There are many kinds, or breeds, of guinea pig. Some have a single-coloured coat. These are called "self" types. "Non-self" types have up to three colours in their coats. Self types are found in black, white, chocolate, beige, cream, golden, lilac, red, and blue. Guinea pigs also have different hair styles - short, long, tufty and wiry.Short Haired, or American Type Guinea pigs: Short haired varieties have a smooth, glossy coat. The coat patterns have names, such as Dalmation, Dutch and Tortoiseshell.
Agouti Guinea Pigs: The hair on agoutis changes color from root to tip. This makes them look speckled. Common color varieties are silver, golden, cinnamon, and chocolate. All wild guinea pigs are of this variety.
Abyssinian Guinea Pigs: All hair on your head grows from one centre that is called a hair crown. Abyssinian, or rough-coated guinea pigs, have many hair crowns all over their bodies. This makes their coats look very tufty.
Crowning Crests: Some guinea pigs have a special hair crown on the top of their heads. This is called a crest.
Shaggy Shelties: Shelties have very long coats, but their hair does not grow over their faces. They can see where they are going more easily than Peruvians.
Wavy Rexes: Rex guinea pigs have short, thick hair. Their wavy coats feel coarse when you stroke them.
Peruvians: Peruvian guinea pigs have silky hair that grows down to the ground. The fringe must be brushed back to stop it covering the eyes.
Satins: Some guinea pigs have very soft and shiny fur. These are called satins.
Himalayan: White with a dark mask, dark ears and feet; dark eyes.
Dutch: The same colour on both sides of the head (white blaze between) and rear third of the body (in the colours black, chocolate, red or agouti), the rest white; dark eyes.
Tortoiseshell: As even a distribution as possible of same-size spots in red and black (diamond design); dark eyes.
Tortoiseshell and white (tricolour): As even as possible a distribution of same-size spots of colour. On each body side three colours (black, red, white); dark eyes.
There are also two hairless varieties. One is the Skinny Pig, they are born almost completely hairless, except for tufts on their head, feet and ankles. Baldwins are the second type, they are born with hair, but by the time they are weaned it has all fallen out, leaving them completely hairless!
