Guinea pigs of the Swiss Teddy breed (Swiss Teddy Guinea Pig, or, as they are also called “CH-Teddy”) is an unusually beautiful and funny pig that you just want to take in your arms. From the outside, it can be confused with a lump of fluff or a dandelion. Swiss teddies have a very unusual coat, soft, slightly curly, standing on end, disheveled in all directions. They are very popular with guinea pig breeders because of their cute and unusual appearance, and today fans of this breed can be found all over the world.

To calculate the country of origin of these cute guinea pigs, you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes: the indication of their homeland is right in the name of the breed. Yes, it was in Switzerland that these pigs were born at the end of the last century as a result of an independent recessive mutation in the process of crossing an American teddy with a rex. This version of the origin looks the most plausible, although it is disputed in some sources. In a word, it is impossible to say with 100% certainty where the Swiss teddies came from. But in any case, the result was so successful that the Swiss teddy soon spread throughout Europe. Thus, this breed is one of the newest breeds of guinea pigs and its history is only about 30 years old. The gene for this breed is called the Swiss teddy gene and is designated CHTg.Swiss teddies are a fairly well-known breed, but despite this, in some countries you will not find Swiss teddies with fire during the day, for example, in the same Great Britain. Although in most other European countries, these pigs are widespread. In some countries, Swiss teddies have received official recognition and breed standards have been developed for them.

The first comparison that comes to mind when looking at a Swiss teddy is “a ball of fluff.” Indeed, the hair of an adult teddy is quite long (about 5-8 cm) and stands, as they say, on end. The coat is thick, elastic, the hairs are dense, textured, broken, but without pronounced curls. On the head, the hair is slightly shorter, and on the tummy it is slightly curly. The coat reaches its maximum length by the age of one year; young Swiss teddies usually have a shorter coat. Until now, there is no consensus about which category (short-haired and long-haired) this breed should be ranked. According to the American ACBA list, the Swiss Teddy is a long-haired breed. European associations refer this breed to shorthaired. The opinions of scientists, as they say, diverged. Swiss teddies tend tolarge and muscular physique, wide shoulder joints, high withers. The head is rather large and short. Swiss babies are born with large heads, which can create problems for the female, especially if she is primiparous. But then, as it grows, the head decreases in proportion to the body. The nose is more pointed than other breeds. The eyes are set far apart, they are large and expressive. The ears are always beautiful and neat, hanging down. Another interesting feature is the tassels that grow above the ears. Not all teddies have them, but they give pigs an even more cute and toy look. The Swiss, like American Teddies and Rexes, go through several periods of coat formation. A few months after birth, their coats may “lay down” or a shedding period may begin.Molting occurs either at an early age, or during stressful moments for health (illness, severe stress, pregnancy and breastfeeding, etc.) At an early age, molting can begin at 1-1.5 months of age and last for several months. But then such kids, as a rule, are the best representatives of this breed. Some little Swiss skip shedding at an early age or go through it almost imperceptibly, but their coat in the future will usually be imperfect, too soft or uneven (not the same length in different parts of the body). So in the case of Swiss teddies, molting as a child is a good sign. New wool grows rather quickly in place of the lost one. Basic requirements for the wool of the Swiss teddy Wool must:pregnancy and feeding, etc.) At an early age, molt can begin at 1-1.5 months of age and last for several months. But then such kids, as a rule, are the best representatives of this breed. Some little Swiss skip shedding at an early age or go through it almost imperceptibly, but in the future their coat will usually be imperfect, too soft or uneven (not the same length in different parts of the body). So in the case of Swiss teddies, molting as a child is a good sign. New wool grows rather quickly in place of the lost one. Basic requirements for the wool of the Swiss teddy Wool must:pregnancy and feeding, etc.) At an early age, molt can begin at 1-1.5 months of age and last for several months. But then such babies, as a rule, are the best representatives of this breed. Some little Swiss skip shedding at an early age or go through it almost imperceptibly, but their coat in the future will usually be imperfect, too soft or uneven (not the same length in different parts of the body). So in the case of Swiss teddies, molting as a child is a good sign. New wool grows rather quickly in place of the lost one. Basic requirements for the wool of the Swiss teddy Wool must:are the best representatives of this breed. Some little Swiss skip shedding at an early age or go through it almost imperceptibly, but in the future their coat will usually be imperfect, too soft or uneven (not the same length in different parts of the body). So in the case of Swiss teddies, molting as a child is a good sign. New wool grows rather quickly in place of the lost one. Basic requirements for the wool of the Swiss teddy Wool must:are the best representatives of this breed. Some little Swiss skip shedding at an early age or go through it almost imperceptibly, but their coat in the future will usually be imperfect, too soft or uneven (not the same length in different parts of the body). So in the case of Swiss teddies, molting as a child is a good sign. New wool grows rather quickly in place of the lost one. Basic requirements for the wool of the Swiss teddy Wool must:New wool grows rather quickly in place of the lost one. Basic requirements for the wool of the Swiss teddy Wool must:New wool grows rather quickly in place of the lost one. Basic requirements for the wool of the Swiss teddy Wool must:

