Common Guinea Pig breedsLike humans, dogs and other animals, Guinea Pigs come in many many different shapes and sizes, colours and coats.
This section of Guinea Pig Care Online covers all the different types of domestic Guinea Pig breeds, with descriptions and pictures. Find out what breed your Guinea Pig is here, by looking at the bold underlined key characteristics under each title.
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All breeds on this page |
AbyssinianShort and long hair
Rough coat (harsh textured, usually stands on end to form ridges) Rosettes of hair (usually 8 on each shoulder, 4 across the back, 1 on each hip, 2 on the rump) The origin of the name is not known, but it has nothing to do with Abyssinia (called Ethiopia in the modern day). Abyssinian Guinea Pigs come in all different colours, shapes and sizes. The most popular colour is the Dutch Coloured Abyssinian |
HimalayanSolid white coat, with a few dark patches
(Very similar to the Siamese Cat) Dark patches around ears, face, paws and feet Dark red eyes The coat is solid white for the first few weeks after birth, and then the ears, face, paws and feet grow darker with age. The coat darkens depending on what temperature they grow up in (cool temperature = darker points, warmer temperature = lighter / medium brown points). They originated in southeast Asia. Himalayan Guinea Pigs come in all different colours, shapes and sizes. |
PeruvianLong dense hair
(Continuously growing all over body, sometimes to 20 inches) Coat even length all over Coat should part down the spine Coat can flow forward over the face Their long hair can make it tricky to groom them. Peruvian Guinea Pigs come in all different colours, shapes and sizes. |
Silkie / SheltieLong hair
Hair flows back over its body (never flows forward over the face, if it does, it is Peruvian) Forms a teardrop shape when looked at from a birds eye view Longer sweep of hair in the rear Silkie / Sheltie Guinea Pigs come in all different colours, shapes and sizes. |
Can't find what breed your Guinea Pig is?
We want to help! Chat to our expert using the chat bar at the bottom right of the page (when online), or click here to drop our Guinea Pig expert an email. Make sure you describe your Guinea Pig as well as you can to us, so we can correctly match it up to its breed name.
We want to help! Chat to our expert using the chat bar at the bottom right of the page (when online), or click here to drop our Guinea Pig expert an email. Make sure you describe your Guinea Pig as well as you can to us, so we can correctly match it up to its breed name.
ShopWe literally have thousands of different products designed to help you care for your Guinea Pig. Whether they be necessities, dietary products, care books, or toys and treats, you and your Guinea Pig will love this huge selection available!
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The Guinea Pig GuidesCare guides, tips, tricks, and instructions on all aspects of caring for Guinea Pigs, through all stages of lives, for owners of all ages. Check out our very own The Guinea Pig Guides and be the best Guinea Pig owner you can be!
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Getting Guinea PigsWant to get some Guinea Pigs? Don't really know if you do want them or not? Want to compare Guinea Pigs to other pets? Want to see if you would be a good Guinea Pig owner, and to see if Guinea Pigs are really the right pet for you? Check out our whole section about Getting Guinea Pigs, from deciding to buying.
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