Just wondering if there is anyone on the list who is involved with showing GP's?
After showing dogs for over 20 years, I think I need a break and fancy going to watch how other people do it, are they as mad as dog show people??! I have always liked GP's and wouldn't mind owning one myself. Going to watch a GP show at the end of the month, very excited!!

I used to but it was many years ago now. I mainly did hamsters, but also rabbits, rats and mice, and cavies just a few odd times here in the UK, did them more at home in Sweden. What breed were you thinking of?

From and Ex Rabbit exhibitor yes they are just as mad as us in dogs.

LOL! That makes me feel better Brainless!!
I really like the Himalayan (sp) Dutch are very striking and of course I would be lost without something to groom so like the bi coloured long hairs too. I was thinking of just getting 2 as company for each other but from looking at GP people's web pages, looks like they are very collectable! Seems like breeders have several breeds at once. Want to go along to a show to chat to folks and see how things run. I even have a name picked out if I get a boy.....!

I used to breed and show Hymalain  / Pravivion (sp) Cavies and also Cashmere lop rabbits!!
It was great fun, had one cavy that was a top boy, he had long white fur black feet and black ears did really well.
My auntie breeds rabbits up in lincolnshire and I think thats where I got my animal loving genes from! as both my parents never really wanted pets when I was a wee girl.  however they did let me take over the garden when I was about 16 years old to breed my cashmeres! Had one that was a brilliant Blue colour, blue as the sky on a sunny day his name was Ben and he used to follow me around everywhere and would roll on his back and let me rub his tummy! he was a brilliant stud and lots of people wanted to use him!!!

There's LOTS of longhairs breeds: Peruvian, Sheltie, Coronet, Texel, Merino, then you can add satin to them -new breeds keep appearing all the time so I've lost track of some LOL. The longhairs are very hard to show as you have to keep the fur rolled up when not actually ON the judge's table -compare to Yorkshire terriers. The coat length can  and should be around 50 cms. The advantage is that in longhair breeds colour is not judged so they can be any colour and any markings. :)

There's quite a lot of show preparation involved for most breeds, the smooth coats for instance need trimming (a bit like hand stripping) to get their show coat.

I think it's fair to say that in all the small fancies, it is generally breeders showing so each exhibitor tends to turn up with several entries. In cavies like in rabbits for instance you will have the entire class on the table at the same time, and cavies are put into little wooden boxes so they stay put. :)

I know someone who started off with two from a pet shop, got intrested in them so went to a show (she also shows dogs) she came home with a couple more g-pigs and started breeding them.  She now has loads.  Just kept buying them and breeding and has an over-run garden! :D

I used to breed and show GPs many years ago. They're fantastic little beasties! Don't have just one, though - they're social animals and don't thrive being kept singly. I love the coat of satins.

Now does Satin refer to the coat texture and silky feel?
I was looking at some of the breed standards for the piggies and as Harris was sat on my lap at the time, we were comparing him with the standards having a giggle, "large, wrinkle free ears" Yes, I think he fits that one!! (He is an English Setter by the way!)

Texture and the amazing shine. :)

Satin hairs are different from normal hairs in that they are hollow, and therefore reflect the light in a different way to normal hair, making them look very shiny. Best comparison I'd say would be like a metallic car. :D Can be on any coat type.

The Satin effect is due to a mutation in the hair shaft (Think it might be flattened?) causing light to reflect differently than off normal hair.  A Satin that looks cream would be a white Rabbit or Cavie.  It is a bit like the difference in colour you get with albino people who have straight hair, and those who ahve tight curly hair as in people oif African descent.

My Mother, sister and neice all show guinea pigs so if you have any questions I can pass them along to them :)

Debs

Thanks Debs. I will think of many questions no doubt! The classes seem quite complicated but then again so did dog showing all those years ago.