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HOW TO CHOOSE A CAVY - PET, BREEDING, SHOW
Written by Faith Storms, ARBA Cavy Judge

So, you think you want a cavy, or several.  What breed should you pick?  What color/variety?  

 

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the available breeds.  ARBA recognizes 13 cavy breeds at this time.  There are a few other non-showable breeds around the states and in Canada.  The Standard of Perfection is a good place to start and then there is the ACBA (American Cavy Breeder's Association.)  The Journal, the publication of the ACBA gives a listing of local clubs.  Local clubs can put you in touch with local breeders.  There is a good booklet out on color genetics that you can get through ACBA.  Color in cavies works somewhat differently than in rabbits, just a heads up.    

 

While cavies may not offer the extreme varieties and types that rabbits do, there are still some pretty striking differences and enough of them to satisfy most anyone who would like to get involved in cavies.  

 

Next is to decide what is your purpose?  If you just wish to have a fun pet, just about any breed and color can do just fine.  While there is some variability in temperament, most cavies are nice and friendly.  Some personal experience as a breeder and now a judge....  Abyssinians tend to be more temperamental and even a bit nippy.  American are usually fairly laid back as are most long hairs.  Being satin does not seem to have any particular effect on temperament that I have noticed.  And usually the most SWEET little pigs I have known have been Teddies or Texels.  With that being said, a black Teddy sow bit me at the first show I judged!  LOL!  So, there are always exceptions.  When picking a pet only, you would go for what personally appeals to you, in color and look and behavior.  

 

If you want to breed and show, that can take a bit more research.   

How much time do you have?  Do not pick a long haired breed (Coronet, Silkie, Silkie Satin, Peruvian, Peruvian Satin, Texel) or the Teddy/Teddy Satin if you do not have time to do daily wrapping and grooming of coats.  While some people bathe their Americans, I rarely do that.  I call my Americans my "grab and go" to a show pigs.  Short coat breeds (less maintenance) include American, American Satin, Abyssinian, Abyssinian Satin and White Crested.    

 

Next is the practical issue of what breeds and colors are readily available in your area?  Somewhere in the US there is probably just about every breed and color of cavy, but do you want to drive to get them or ship them in?  And once you have them, what if you need more breeding stock in the future?  Often it is easier to determine what is available in your area and then choose a breed and color you like from those.  That way you will have local breeders for assistance and future stock.  Now, if you DO wish to locate some unusual color (for your area) find out what other colors it may be compatible with.  That way you could utilize local stock in the future if you needed to out cross.  This is where some study of cavy color genetics would come in.  Almost all breeds are available and showable in the same colors (which a few exceptions for White Cresteds.)  These color groupings include self (beige, black, chocolate, cream, lilac, red eyed orange, red and white), solid (brindle, roan, dilute solid, golden solid, silver solid), agouti (dilute agouti, golden agouti, silver agouti) and marked (broken color, dalmatian, Dutch, Himalayan, tortoise shell, and tortoise shell and white.  Americans have a fifth group - tan pattern (tan, silver marten).      

 

Once you do all your research, then get in touch with local breeders and begin to talk to them.  Thanks to the internet you can also communicate with anyone, anywhere.  Collect real information, as there is much misinformation out there about cavies (for example, that boars cannot live together.  That one drives us breeders NUTS, as we most all have boars of various ages living with other boars!)  Joining clubs, joining e-mail lists can also be so valuable for collecting real, practical information.  And do ask questions.  Facebook is also becoming a wonderful resource of connecting with others and locating stock.       

 

I know that I am always willing to talk to new folks and welcome them contacting me.  I love to "talk pigs"!  

 

My personal advice is to pick what you really LIKE, what you enjoy looking at.  Even if white American cavies may more easily win (if you get good ones!) if you cannot bear to look at white pigs, do not get them!  Most of us gravitate to what we love or what challenges us.  I know over the years I have taken on certain challenges of creating a certain color variety that was possible but simply not being bred/shown in my area, such as silver roan Americans.  And after a few years of efforts, I am finally getting some nice ones.  

 

Sadly there are breeders out there who will not be totally honest with newer people, and as a newer person you may not know who these folks are.  Talk to many people, ask for several opinions of a pig you want to buy (if you are at a show) and maybe ask the opinion of a judge (not doing the show!)  Then there are a few of us who tell you ALL that is wrong with that little pig in an effort to be honest!  LOL!    

 

Just remember that you are buying breeding stock for the most part.  Do not expect to win big with your first stock.  It takes years to produce a big winner.  And when you do, it is so worth it!    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARBA District 8 Article of the Month for February 2012