All About Abyssinian Guinea Pigs
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The Abyssinian guinea pig is one of the most popular and recognizeable breeds of guinea pig in the world. They can be any color in the guinea pig rainbow and breed readily with other breeds of guinea pigs. The only difference between an Abyssinian and other breeds of guinea pigs is the coat texture and growth pattern.
Rows Of Rosettes
The main characteristic of the Abyssinian's coat pattern is that it growth in whorls officially called "rosettes". They come in varying stages of recognizeability. Most Abyssininans look like they have moustaches, a cap and a tutu on.
Show Abyssinians have to have a minimum of eight clearly defineable rosettes about the body. The edges of the rosettes should be "crisp" or look like an easily defined line. The rosettes should be symetrically placed along the body (ideally, if you are looking to show Abysinian guinea pigs).
The coat texture is usually described as "rough" and "harsh", but it still is a lot softer than sandpaper, which is usually what I think of as the definition of "rough". Abyssinians are very pettable and, with gentle training, very affectionate. Some even develop as "lap pigs".
The Abyssinian Personality
Or "pig-inality", in this case. Although no guinea pig has read any of the books about how they normally behave, Abyssinians have a tendency to be friendlier and cheekier and a bit more mischievious than other breeds. There is no scientific proof of this -- it just seems to happen.
For example, my late Abyssinian Cocaine (she had a thin white line going up her nose) was a comical character. She learned to sit up, learned to jump into her cage on command, came when called (when she felt like it, not necessarily when I felt like it), played her water bottle like a musical instrument (wasting a lot of water) and "popcorned" even late in life.
It is only fitting that the breed of guinea pig with a highly overactive imagination that starred in a series of children's books should be an Abyssinian. Olga da Polga was based on a real Abyssinian guinea pig that belonged to author Micheal Bond's daughter. Later on, when more guinea pigs were added to the Bond family, there was always an Olga, who was always a multi colored Abyssinian. They all lived up to their infamous name.
Where'd The Name Come From?
The real mystery surrounding Abyssinian guinea pigs is just why they are called Abyssininan guinea pigs. They are not and never were from Abyssinina (which is the old name for Ethiopia). They also share no resemblance to an Abyssinian cat.
All domesticated guinea pigs are from South America, spefically Peru and Patagonia. The first guinea pigs to reach Europe were in the sixteenth century and cost a fortune (perhaps a guinea?) Perhaps anything exotic was given a foreign name of a foreign country fashionable in England at the time -- Abyssinia. Then again, all guinea pigs are neither from Guinea nor are they pigs (they are rodents).
Perhaps the Abyssinans themselves thought they were from Africa and whispered there stories in the ears of humans as they slept. Well, I think that's how Olga explained it.
However they got the name, it has stuck. I used to have a book on guinea pigs written in the early 1900's, and the breed Abyssinian was prominately mentioned.
Abyssinian Care
Abyssinians aren't known to be any more prone to illness than other guinea pig breeds. They are easy to groom with a soft cat or bunny brush, or even an old toothbrush. They like to keep themselves clean. Bathing is only necessary in emergencies, or if the piggy has trouble keeping their hind ends clean when they get older.
Abyssinian guinea pigs are considered great pets for those who have never kept guinea pigs before. For many of us (myself included), an Abyssinnian guinea pig was our first pets.
Abysinnians have a lot to say. Film of Squeaky by Kdeliso
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Comments
Ah, you just haven't met the right guinea pig yet, Whitney :-)
my abyssinian guinea pig actually isnt friendly at all i was wondering why because i have a med. haried one and he is very firnedly
I have one too and he's not friendly,as a matter of fact,...he freaks out BIG TIME every time I try to pick him up or touch him. He is very cute but very mischieveous as they state here....he dumps his food all the time,he is forever trying to dominate our other american 3 year old male,including not letting him eat or drink..even though they have THREE water bottles and a huge bowl of food to share in their cage. I love him dearly but he's a brat and is very hard to 'play with or pet.
As far as training or teaching him tricks..How do u train something that has an anxiety attack everytime u go near it?!
This is so cool and cute
trhe
I have on to and he is the best natured guinea pig i have ever known. He is friendly, cute and loves to picked up and played with.
I have two piggies and they are the sweetest things. I was wondering if the younger one(3 and a hlf months) was allowed to eat the same veggies as my two-year old pig.
I just bought a 4 month old Abyssinian and she's a sweetie. Once I pick her up she's fine just sitting on me or happier up in my hair. She shares her home with a 4 month old Teddy and is very generous with her friend. They already have their favorites of the veggies and friuts I give them.
I had an Abyssinian guinea pig who was not social,cute or sneaky?
we have 3 abyssinians who do not like beng picked up, when we do they have bit me before. However we have now trained them to jump in and out of their hutch themselves so we do not to handle them. They are very friendly however and love to talk to you through the cage wire
I have one abyssinian guinea pig and she would never hurt or bite anyone. She is the cutest, fluffiest little thing I have ever seen, in my opinion, and loves to be held!
I have 2 guinea pigs one is a Rex and the other is Abyssinian and they are both lovely, cheeky in an adorable and they have also learned to use their water bottle as an musical instrument.
