Its All About Guinea Pigs

Baldwin Guinea Pig

The Baldwin is a nearly hairless breed. Baldwins are born with a full coat, which sheds out with age until only a little hair remains on the feet.

The breed was developed from spontaneously mutated pups born to American Crested parents of a single breeder.

Skinny Guinea Pig

The Skinny is a mostly hairless breed, with some short rough hair on the face and the feet. Pups are born nearly hairless.

The breed was developed from a hairless laboratory strain crossed with Teddies and other haired breeds.

Teddy Guinea Pig

A Teddy has a short, rough, very dense and springy coat that stands up all over the body. The hair typically grows to a moderate length and generally makes this breed resemble a soft toy more than any other. Another unique feature of the Teddies in the USA is the relatively long hair coating their bellies. The Teddy resembles the Rex but the similar coats of the two breeds are result from separate genetic factors.

Rex Guinea Pig

A Rex has short, rough hair that stands on end all over the body. The hair should be of uniform length and texture all over, and no more than 1⁄2 inch (1 1⁄4 cm) in length, preferably shorter. The Rex resembles the Teddy but the similar coats of the two breeds are result from separate genetic factors.

Abyssinian Guinea Pig

The Abyssinian has a short, rough coat with anywhere from 6-8 tufts rosettes on its shoulders, sides, back, and backside. The derivation of the breed's name is unknown, but does not connote an origin in the geographical region of Abyssinia (present day Ethiopia).

The ideal Abyssinian's rosettes are all well-formed: fully formed with tight centres without hairs sticking out. They should be located symmetrically, one on each shoulder, four across the back, one on each of the hips, and two on the rump. The ridges between two rosettes should ideally stand rigidly straight, without breaking down onto either side even if pressed down lightly with the palm of a hand. All colours and patterns are accepted, although some colourations are much more common than others.

Some judging bodies, such as the ANCC, consider shoulder rosettes optional but desired in show Abyssinians.

Sheba Guinea Pig

The Sheba is a long haired, rosetted cavy, characterized by mutton chop whiskers, with frontal, presented to one side of the face, and in a naturally tousled appearance. They have been recognized as a cavy breed in Australia. Their breed standard was developed by Wynne Eecen of Sydney New South Wales, in the 1970s, and was published in her book Pigs Isn't Pigs.Often referred to as the "Bad Hair Day" Cavy.

Lunkarya Guinea Pig

The Lunkarya, sometimes Lunk for short, is a new breed group developed first in Sweden, and mainly seen in the Nordic countries. It has a long, rough, curly coat that should be very dense and full. The group has three breed variations: the Lunkarya Peruvian with a prominent forelock, the Lunkarya Sheltie with the hair flowing back over the body, and the Lunkarya Coronet with a crest on the forehead.

It was initially described as a dominant rex Peruvian, but later was named Lunkarya, a variation of the last name of breed's creator Lundqvist.

Friday, October 3, 2014