Guinea
Pig Breeds
There are many different
Guinea Pig breeds; the one
most commonly seen in pet stores is the American Guinea Pig. Whereas a
Wild Cavy would have a short coat with an agouti coloring (In agouti,
there are light and dark bands of color on each hair), Guinea Pigs
today come in all colors and sizes.
Abyssinian
Abyssinian Guinea
Pigs (commonly referred to as the 'Bed-Head' Guinea
Pig) is one of the oldest breeds of Guinea Pig. Its coat is swirled
into cowlick-like rosettes that radiate from a center point on the
Cavy's body. Abyssinian are also fairly common in pet stores.
American
This is the most
common breed, and what usually comes to mind when
someone mentions Guinea Pigs. Its flat coat is short and smooth,
and it's coloring is either solid or patterned; agouti
coloring
is also common among this breed. If they have a white stripe down the
middle, this is called a Dutch Coat (see picture).
Peruvian, Silkies,
and Texel
Peruvian Guinea
Pigs' hair grows outward from the spine, and can
be several inches long. They require extensive grooming, especially in the
summer.
Silkies are often
confused with Peruvians, but their hair is shorter and grows out from
the neck, and their coat is softer. Texels look like Silkies with a
perm; their hair grows in long, course ringlets.
Teddy
The Teddy breed
has a short, dense coat, that can be either soft or
rough. You should always rub a Teddy from back to front; it keeps their
coat nice and fluffy. The Teddy in this picture has an agouti pattern,
which is common among this breed.
Baldwin and White
Crested
Baldwin Guinea
Pigs have no hair on their body whatsoever. Sometimes
they have small spots of hair; then they are called a Skinny-Pig (see
picture). Don't be fooled by their appearance, though; their temperament is still quite friendly.
White-Crested
Guinea Pigs are similar to American Guinea Pigs, except they have
a small white rosette on their head, giving them a 'grumpy' expression.