Pigs show little herding instinct. When frightened, they may or may not scatter, so it is difficult to predict how the group will move about the room. As the group becomes more excited, there is an increased likelihood that a pig will run full tilt into one of the human handlers, or, attempt to root and throw a handler to the floor. If the group becomes excited because of your handling, leave the room and let things calm down before continuing with your job. You will only make matters worse if you continue to stress an already excited group of pigs.
Pigs approach a sitting or kneeling person more readily than a person who is standing.
Pigs have their eyes placed well back on their head which gives them wide-angle vision so they can see behind themselves. Another handling technique NOT recommended for routine use is a plastic-covered snare used to loop through the mouth and around the snout. The pig has a natural tendency to pull back from the snare, so this will hold the pig immobile long enough to give a quick injection. These methods are not recommended because they tend to cause pigs more stress, which may lead to their sudden death. Therefore in a research facility, the best method is to train your animal in advance of performing the experiment and to use food rewards for the training periods.