ᐉ Guinea pig of the Self breed (English) - photo and description

The Self guinea pig, or, as it is also called, the English guinea pig, is the oldest breed of these rodents; it was bred a century ago. This is where the breeding of pigs began and their distribution around the world as pets. In the homeland of these fluffies, in the UK, the “English Selfies Club” continues to operate to this day. He specializes in breeding these aristocratic pigs. Selfies are very popular all over the world. Inexperienced owners give them particular preference - these pets are unpretentious, sociable, friendly and have many other advantages.

Character and livability of English guinea pigs

Guinea pigs are indifferent to other animals, therefore, they should not be kept with pets that can harm them. They get along well with dwarf rabbits, but female rabbits can be aggressive in fighting for territory. Sometimes, guinea pigs can be friends with dogs, but you should keep in mind that dogs, even very calm ones, can have a hunting instinct. Therefore, it is better not to take risks. Cats tend to chase pigs, considering them their prey. Rats, mice, hamsters and squirrels are dangerous for guinea pigs. Even small birds can attack them, or peck their food.

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Guinea pigs are very peaceful, practically do not bite, and are well suited as pets for families with children. Of course, very young children should not be left alone with animals. But for older children, trained in the rules of behavior with animals, guinea pigs are quite suitable as their first experience of keeping a pet in the house.

This cute, kind animal can become your best friend. Selfies are quite smart and, with enough patience, they can be taught funny tricks that will amuse both your household and your guests.

If you are looking for a peace-loving pet, take a look at our advertisements

External description of English selfies

English guinea pigs are considered one of the most ancient representatives of their genus. They have an elongated body, a short neck and short limbs compared to the length of the body. The head is quite large, with a “Roman” profile and a wide nose. Large, rose-petal-shaped, wide-set ears and bulging eyes. Little English dogs have short and coarse fur. The range of colors is very large, but always monochromatic. The color can be white, black, golden, saffron, brown, beige, red, cream, lilac and buffalo. According to the breed standard, each color of the English Selfie corresponds to a certain eye color, ear color and paw pad color. Selfies develop more slowly than other breeds of domestic guinea pigs and become adults, revealing themselves in all their glory, only by the age of two years.

Selfie colors

Among the English Selfies in England, several more subspecies are distinguished depending on the color of the eyes, the color of the ears and the color of the pads on the paws.

Below are the show standards for the various Selfie colors as adopted by the English Selfie breeding community:

Self Beige. The coat is beige in color, medium richness, the eyes are dark ruby, the ears and pads on the paws are pink or beige;
Self Black. Such a pig should have everything black - eyes, ears, paw pads and fur;
self color buff, buffalo (Self Buff). The color of the buffalo hide is without a hint of lemon or apricot color. Petal-shaped ears drooping downwards, eyes as dark as possible (ruby), ears and pads buff or pink;
Self Chocolate. The coat should have a rich dark brown color. The eyes are dark with a reddish tint, the ears and pads on the paws are dark brown;
Self Dark Eyed Cream. The coat is a delicate cream color, similar to condensed milk, without a yellow or lemon tint. The eyes are dark with a ruby tint, the ears and pads on the paws are pink;
Self Pink Eyed Cream. The coat is a delicate cream shade, without a yellow or lemon tint. The eyes are dark ruby, the ears and paw pads are pink;
golden self with dark eyes (Self Dark Eyed Golden). Bright golden color, without red or yellow tint, dark eyes, possibly with a hint of ruby. Ears and paw pads are golden or pink;
golden self with red eyes (Self Pink Eyed Golden). Bright golden color, no red or yellow tint, dark ruby eyes. Ears and paw pads are golden or pink;
lilac self (Self Lilac). The coat is a muted smoky gray color without beige splashes, the eyes are dark ruby, the ears and pads on the paws are pink or lilac;
red self (Self Red). Rich dark red coat color, eyes, paw pads and ears dark;
saffron self (Self Saffron). The coat is a delicate sandy shade, the eyes are pink, the ears and pads on the paws are pink. Saffron selfies are very similar to buff colored selfies, the only difference being the eye color. Buffs have dark eyes, while saffron selfies have pink eyes!
white self with dark eyes (Self Dark Eyed White). The coat is snow-white, the eyes are dark with a hint of ruby. Ears and paw pads are pink;
white self with red eyes (Self Pink Eyed White). The coat is snow-white, the eyes have a ruby tint. The ears and paw pads are pink.

