Pet Guinea Pig shows are held before the Breeds Show at each Hobart Cavy Club show, and some Agricultural shows. These shows are for anyone of any age and its a great place to start learning or just having fun with your pet cavy on a monthly basis. Anyone can enter the Pet Guinea Pig show. Petd are often the first guinea pigs people show when they join the cavy fancy. Many people fondly remember their first pet for many years, long after they enter the competitive world of showing pedigree cavies.
STANDARD PET CLASSES
Boar
Sow
Best Groomed
Best Shorthair
Best Longhair
Fancy Dress
There will also be two novelty classes on the day that will change monthly.
PET CONDITION is a class judged by the pedigree judge and is purely based on the condition of the animal. A cavy entered in the pedigree show CANNOT enter the pet condition class.
How Does the Show Work? Please arrive to the hall at least 30 minutes before the planned starting time of classes. This will give you enough time to pay for entries, collect ear numbers and settle in. If you have any new entries or scratchings, please either see our Pet Co-Ordinator or Show Secretary. They'll be organising the judging tables and numbers before commencement of the show.
A class will be called a MAXIMUM of 3 times before judging commences for the class. If you have not brought your cavy to the table in that time, you will have to miss out.
The day will start with the junior exhibitors. They show their cavies in any classes that they have entered above. They will then compete for best Junior Exhibited Cavy in Show.
The same will happen for adult exhibitors. They will then compete for Best Adult Exhibited Cavy in Show
Pet condition is a combined class where Junior and Adult exhibitors will compete together for Pet Condition. If there is more than 10 animals brought up for a class, the class will be divided into heats. The 1st and 2nd place animals will then be brought up to compete for Best in Class
What Will I need and How do I Prepare to Show my Cavy?
You will need a Carpet Mat Square to show your cavy on. These can be purchased at the show or at a Carpet Store. (They are the Sample/Demo Carpet Mats)
You will need a Carry cage to transport your Cavy safely to the show.
Your cavy must be bathed. We suggest a Fidos shampoo is the best. This prevents the spread of mites/lice onto other cavies at the show as well as a clean cavy to present to the judge.
*Only use warm water and gently wet your cavy, massage in the shampoo and leave for a minute then gently rinse off. You can blowdry your cavy but be sure to keep your hand between the hot air and the cavy so you can gauge the heat and make sure its never in the same spot for too long.
Towel drying is also another method for drying but be sure to keep them inside overnight when you've bathed them so they don't get a chill.
Boars need extra attention. On their rump there is a grease gland that is usually very oily/dirty. To remove the grease simply use an old tooth brush with some dishwashing liquid and gently scrub the area and rinse. Eucalyptus oil on a cotton bud works well too. This is important to do if you plan to enter the Pet Condition class.*
Another thing you will need to do is to trim your cavy's nails. Its very easy. Simply use a pair of nail clippers and clip off the ends. If you're unsure feel free to ask any of our members or the judge at the show and they can show you how.
Longerhaired cavies will need to have their hair groomed with a brush/comb. Please make sure there is no knots or matts in the hair as this is unpleasant for your cavy, and also very important if you're entering the Pet Condition Class.