• consist of “corrugated” textured hairs. Excessive straightening, as well as the presence of curls, is not welcome;
• stand on end. Lying coat is a fault;
• be of equal length throughout the body. An uneven coat is a fault;
• be dense, elastic, dense. Soft wool is discouraged;
• have a length of 5-8 cm (dance-minus a couple of centimeters). Wool shorter than 3.5 cm and longer than 10 cm is not allowed.
• grow in one direction, do not have any rosettes or ridges. Only one forehead socket is allowed.

The average life span is 5-8 years.

Like other guinea pigs with a short coat, Swiss teddies are very unpretentious animals in terms of grooming. All care for the fur of such a pet comes down to weekly or even monthly cleaning of the fur. You just need to check if debris or pieces of hay are tangled in the fur and comb it with a special comb. You can buy a special fur comb at a pet store, or you can use a baby comb from a children’s store. The only period when the coat of the Swiss will require additional maintenance is the shedding period. In shedding guinea pigs, hair can become tangled, especially in the armpits and on the outside of the thighs. It is very difficult to unravel and comb out such tangles; few pigs will allow you to do this. Therefore, in order not to torment yourself and the pet, if a mug happens, it is better to carefully cut it off.And in order to avoid their formation during the molting period, it is necessary to provide your pet with regular and thorough combing. A Swiss cage should be spacious and large, as guinea pigs need a lot of space to live. (LINK) Regarding nutrition, the rules are exactly the same as when feeding other guinea pigs. (LINK) pet for children.as with other guinea pigs (LINK) Swiss Teddies are quite easy to care for, so this breed can be safely recommended both as the first guinea pig for adults and as a pet for children.as with other guinea pigs (LINK) Swiss Teddies are quite easy to care for, so this breed can be safely recommended both as the first guinea pig for adults and as a pet for children.

Pigs of this breed can be of a wide variety of colors, both monochromatic and multi-colored. Rare combinations are allowed and even welcomed.

Breeding this breed is within the power of only experienced breeders, since it is they who will be able to all the necessary factors to get really high-quality offspring of show or breed class. To begin with, the Swiss cannot be crossed with other breeds of pigs. Good offspring will turn out only when two Swiss are mated. When crossed with Alpacas, Peruvian or Abyssinian pigs, the offspring will have unacceptable rosettes or uneven coats. When crossed with an American teddy, the offspring’s coat will lose its special gene, which is responsible for the coarse coat. But even with the selection of two excellent Swiss, you can get very different offspring, even within the same litter. It is better not to allow all animals with unequal hair, with too short or long hair, before breeding,if your plans are to keep the breed clean and achieve the best results.