Classic representatives of the breed are chocolate selfies. They are isolated in a special way, as they perfectly transmit color to their offspring.

Guinea pigs of the Self breed: characteristics and care features

Selfie guinea pigs are the cutest animals with smooth fur; they are often the object of adoration for children and adults. They also have an official name - English selfie. This breed of pigs has a very easy-going character, they love affection, attention, and are also very friendly and easy to care for.

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The advantage for many owners is that they are easy to train, know their name, are not aggressive, do not bite, and communicate well with people.

Character

Rosette pigs are friendly and cheerful people.

They are easily tamed, almost never bite, are calm and affectionate.

These rodents have amazingly fine hearing : they distinguish their owner’s steps even on the stairs and greet him with a cheerful squeak.

In cases where the animal especially trusts a person, in response to affection, it may begin to lick the owner’s fingers.

Abyssinians willingly sit on your hands and make a quiet rumble when stroked.

However, pigs are quite shy : a sudden sound or movement can cause them to panic.

But this does not mean that the pet cannot stand up for itself.

Try cutting a fresh cucumber and keep the pig out! She will immediately begin to energetically jump up and down in the cage and express her extreme indignation with a loud “week-week-week”.

Origin and description of the breed

This breed is one of the oldest. Country of origin: England. Information about the appearance of these animals arose in the 19th century. And many people immediately liked them, so they began to actively breed them. In 1929, a club for lovers of these pigs first appeared and was founded in Britain. Today it exists and is engaged in breeding new species and holding exhibitions.

The very first feature of selfie guinea pigs is their smooth and short hair. It is always monochromatic. They are also distinguished by their energy, good character and good mind. Guinea pigs stand out for their physique. They have a small body, a neat head and a Roman profile. Their eyes are large, lively and intelligent, their ears are large, in the shape of rose petals.

Males of this breed acquire larger sizes than females. Their weight can be 1.8 kg. But the female may not even gain 1 kg. Individuals can reach 30-32 cm in length. This breed grows a little slower than others. And when individuals reach two years old, then they are called adults.

Purchase a guinea pig from a pet store or nursery. The price depends on age, gender and color.

What nuances does this breed have?

Self guinea pigs have well-developed physical characteristics. The animals are very hardy, energetic and love to run. Therefore, for their health and good mood, it is imperative to let them out to frolic. Those who are allowed to go out for a walk are less likely to get any disease. Compared to other breeds, this one has stronger immunity. The main problem of these animals is infections, but they do not appear so often.

If you do not follow all the rules of care, do not carry out prevention and do not take timely measures, you may encounter diseases such as:

cold;
allergy;
convulsions;
heart disease;
tumors;
various inflammatory processes;
eye and ear diseases;
problems with the oral cavity;
skin problems.

As a rule, other more serious diseases do not occur in this breed.

A video about the Self breed can be seen below.

How to feed?

This breed, and all pigs, are recommended a natural diet: a large amount of vegetables and fruits, fresh grass and grain, hay, small branches of trees and shrubs should also be present. The diet should include specialized food, but in small quantities, you need to be careful with it. Because it can cause your pet to become obese.

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Throughout the year, the animal should eat a good and balanced diet. In the summer, you can stock up on the necessary products for the winter and freeze them. It is necessary to dry the twigs and grass so that the diet includes hay. In addition to food, clean water should always be present. Some owners sometimes give their pet tomato juice. They also make compotes from rose hips. This version of the drink is not only tasty, but also healthy.