I have eight guinea pigs! They are adorable! I have three short haired ones called Thistle and Lupin and Domino. (Her nickname is Domino Wee! =3) Oh and I have five Abyssinians. They are all very nervous. Their names are Nosy, Daisy, Mitzi and Camel and Dandi. Camel and Dandi are Mitzi's children and are still feeding from her. She was pregnant when I brought her, as I have no male guinea pigs. (Although Camel and Dandi may be boys, I haven't checked yet!)
I have an Abyssinian! During out of cage time, she is the most mischevous pet I have ever seen!She eats everything from the sofa to candy wrappers, runs like a rabbit, and seems to be everywhere at once! She is NOT lap guinea pig (unless you held her at like 9:00 at night) but she IS a sweetie!
I have at least 5 Abyssinians and all of them are sweet and cudly and they all love to do tricks for lettace or any type of veggie. Their names are Mittin, Guenise, Mi Mi, Max, and my newist one Smokey.
I have an abyssinian, he's the friendliest pig ive ever met. He normally just sits on my lap waiting fro pats. Im hopefully getting a female soon.
We just got our first 2 Abyssinian Guinea Pigs both are now very friendly only after 2 days of having them. I was wondering if anyone can tell me how long they wil be when full grown. The other Guinea pigs in with them at the pet store was double their lentgh and size. their coats were very straight and smooth. Just didn't know if these was a smaller Guinea pig than most. thanks
I have 1 abyssinian boy.He would never hurt anyone he is 4and a half months old he is so sweet and cuddley he'z never bit me before.when i bought him he was in a cage with 6 other diffrent breeds he was the only abyssinian there.Soon if i persuad my MUM i will get another REMEBER ALLWAYS IN PAIRS.........my guinea pig is called cappuccino i no sooooooooo cute if they are in pairs you will see there attaude change in a good ay if you have 2 boys or 2 girls or a boy and a girl.
i really want a guinea pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but i have a hamster a bunny a cat and 2 dogs.my dad says if my hamster dies i might get one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but my mom says never going to happen.but i just beg.
I have two guinea pigs, porky and piglett, and they are the sweetest things ever! They know how to hop in their cage, stand up, and shake with there littlee paws. they will soon have babies:( my mom says i have to give away the babies. im sad...
I LOVE PIGS!! Oh wait I am a pig! HEHEHEHEHEHHE! I also love ANDREW WILSON!! But I hate CAMERON CARLE!! HEHEHEHEHEHE! Guinea Pigs RULE! Go Guineas!
i have a young abyssinian guinea pig and have had several in the past..i love all animals and didnt think that on a site where i would go to look at these lovely little animals you would show videos of snakes killing and eating them..IM DISGUSTED..not on these pages please..there is enough depravity through out the internet and what if my young neice had been looking at the same time\ as this is a site i would think she should have been ok looking at with me..have we know even got to monitor pages that should be child friendly such as those with pets on?
i have a peruvian guinea pig and i am planning to have a abyssinian but im afraid it will be naughty and not as sweet as my peruvian.
i have a 6 month old abyssinian guinea pig - Georgie, she is the sweetest thing out (:
I am going to buy a guinea pig very soon. I was wondering what else I should buy such as a small hut for it to sleep in.I think it would be cute to watch it play with toys, but kind of toys to guinea pigs need? I have never owned one before and don't know many people who have.
me n my sister r gettin guinea pigs sooon im so excited i cant wait my sister is going crazy!
im going to get an abyssinian guinea but my sister wants a normal straight haired 1. yay go me! my bro sux cause he h8s guinea pigs! he says they are ugly n smell but they dont!
We have owned an abyssinian guinea for 3 and a half years. This pig was named Abby. She was the cutest and most cuddly. Her favorite place was to nestle up under our neck. She would just lay there and purr, and occasionly give you little kisses on our cheeks. She loved to run around the floor and hide under the coffee table. Often when called out to, she would come to you. Every time we would cut veggies she would squeak loudly for us not to forget her share. Every morning she would greet us with a happy squeak at breakfast. Unfortunately on Wednesday she had a prolapsed uterus and what seemed to be a respirtory problem and we had to put her to sleep. She will be missed a great deal. We plan to purchase two more in the fall, also to be abyssinian, the best pet ever!
i have an abyssinian guinea piggy. he is sooooooooo cute
I really want a guinea pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooooooooooooo shour I'm getting 2 for my B day.I LOVE GUINEA PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GUINEA PIGS ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! i'M GONNA GET TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 ABYSSINIAN AND A SELF BLACK! :)
i am currently asking my parents for 1 and saying i will do good in school if i get1 and i have decided that i want one of these abyssian guinea pigs 2 me there just so cute!!!!
just got 2 sooooo cute gineapigs
i have 1 Abyssinnian named willy. he is the cutest thing you would ever meet. He is only 9 months old... but he like to bite your shirts and eats pretty much nothing but timothy hay and oranges.. he really doesnt like guinea pig food..
my ambyssinian can jump up wwen i say urgh
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Whitney05 says:
2 years ago
I'm not a big fan of guinea pigs, having had them before, but these guys are So cute! Great Hub!