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Swiss

Swiss

The Swiss guinea pig has a dense coat of intermediate length that stands upright with a slight forward direction, producing a rounded, plush outline. It is also called Swiss teddy or CH Teddy, distinct from the shorter coated US Teddy. The British Cavy Council promoted Swiss to a Full Standard in January 2024. Its standard emphasizes an even, springy coat without a visible parting and permits any color or combination of colors. The European standard uses the CH Teddy name. ARBA's 2026 working standard allows Swiss at sanctioned shows as exhibition animals, but they may not compete for Best in Show.

The American insert describes a slightly coarse, erect coat and has its own requirements for senior coat length and head furnishings. British and American presentation details are not identical, so a breeder should use the rules for the intended show. For British presentation, the coat should be clean and unmatted, retaining its rounded outline without an obvious parting.

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Guides and articles for Swiss owners.

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How Much Do Guinea Pigs Cost? Purchase, Setup, and Lifetime Price Guide

Most people spend somewhere between $20 and $60 to buy a single guinea pig, less from a rescue and a little more for a fancy long-haired breed or a breeder animal with known parentage. That is the easy number, and it is also the misleading one. The guinea pig itself is almost always the cheapest […]

What Do Guinea Pigs Eat? Hay, Greens, Pellets, and Vitamin C

Guinea pigs eat grass hay, and they eat a lot of it. Unlimited good quality grass hay in front of them all day, about half a cup to a cup of fresh vegetables per pig, a small measured portion of plain guinea pig pellets, and clean water is the entire diet, and the Merck Veterinary […]

How Long Are Guinea Pigs Pregnant? Gestation, Due Dates, and Birth Risks

Guinea pigs are pregnant for about 68 days on average, and the Merck Veterinary Manual gives a normal range of 59 to 72 days. That is roughly nine to ten weeks, which is remarkably long for a rodent, and it is why guinea pig pups arrive fully furred, with their eyes open, and nibbling solid […]

Roan and Dalmatian Guinea Pigs: The Lethal White Pairing Rule

Avoid pairing a roan or dalmatian guinea pig with another roan or dalmatian. These combinations can produce pups with lethal white syndrome, including serious eye and dental abnormalities. Under the conventional inheritance model, about 1 in 4 pups could be affected. That is a risk for each pup, not a promised result in a litter. […]

Where to Buy Guinea Pigs: How to Adopt or Buy a Healthy Pair Responsibly

The honest answer to where to buy guinea pigs is that you almost never need to buy them new at all. Guinea pigs are among the most surrendered and overpopulated small pets in the country, so shelters and rescues are full of healthy young animals looking for homes, which makes adoption the first place to […]

How Much Space Do Guinea Pigs Need? Cage Size and Setup

Two guinea pigs need at least 7.5 square feet of open floor space, and the organizations that set these numbers would rather you gave them 10.5 square feet or more. That is one continuous ground level floor measured inside the walls, not two small levels added together, and it is larger than most of the […]

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