Notes

Sokolov V. E.
Five-language dictionary of animal names. Mammals. Latin, Russian, English, German, French. / under the general editorship of academician. V. E. Sokolova. - M.: Rus. lang., 1984. - P. 196. - 10,000 copies.
↑ 1 2 Bram A.E.
Animal life. - M.: Olma-Press, 2001. - P. 240. - 1192 p. — 5000 copies. — ISBN 5-224-04422-7.
Altman, 1999, p. 5.
Morales, 1995, p. 3.
Chazan M.
World Prehistory and Archaeology: Pathways through Time. - Allyn & Bacon, 2008. - P. 272. - 544 p. — ISBN 0-205-40621-1.
Morales, 1995, p. 3-4.
The Spirit of Ancient Peru: Treasures from the Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larco Herrera. - Thames & Hudson, 1997. - 216 p. — ISBN 0500018022.
Nowak, Ronald M.
Walker's Mammals of the World. — 6th. - Baltimore, MD : Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999. - P. 1667–1669. — ISBN 0-8018-5789-9.
Juan de San Martin and Antonio de Lebrija.
Report on the conquest of the New Kingdom of Granada and the founding of the city of Bogota (July 1539).. www.kuprienko.info (A. Skromnitsky) (April 4, 2010). Retrieved April 4, 2010. Archived August 24, 2011.
Pedro Cieza de Leon.
Chronicle of Peru. Part Two: The Dominion of the Incas.. www.kuprienko.info (A. Skromnitsky) (January 14, 2009). Retrieved October 5, 2009. Archived February 5, 2012.
Diego Gonzalez Holguin.
Dictionary of the Quechua language (1608).. www.kuprienko.info (A. Skromnitsky). Retrieved October 13, 2009. Archived August 21, 2011.
↑ 123
Inca Sources, 2013.
Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs, Second Edition - Richardson - Wiley Online Library
Science and life. - 2012. - No. 5. - P. 109.

How to maintain?

These little animals are not particularly demanding in terms of living conditions. The main thing is to provide the animals with a large and spacious cage. It should have toys and a house where the pig could hide. For your convenience, it will be better if the tray extends. This will make cleaning much easier and more convenient. The cage should be installed in a dark place so that direct sunlight does not reach it, and there are no heating devices nearby. Also, there should not be the slightest draft in this place.

Selfies just need movement . They should be allowed to run outside the cage once a day. They get pleasure from this, as well as from communicating with you. They also need it to maintain their physical condition. Those who have such a walk do not have any problems with the digestive system, respiratory organs, and heart problems are less likely to occur.

In summer, guinea pigs can also be walked outside. You will need a harness designed for them. Before leaving, their fur should be treated with a parasite repellent. But you should go outside when the weather is nice and dry.

With proper care and proper nutrition, the life expectancy of selfie guinea pigs is 7 to 8 years. But there are cases when pets lived up to 10 years. And if there is no good care, then the animal will not live with you for long.

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Maintenance and care

Small rodents of the Self breed are unpretentious and will be an ideal solution for small children or novice breeders. A house for a guinea pig should be spacious, this is due to the fact that rodents spend most of their time in their home. To keep a small pet at home, you need to purchase a cage that will allow the animal to move freely.

A special condition is that the lower part of the animal house is equipped with a specialized bottom, which allows the use of fillers and daily change of hygienic bedding in the form of hay or sawdust, or shavings can be used. Inside the future house for a small pet, it is important to place a comfortable drinking bowl with a ball and a heavy feeder with grass. The feeder should be heavy so that the animal cannot turn it over or spill the contents.

It is recommended to attach wooden blocks to the cage so that the pig can grind its teeth . Salt and mineral stones, lump chalk and vitamins must be present.

You can set up a cage for a small rodent using all kinds of accessories, such as a house, straw, ropes, a wheel, ladders, toys and other accessories that help entertain the pet inside the cage. It is important to comply with the condition that accessories and toys must be made of high-quality non-toxic materials. Its health depends on the correct placement of the cage with a small pet; drafts and direct sunlight should be avoided.

A spacious home is the key to the animal’s happiness, but it is important not to forget about nutrition: it must be systematic. The rodent's diet is varied: it includes granules, vegetables and many other types of food presented in the pet store.

