Abyssinian Guinea Pig Breed Standard?

Question

Hi Everyone!

I have had an Abyssinian Guinea Pig for about a year now and I was wondering if I could start to do some activities with him. I am going to start working on training him to be a show Guinea Pig! I was wondering what the breed standard was for Abyssinian Guinea Pigs and if there are any diagrams of where the Rossettes have to be and how many. He is an male, Gray and White, Abyssinian Guinea Pig with clipped nails! Any other tips you can give me for showing? Do you think he is good for showing?? I don't want to be disqualified because of something I should have known! Thank you! I will include a picture in one of the 'add a comment' things.. I still need to download one onto this computer! Thank you for your help!!!

Answer 1

Here is what I know about showing...

It is cruel. It puts your pig under a huge amount of stress. Stress can cause illness.

Answer 2

MemphisGal..................... A GUINEA PIG DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PUREBRED TO BE SHOWN! THERE ARE CROSSBREED CLASSES!

Hello, I used to show my guinea pigs... :)

It is very fun and it's cool to meet new people who have the same interests.

Your guinea pig is definitely not a show quality abyssinian though. If you want to show him (which you still can!), show him as a pet only. ANY guinea pig can be shown (as long as it is healthy). But your guinea pig won't be able to be shown in the Abyssinian class as the rosettes are not in the right place and the colouration is not show quality.

Good luck with showing him! :)

PS... do not listen to those who say it is cruel. I have BEEN there and DONE it. These people are just going by what they have read. Yes, breeders do attend shows, but that doesn't mean YOU have to breed. They do not get 'poked' and 'prodded'. They are kept in pens and lifted carefully out and put on the judges table when it is their turn. The judge is very careful with them and looks them all over. When they are done being judged someone (an adult, kids aren't allowed) lifts them up and carries them back to their pen.

Answer 3

Feylin has tons of guinea pig knowledge. You would be wise to listen to her advice. What a great idea about volunteering at a rescue or shelter!

If you just want to spend more time with your pig, then do it at home where he is more comfortable. Putting him in unfamiliar territory just stresses him out and he is not enjoying your company.

ADDITION: You won't be able to show your pig. You bought him from a pet store. Therefore has a mixed lineage. He is not pure bred and not going to qualify  in shows. There... there is your simple answer though you have been given other great advice. Enjoy your pig for what he is.

Answer 4

Here's what I thought about when I was having the same question:

-My pigs (I have 6 of my own, and 3 rescues now) are TERRIFIED to go in the car.  They hate the new places I have taken them.  The vet, emergency vet, visiting potential adopters, ect.   They are even very nervous to go outside to eat grass.  I dont think they would like being put in a small cage, apart from their friends, with tons of new pigs everywhere, in a big room, with loudspeaker announcements, and strangers poking at them.  

-I would not be an expert shower and would probably enter some lower level or beginner class.  The people showing there would be new owners or showers.  I dont know that these pigs are healthy and mite free!  I'm sure there are standards for the health of shown animals but you can't see mites when the pigs first have them.  What about a pig who was *just* coming down with a respiratory infection?   I decided I didn't want to risk that.

-I also learned that pigs aren't usually shown after a year or two of age.   Plus?  To show at a registered ACBA show the pig has to have a metal tag punched in it's ear.  I couldn't do that to my pets.

I decided I was happy just having pets.  Pigs are not suited to "training" like dogs are.  They dont' want to do a job to please you like a dog would.    My advice is to keep him as your happy pet at home.

Also, if you want to get involved with pigs find a rescue near you and volunteer.  I would LOVE to have someone who wanted to foster or help with my rescues.    They need help with everything from  cage cleaning to clipping nails to bathing pigs, to simply helping a pig learn what it's like to be loved.

EDITED: I'm sorry you don't want to volunteer now.  I wasn't saying you should come help me specifically! :) There are thousands of abandoned, neglected, and abused pigs and rescues/humane societies are in desperate need of people like you.

Answer 5

Showing is connected to breeding. It's very stressful.

You should do some research about what those great show breeders do with their culls and what they do with guinea pigs that they can no longer breed. It would horrify you if you have any heart.

Answer 6

I'm sorry that I'm not like going to answer your question but I HAVE to compliment your guinea pig! He looks really sweet :) Good luck, I hope you become famous!!!!!!!! =D

Answer 7

Lovely guinea but he looks like a cross.

Show Abyssinians have to have a minimum of 8-10 clearly defineable rosettes about the body. The edges of the rosettes should be "crisp" or look like an easily defined line. The rosettes should be symetrically placed along the body

Answer 8

Guinea pigs don't want to be messed with all the time, they are pray animals, and showing them and having them poked and prodded causes them stress, and eventually death. I am betting your a kid.

Answer 9

Pigs get nothing out of showing. They are stuck in a pathetically tiny cage whilst people prod them. Do you really think they enjoy that? People that show their pigs do so for their own enjoyment, they do not care about their pigs.

Answer 10

That looks like one nice pig you got there, but I don't think that he is show quality. At least not for his breed anyways, its possible though that you could show his as a grade.

I too have shown my guinea pigs. I have taken them to my local county 4-H rabbit show and shown them and also at ARBA (American Rabbit Breeder Association) shows. ARBA shows are mainly for rabbits but occasionally they do have shows advailable for guinea pigs. If I were you I would check out the American Cavy Breeders Association. They have a website that you can look at and it gives you information about breed standards. Here's the Abyssinian. http://www.acbaonline.com/breeds/abyssin...

Personally I've raised and shown Teddy guinea pigs. As long as you know the proper way of handling them, they should be fine. Although there can be alot going on at shows, they try to make it as stressfree as possible and I've never had a problem at one of them. Good luck with your piggy.