The Sheltie guinea pig is one of the most unusual breeds of these pets. The long, thick coat of a Sheltie can be both a source of pride for its owners and a constant problem if its health is treated incorrectly or neglected. Therefore, if you know in advance that you will not exhibit your pet at various competitions and shows, then you should accurately determine whether you will find time to constantly comb and wash your guinea pig’s fur.
History of the breed
Sheltie is the oldest breed among pigs bred by breeders. The first animals with the characteristic features of Sheltie were born at the end of the 39s of the last century. Since then, there has been an intensive formation of the breed, which scientists wanted to reward with excellent immunity, unusual appearance and maintain a friendly character. After forty years of selective development, the Sheltie was officially recognized.
American guinea pigs and Peruvians were used in the breeding work. From them the Sheltie received long, soft fur, pleasant to the touch and of a wide variety of colors.
Preparation for exhibitions
Not only immediately before exhibitions, but almost every day, a guinea pig must be bathed, since its fur cannot help but get dirty. Regular human shampoo will also work, which then needs to be washed out along with a separate hair conditioner. After bathing and drying, the wool is sprinkled with dry talcum powder, which makes it even silkier. Long hair can (and should) be wrapped in curlers, however, they will fall off if the length of the hair does not reach 4.5 cm.
Description and distinctive features of Sheltie
“Silk pigs” is how breeders of representatives of the Sheltie breed are often affectionately called. The pile grows towards the tail from the tip of the nose. The rodent's muzzle is open. The fur growing on the back is much longer than the side fur. Therefore, when you look at a Sheltie, you get a strong feeling that she is covered with a fur blanket.
The coat color can be any. The palette is amazing in its diversity. Multicolored and tortoiseshells are common. Rare and expensive colors include agouti, buffalo, slate (sulphur, blue), and roan. An adult pig is 20–30 cm long and weighs from 800 to 1500 grams.
The length of the pile can reach half a meter. It grows quickly, about 3 cm per month. To make it easier to care for the animal, it is trimmed. If you plan to exhibit the animal, there is no need to cut it, otherwise the judge will be disqualified.
Bathing
If dirt on the fur or paws is easily removed, then it is better to clean the pig with wet wipes or a simple wet rag.
Breeders and professionals bathe Shelties. This allows you to restore the shine to your pet's appearance. Especially in cases where the pig is exhibited. If you still cannot do without bathing, then the animal should be accustomed to this procedure from an early age. Then this situation will not become stressful for the Sheltie. You should bathe your pig no more than once a month. You need to purchase special detergents. As a rule, Sheltie shampoo contains conditioner, which makes the subsequent combing process easier. You cannot wash it with regular shampoo - this can cause allergies in your pet. It is convenient to bathe in a sink, although some owners use a basin and a bathtub. The photo with a Sheltie guinea pig demonstrates how the procedure works.
Sheltie character
These animals are a “barometer” of the microclimate in the family. Can't stand sharp sounds and loud voices. He reacts to an incomprehensible situation by running away. However, the animal’s timidity is surprisingly combined with its unique ability to quickly adapt. In a few days the animal will get used to its home and owners. Usually he himself takes the first steps towards communicating with a person.
It is necessary to gradually introduce the pig to other pets. They feel comfortable in their owner’s arms and enjoy stroking and brushing. They don’t hide the fact that they like it when they scratch behind their ears.
The Sheltie guinea pig does not show aggression. She can behave inappropriately only in an extreme situation (she is scared, she is in pain).
In a good mood and to attract attention, the rodent makes pleasant melodic sounds. Having such a pet in your home will definitely never be boring.
The pig doesn't like to be alone. It is justified to keep such animals in same-sex couples.
Pigs are very interesting to watch. But the most amazing thing is that they also watch the person with curiosity.
Royal origins
The Sheltie Guinea Pig is reputed to be one of the oldest breeds that is popular all over the world. The world learned about one of the first generations of Sheltie pigs back in the late forties of the last century. Its ancestors are considered to be rodents from America and Peru, and already in 1978, the family of Sheltie pigs was recognized in many countries of the world not only by professionals, but by amateur breeders. And as a result of many years of selection and crossing of “rodent piglets” from Peru and America, the experimenters received a surprisingly cute little animal, which inherits long fur from its American ancestors, and the luxury and silkiness of its coat from its Peruvian ancestors. Touching her amazingly soft and airy fur, you will feel a surge of warmth and tenderness towards this creature.
Care and maintenance
The average life expectancy of guinea pigs is 5–8 years and depends on care and maintenance. For the animal to feel comfortable, the home must be spacious. Ideally, the cage dimensions will be 60x100.
A homemade cage is made of such a size that the corner allocated for the animal allows. It is not recommended to replace the cage with an aquarium or dune. They are poorly ventilated, which negatively affects the animal’s well-being.
The cage is placed in a place protected from drafts and direct sunlight. Sawdust, preferably from fruit trees, is used as bedding.
Sheltie pig care is special. Every day you need to pay attention to the fur. Comb the animal with a special comb every day. If it is not possible to do this, you need to trim it, otherwise the hair will quickly mat and become dirty.
You have to bathe the animal at least once every 3 weeks. It is important to make the water comfortable for the animal: it should not be cool or too hot. If you scare your pig with hot water even once, bathing will be problematic.
They use special shampoos for long-haired animals, which contain conditioner balm. Don't assume that human shampoo will do. The hair structure is completely different.
You need to dry the animal as quickly as possible using absorbent wipes and a warm hair dryer. A clean, combed Sheltie is placed in a cleaned, vinegar-disinfected cage.