Unique fur and color

The peculiarity of Self guinea pigs is their short and smooth fur of a uniform and uniform color, which represents a huge palette of colors. The most common of them:

golden;
white (with this coloration usually red eyes, but there are also black ones);
dirty yellow;
black;
brown;
dark brown;
cream;
brick red.

The shade of the coat should be even, without inclusions of any other color and without a bright yellow or peach tint. Also, the fur should not be very bright and definitely without yellowness. The eyes of selfie guinea pigs are usually dark in color, but they can also be red. The ears and pads on the paws have a pinkish or golden tint. The fur of a healthy animal is very thick, smooth and shiny. Its length is approximately 30 cm.

If your pet has waves or rosettes on its fur or inclusions of other colors, this indicates that this is a non-purebred breed.

The fluffiest of fluffies

Rex

Rex is considered one of the newly developed breeds. They should not have rosettes; the hair on the head is usually coarser than on the back and sides. Due to the nature of the Rex guinea pig's coat, they sometimes need to be brushed with a special brush. Interestingly, this is one of the most intelligent breeds that can be trained. They need the company of their relatives more than others.

American Teddy

This breed is also one of the fluffiest and largest. They can be identified by their drooping ears and predominantly coarse coat.

The thickest wool is Alpaca

The Alpaca breed has a very thick, long, curly coat. They were bred back in the 19th century in South America. The main external differences are that there are several rosettes on the muzzle and the back of the body, and the growth of the cover on the legs from bottom to top. Alpacas are very friendly even towards strangers and have a calm character.

Left - Rex, middle - Teddy, right - Alpaca

How to properly care?

These cute animals have almost no negative qualities. Self guinea pigs are very calm, friendly, communicative and treat everyone with love and interest. Therefore, even a small child can play and care with them. And you don’t have to worry that the pig will bite him. Animals will always reciprocate your feelings and are happy to make contact.

There is nothing complicated in the procedure for caring for selfie guinea pigs. But there are basic rules that must be strictly followed to make the animal comfortable. Every day you need to wash the bowl and drinking bowl, add new water and remove old food. If the animal uses a tray for its own purposes, then it can be cleaned once a week or a little more often - as it gets dirty.

This breed is quite clean. And if there is no specific place in the cage to cope with natural needs, then the animals use exclusively one place for this.

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In this case, cleaning should be done every day. Once a month, general cleaning and disinfection of the cage is also necessary.

You should wash your pet as little as possible. You should bathe him if you smell a bad odor from him. When washing, you must use a special shampoo. If this is not available, then it can be replaced with a baby product with a neutral alkaline balance. Others can cause itching and may eventually cause hair loss. When washing your pet, you need to make sure that water does not get into the eyes, ears and nose.

Guinea pigs of the Self breed

Story

Rosette pigs, also called Abyssinian pigs , are one of the oldest breeds.

The ancestors of modern pigs lived in Central and South America, and their domestication began long before our era.

They first appeared in England at the end of the nineteenth century, soon won the sympathy of Europe, and later spread throughout the world as a favorite pet.

There is an opinion that among some nationalities these cute animals played the role of a sacrificial animal and were also eaten.

Appearance and dimensions

The English Selfie is unique primarily in the growth of its coat hairs. Because of it, the pig always looks as if its fur has just been carefully combed and smoothed. The well-groomed, attractive appearance of the animal, inherited from nature, has led to its wide distribution as a pet. The animal’s undemanding nature in terms of care and maintenance also played a significant role in this.

You can recognize a real self by his characteristic appearance. These pigs are quite small in size. The body length is 30-32 cm. The physique of the animals is dense. The head is large with an expressive Roman profile characteristic of this breed. The ears are large and shaped like rose petals. The eyes are wide, round and slightly protruding. In addition to these signs, the characteristic distinctive features of a real English pig include the constant uniformity of coat color.

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In cubs, the growth process is slow. Selfies reach adult size only by the age of two. Females are smaller than males in size. Their weight is within 1 kg, and the weight of a male can reach up to 1.8 kg.

Coat features and color

The English Self is a smooth-haired breed. The fur is shiny, lying tightly to the body. It is characterized by its characteristic smoothness and thickness. The hairs are short, about 3 cm long.

