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| Updated 1st January 2024 | ||
| Head, Eyes and Ears | Head to be of good size, bold 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 and set with good width between. | ||
| Body Shape | To have short, cobby body with deep, broad shoulders. To be fit and of good substance, with plenty of firm flesh. | |
| To have good size appropriate to age. | ||
| Coat Appearance | Throughout the head, body, chest and feet the Argente should have individual hairs ticked or tipped with gold, cream or white over a base colour of beige or lilac. | |
| This should produce an Agouti-like effect that is level and even all over the body, including around the eyes and on the chest and feet. | ||
| Colour | Top colour to be bright and lustrous and conform with Descriptions below. | |
| Undercolour to be carried well down to the skin | ||
| Belly colour to be the same colour as the ticking colour but not ticked (to be tipped), even and with well-defined demarcation line; and to be as narrow as possible, although not at the expense of condition. | ||
| Coat | To be soft and silky, clean and short, groomed free of guard hairs. | |
It is the Council’s intention that, once it is demonstrated that this is achievable, any Full Standard for the Argente will require the same sharp, level ticking as specified for the Agouti.
(Descriptions state the ticking colour first
Deep lilac undercolour with golden ticking. Belly to be golden.
Eyes pink. Ears pink/lilac. Pads pink.
Deep beige undercolour with golden ticking. Belly to be golden.
Eyes pink. Ears pink/beige. Pads pink.
Deep slate undercolour with golden ticking. Belly to be golden.
Eyes ruby. Ears slate grey. Pads slate grey.
Deep lilac undercolour with cream ticking. Belly to be lemon.
Eyes pink. Ears pink/lilac. Pads pink.
Deep beige undercolour with cream ticking. Belly to be lemon.
Eyes pink. Ears pink/beige. Pads pink.
Deep slate undercolour with cream ticking. Belly to be lemon.
Eyes ruby. Ears slate grey. Pads slate grey.
Deep lilac undercolour with white ticking. Belly to be white.
Eyes pink. Ears pink/lilac. Pads pink.
Deep beige undercolour with white ticking. Belly to be white.
Eyes pink. Ears pink/beige. Pads pink.
Deep slate undercolour with white ticking. Belly to be white.
Eyes ruby. Ears slate grey. Pads slate grey.
Bellies in Solid Argentes to be as for body colour.
The Argente is a pink-eyed ticked cavy in which the ticking covers the whole of the body other than the belly.
In judging Argentes, the emphasis is on quality of ticking, colour, type and condition.
Exhibits should not be unduly penalised for minor faults if they possess these qualities.
Size is very desirable, but not at the expense of cobbyness or quality.
Grooming is essential to producing an even effect on the body and sides of the cavy.
Chest faults are often accompanied by poor colour and, if this is the case, should be severely penalised.
Exhibits should not be penalised for wide belly unless the belly colour is visible when viewed from the side.
Dark or unticked feet, although these are faults, are preferable to light or uneven feet.
In U/5 exhibits a small degree of eye circles or some unevenness on feet should not be unduly penalised, as these faults may clear as the cavy matures.
Wash 2: Designed by Simon Neesam for the British Cavy Council © 2020