It is prohibited to use household chemicals, especially those containing chlorine, to wash the cage.
Grooming
The Sheltie guinea pig requires careful care and attention. Breeders do not recommend purchasing a pet for children or people without experience in keeping such an animal.
The Sheltie's coat grows throughout its life, so it needs to be cut. The length should be left such that the pet can move comfortably.
The pig should be taught to brush itself from an early age. Then she will behave obediently, and the process itself will be enjoyable. A sign of happiness can be a soft whistling sound made by your pet while brushing. The procedure should be performed at least once a day. If the fur is not taken care of, it will quickly become tangled and it will become difficult for the pig to move. You can simply place the Sheltie on your lap and start brushing. To make your pet appear at the exhibition in all its splendor, the hair can be curled into curlers. Then you can comb the fur once every few days, and then make curls again. In the photo, the Sheltie guinea pig is ready to be shown at the exhibition.
Sheltie guinea pig nutrition
The Sheltie's diet differs from that of ordinary rodents. The fast-growing hair of the animal makes adjustments. Products with a high content of vitamins and minerals are required.
The animal should have plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, which are added to it as it eats. It can be:
- Chinese cabbage;
- lettuce leaves;
- parsley;
- dill;
- carrots (along with tops);
- clover;
- dandelion;
- apples;
- firm green pears;
- bell pepper
You cannot collect herbs for animals along highways, in places where pets are walked, there is dust, or near hazardous industries.
The pig's teeth are constantly growing and she needs to grind them down. The cage should always have fresh, good-smelling hay and branches of fruit trees. You can purchase special mineral stones that pigs will happily chew on. However, you should not get too carried away with them, so as not to upset the phosphorus-calcium balance.
It is more convenient to purchase a mixture of grains ready-made. At least once a week, the pig is offered a tablespoon of low-fat cottage cheese and kefir.
Beet tops and cabbage leaves should be limited due to the risk of bloating. There must be clean drinking water in the drinking bowl.
If you want to treat your Sheltie with something tasty, you can give him dry cookies or crackers with raisins.
Nuts should be present in the rodent's diet in reasonable quantities, as they are fatty foods. Citrus fruits, chocolate, potatoes, radishes, radishes, garlic, and hot peppers should not be given to pigs.
Diet
The owner will have to carefully monitor the diet. It is necessary to feed your Sheltie guinea pig in measured doses, as she has no sense of proportion when it comes to food. If you constantly leave a lot of food in the cage, your pet will become obese.
You can buy ready-made food at the pet store. Pour 1-2 tablespoons into the feeder 2 times a day. Solid food is not enough for your pet. The diet consists of hay and soft food. Hay should always be fresh.
Special mineral stones, solid food and branches of fruit trees are necessary to grind down the teeth that pigs grow throughout their lives.
Pets love to chew fresh plants. Young nettles, alfalfa, strawberries, plantain, clover leaves, dandelion, yarrow, blueberries, and chamomile are ideal. You cannot collect plants along the road and industrial enterprises. A pig can get poisoned by this kind of grass and die. And it is better to protect the animal from indoor flowers. They can be poisonous, which will harm the health of the animal.
The pig should be given 15-20 mg of vitamin C daily. And pregnant and lactating shelties should be given 30-40 mg.
The water should always be fresh and clean. If a pig's diet contains a lot of succulent food, then it may not drink at all for a long time. This is normal for an animal.
Reproduction
If there is a goal of breeding a Sheltie breed, select strong, well-developed animals that do not have any malformations or hereditary diseases. You need to pay attention to character. If they show a tendency towards aggression, it is better not to take such animals for procreation. This means that something went wrong during their removal. The Sheltie is a peace-loving animal.
Before the meeting, the animals are well fed with added vitamins. The female is placed in the cage with the male several times. The pregnant pig is kept in a separate cage. They are setting up a closed house where she will give birth to babies.
Pregnancy lasts 60-70 days. No more than five cubs are born at a time. Since the female feeds them exclusively with her milk for the first 15 days, she needs to be provided with an enhanced diet.
While the babies depend on their mother, they cannot be picked up so that the female does not refuse. After a month, the babies are seated according to gender in different cages.
Lifespan of kings
When purchasing a guinea pig, we want to know “how long can the animal live at home?” The lifespan of rodents depends on the breed and the conditions in which the pigs are kept. On average, the life expectancy of a Sheltie pig, given proper care and nutrition, is about 8 years. Rodent diseases also shorten their lifespan. The main diseases that can affect the lifespan of animals:
- cold;
- diseases of the digestive tract;
- all kinds of parasites;
- infectious diseases.
It should also be remembered that scientists are scientists, and everything depends on the atmosphere, upbringing, human attention and love for the pet.
Choose the right diet for your pet, place the cage in a place suitable for the rodent, brush the pig's fur daily and play with it, and your pet will live a long and happy life.
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Rules for choosing when purchasing and price
The price of a Sheltie pig is considerable, reaching up to 10 thousand rubles. To avoid falling into an outbred hybrid that only vaguely resembles a Sheltie, you should buy the animal only in nurseries and pet stores. The choice is complicated by the fact that Sheltie cubs have short hair that lies tightly to the body. It grows fully by the age of six months. Therefore, when buying a two-month-old baby, it is difficult to understand what kind of fur the pet will have.
You need to pay attention to the general condition of the animal. The coat should be shiny and there should be no discharge from the eyes and nose. If an animal sits in the corner with a ruffled look, this is a bad sign. The animal quickly recovers from stress, even if it is frightened by trying to look at it.
An active, affectionate Sheltie will bring a lot of joy to its owners if they give it enough attention.
