Showing

So you wanna show? Or maybe you're just looking here to see what it's all about? Mostly fun, with competition mixed in. All breeds are different, and each has their own unique characteristics.

1) Buy a purebred show-quality piggy or determine what breed and variety yours is, and whether it's a 'mutt' or looks like a recognizable breed. You can go to the 'breeds' section of this website to see pictures of the ACBA recognized breeds look like, and also what varieties there are.

2) Find out where the nearest upcoming show is. You can go to the American Cavy Breeder's Association website and look there under 'upcoming shows'.

3) Tag your cavy. A tag is like an earring that goes in your piggy's left ear for identification purposes. Some breeders may do this, you may have to find someone who will do them for you, or you can learn how to do it on your own (but it's a good idea for an experienced person to show you how first!!!). Without an ear tag, cavies cannot be shown in the U.S. Look at the top of this page and click on 'tagging' to see step-by-step instructions.

When you've found a show you would like to go to, contact the secretary to get an entry form. For most shows the entry fee for each pig per show is around $3. Make sure you fill out the entry form completely and send with the entry fees by the deadline. Most entry forms look like this

Other general information will be asked for. Your name, address, phone #, email, etc., so that they can send your points report to you. Most show secretaries prefer that you send a check with your entry.

Before the show, make sure to bathe your cavy several days before the show or not at all, depending on the breed. You can go to my Grooming page to see how to groom your breed.

If you only have one breed, or one pig, you will wait and wait and wait and wait until they finally call your exact breed, variety, sex and class up (example: American White Senior Sows). Then you take it to the showing table, look at the cards on the other side, and find the one that belongs to your cavy. Put the piggy in that spot and step back.

- The judge should not be able to tell which pig is yours. Do Not stand right in front of their cage, talk to them, put your fingers through the bars, or tell everyone which pig is yours. This is considered rude. If you think your cavy is becoming stressed, however, you may take it out and care for it, but you will probably be scratched (disqualified) if you don't get it back in it's coop in time. Youth shows are easier on these points, but it can be a little annoying for everyone around when the owners are all playing with their piggies or talking to them as the judge is trying to look at them.

The judge will come down the line of pigs, taking them out and giving each one a quick look-over. This is the point when they're looking for any immediately noticeable disqualifications, which will make placing the rest of the animals a lot easier for them. All the pigs who have their comment cards stuck back through the front of their cages are ones who have been dismissed. When your cavy has it's paper put back through the cage, then you can take it back. The paper is for you to keep. On it it has comments, what the judge thought of your pig.

Here's a Group of American Silver Agouti boars. Their group is still waiting for a few more to get to the table (that's why the tops are still up) before they are judged.

A group of American TSW Senior sows and boars, ready to be judged.

All Senior longhaired breeds must be shown on wooden 'show boards' covered in plain burlap. Here you can see four breeds, from closest to furthest - Peruvian, Texel, Coronet and Silkie.

A judge bringing out an Abyssinian to judge.