kew Little Pigs, said: "Dougie is a wonderful little character and we're incredibly proud of the progress he's making.
"Theo showed everyone just how intelligent pigs can be, and now Dougie is beginning his own journey. Lead walking takes patience, consistency and trust, but he is already showing great promise.
"Our show pigs play a really important role because they help people understand pigs better. They can be incredibly affectionate, clever and engaging animals when given the right care and training.
"We hope that one day Dougie will be visiting therapy sessions and events around the country, bringing smiles to people's faces and helping us spread the message about responsible pig ownership."
Animal trainer Amelia Johns is using positive reinforcement and clicker training to build Dougie's confidence, rewarding him for each small success as he learns new skills.
For now, however, visitors can watch the young pig's progress much closer to home at Kew Little Pigs, where Dougie is rapidly becoming one of the farm's rising stars.
Pig fans hoping to meet him will have plenty of opportunities this summer, including at the farm's brand-new adults-only Pig Chill festival on Sunday 26 July.
The event will run from 11am until 7pm and promises a relaxed countryside day out combining live music, food, drinks, games and plenty of pig encounters.
Guests will be able to enjoy Piggy Pet & Play sessions between 11am and 4pm, watch the farm's popular pig races at 1pm and 3pm, take part in a Pig Quiz and enjoy garden games and a giant bouncy castle.
Live entertainment will include DJ Nathan, performances from Pete and Natasha, and singer-songwriter Nick Atkinson.
Food and drink will be available from Kew Little Pigs' own food truck, Lebanese food vendors, Mad Squirrel Brewery and The Works Gelato.
A charity raffle featuring more than ten prizes will also take place throughout the day, including two handmade sterling silver pig rings worth £245 each. Every ticket holder will receive a free entry, with 20 per cent of proceeds supporting Curly Tail Pigs Sanctuary.
Standard tickets cost £40 plus booking fees, but visitors can receive £10 off by downloading the Kew Little Pigs app and allowing push notifications.
And for those attending, there is every chance they may spot Dougie continuing his training journey, taking another small step towards following Theo into the spotlight.
For more information and tickets visit www.kewlittlepigs.com.
