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Guinea
Pig Breeds
by Jennifer Johnson
Right now there are thirteen breeds of guinea pigs that are recognized by
the American Cavy Breeders’ Association (ACBA). In this article, I’d like
to highlight some of the more popular breeds, plus a few you may not
recognize.
The most popular breed is the American shorthair, which of course has
short, smooth hair. These little guys come in all kinds of colors and
patterns and are usually very personable. They require little or no
grooming, and depending on the coat color, they may have black or red
eyes. Only certain colors and patterns are accepted in the show ring. The
crested breed is identical to the shorthair, only it has a whorl or “dent”
on its head. This whorl may be a different color than the rest of the
body. I’ve only owned a few cresteds, but they have been some of my
favorites because they have such charming personalities!
Another popular breed is the abysinnian, or abby. These have “spiky” but
soft hair that sticks up all over their bodies. Like the shorthair, they
come in a wide variety of colors and coat patterns. Most have a small bald
spot behind each ear; this is perfectly normal. Abbies tend to have strong
personalities but are very sweet and loving.
My personal favorite is the Peruvian. These guys need quite a bit of
grooming to keep their long coats from getting dirty and matted.
Peruvians’ hair is very long and drapes over the face, so sometimes it’s
hard to tell the back from the front! One of the most common coat colors
is a silvery-gray (lilac), and the cavy will have red eyes. Peruvians are
the most quirky in terms of personality. I lovingly describe them as
neurotic, jumpy, and easily spooked, but their gorgeous appearance
overshadows their faults. Unfortunately, Peruvians are often victims of
neglect because buyers don’t know how much grooming is required, and the
animals end up suffering.
Some lesser-known breeds include the teddy, the silkie, the texel and the
hairless. Teddies have short, fuzzy hair that tends to fall out around
their rear ends as they get older. Silkies are similar to Peruvians, only
with short hair around the face and a coat that flows straight back from
the head. Texels have coarse, wavy hair all over their bodies. Last but
not least, hairless guinea pigs actually do have a little hair on their
faces and feet, but are otherwise wrinkled and bald. They must be kept out
of drafty, cold places as they can easily get sick. Their ideal cage would
have lots of nice warm fleece and cozies to snuggle in!
Less common breeds can sometimes be found only by looking up breeders, but
the good news is that if you want to adopt, almost ALL of these breeds are
easily found, whether they come from a rescue or are being given up by
their owners. Whatever type of guinea pig you decide on, do your research
beforehand to make sure you both have a happy life together!
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