Merino
The merino guinea pig is a curly longhair with a single crest on its forehead. It is the rexoid counterpart of the coronet, combining a springy coat, a curly belly and a clearly formed head crest. The face hair points toward the rear instead of forming the Peruvian's forward frontal. The British Cavy Council recognizes the merino with a Full Standard; its current Sheltie Varieties Cavy Club standard was updated in 2024. The European standard also includes it among longhaired breeds.
It is not one of the recognized cavy breeds in ARBA's 2026 to 2030 Standard of Perfection. British merinos may be shown in any color or mixture of colors, with the quality and presentation of the coat central to judging. Extra body rosettes are not part of the required show form. Daily coat care helps prevent tangles and matting. British exhibition coats are presented with a central parting on a show board, with the crest clearly visible.
Colors: Agouti, Black & Cream, Black & Red, Black & White, Broken Black, Broken Chocolate, Broken Red, Cinnamon Agouti, Cream Agouti, Red & White, Self Beige, Self Black, Self Chocolate, Self Cream, Self Golden, Self Lilac, Self Orange, Self Red, Self Silver, Self White, Silver Agouti, Tortoiseshell, Tortoiseshell & White, Tricolor
