Merino

The Merino guinea pig is a long-coated cavy with curly hair and a crest on the forehead, giving it a rounded, textured look rather than the flat sweep seen in many straight-coated breeds. It is closely associated with Texel-type curl and Coronet-type crest influence, and it may appear in many colors and broken patterns. The breed is usually seen in exhibition and specialist pet circles rather than ordinary mixed pet listings.

A Merino's coat is the main management issue. The curls can mat close to the skin, especially around the rump, belly, and bedding contact points, so owners usually keep pet coats trimmed or commit to gentle, frequent grooming. Breeders need to pair coat quality with sound body condition and easy handling, since a beautiful coat is not useful if the guinea pig is uncomfortable being maintained.

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