BRITISH CAVY COUNCIL

Teddy Guide Standard

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Standard of points
Update June 2009
Head, Eyes & Ears Head to be short and broad, with a gently curving profile.
Muzzle to be of good width and rounded at the nostrils.
Eyes to be large, bright and bold and set with good width between.
Ears to be large and drooping, with lower rim parallel to the ground & set with good
width between.
Body Shape To have short, cobby body; thick-set, with good width across shoulders.
To be fit and of good substance, with plenty of firm flesh covering shoulders.
To have good size appropriate to age.
Coat Appearance To have a short, plush coat of even length and standing out from the body.
To appear dense and even all over the body, with no areas of flatness or with coat
tending to lie down.
Guard hairs to be removed. Coat on the belly to be wavy.
Coat length to be no more than 1.2 cm (0.5 inches), preferably shorter.
Coat Feel
of which
Density To have thick, dense coat all over the body.
Springiness To be springy and resilient when brushed with the palm of the hand, readily returning
to the original erect appearance.
Texture To be plush to the touch.
To be clean and free from grease.

NB: Any Full Standard for this breed is likely to be based on that for the Rex in terms of Points Allocations.

Guidance notes

The Teddy is a short-coated cavy with a rexoid-type coat that stands erect from the body.

The coat is short and plush but springy and resilient to the touch.

The Teddy must be recognisably different than the Rex breed, the principal factors indicating the difference being of coat qualities.

The Teddy's coat is plush with straighter hairs than the crimped, harsh coat of the Rex. This gives a very different feel to the coat.

The hair of rexoid cavies is generally brushed towards the head. This seems to form a ‘cap’ on the forehead of some Teddies, but not all. However, the crimped Rex coat does not display this because the coat stands erect above the head, whereas the Teddy's hair is straighter and flatter, emphasising the ‘cap’. This, though, can be made less visible with grooming.

The Teddy may be shown in any colour or combination of colours.

No points are awarded for colour or coat markings.

Specific disqualifications

  • Rosettes, partial rosettes.
  • Areas of coat lying in a different direction from the desirable lie of coat.

Specific faults

  • Extreme tendency for parting in centre of back.
  • Coat length over 1.2cm (half an inch).
  • Flatness anywhere on body.
  • Presence of guard hairs.
  • Straight coated belly.

Wash 2: Designed by Simon Neesam for the British Cavy Council © 2020