Another main characteristic of the appearance of the English pig, which distinguishes this animal from rodents of other breeds, is the uniform color. The color is distributed evenly throughout the animal’s fur coat. Selfies are not spotted. The color range is very wide and varied. Selfies come in the following colors:

beige;
white;
buffalo;
gold;
brown;
red;
cream;
lilac;
black;
saffron

The color of the animal’s fur coat is even, without impurities and tints - yellowness (apricot and lemon colors) and other bright shades. The vast majority of pigs of this breed have dark eyes, but sometimes there are red-eyed animals. Paw pads and ears are pink or golden.

The presence of curls, cowlicks and other irregularities in the fur, as well as spotting and uneven color are signs of a mixed animal origin. Purebred selfies do not have such external characteristics.

Features of character and behavior

Pigs are calm and friendly. Animals respond in kind to a caring attitude and love and willingly communicate with such a person.

Selfies are distinguished by their peacefulness towards both people and their relatives. Unlike pigs of other breeds, which often cannot get along with their brothers because they perceive them as competitors, selfies are able to live together as a whole pride. Members of the Self family rarely fight among themselves.

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Conditions of detention

These pigs are undemanding when it comes to keeping. At home, selfies are kept in an enclosure (recommended size - 70x90 cm). The tray must be removable; this is necessary for cleaning and disinfecting the pig’s home.

It is better to use sawdust or wood shavings as bedding. The enclosure should have bowls for food and drink. You also need to place mineral stones and hay in the cage. The animal needs to grind down its teeth - to do this, it is advisable to place wooden blocks along the walls of the enclosure. In order for the animal to be physically active, the following must be placed in the cage:

straw;
various toys;
tunnels, labyrinths, etc.

Products placed in the enclosure must be of high quality and non-toxic. The animal's cage should be placed on a flat surface in a dry, warm room. The enclosure should not be exposed to direct sunlight. The body of selfies is not adapted to temperature changes, so there should be no drafts in the room where the cage with the animal is located.

Nuances of feeding

An adult animal is fed twice a day. The diet itself is classic for guinea pigs:

in the morning - fresh food (greens, juicy vegetables and fruits);
in the evening - dry food, grain, hay.

These are mandatory components of a rodent's menu. You need to add salt to your pig's natural diet:

for young animals – 0.5 g;
adult animals – 1 g.

There should be a bowl of clean, fresh water in your pet’s house. In the cold season, when the amount of fresh food in the animal’s diet decreases, it is advisable to add vitamin C to your pet’s drink (recommended proportions are 15 mg of the element per 100 g of water).

Are there any special features of the breed in terms of health and diet?

An adult pig needs to be fed a couple of times a day.
Self is not a capricious animal. In nutrition, you should adhere to generally accepted rules. In the morning they give succulent and green food, in the afternoon - a dry diet. Mandatory additions include hay, grass, vegetables, fruits, and grains. When feeding a young pet natural food, add 0.5 grams of salt to the diet, for adults - 1 gram.

Vegetable food serves as an excellent bait; in summer and autumn it is good to feed the animal with ripe seasonal fruits and vegetables.

There should always be clean, fresh water in the drinking bowl. In winter, it is recommended to add 15 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of water to the water.

Grooming and hygiene rules

Taking care of selfies is easy. You should bathe your pig occasionally - only if it smells bad. Wash the animal with a special shampoo intended for rodents. As a last resort, it is replaced with baby shampoo with a neutral pH balance. It is not recommended to use other pig care products - they contribute to skin itching and hair loss. During water procedures, it is important to ensure that water does not get into the animal’s eyes, nose and ears.

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Selfies are clean animals. Even if there is no tray, they do not relieve themselves anywhere and do not turn the entire enclosure into a toilet. The pig chooses a specific place in the cage for this. If the pet does not have a tray, the filler in the cage is renewed every day or on the second day. If the pig uses a tray, this makes cleaning the cage easier - in this case, the bedding is changed once a week.

Once a month, the enclosure and the objects placed in it are cleaned and disinfected. The water in the drinking bowl and the food in the feeder are renewed every day. The bowls themselves also need to be washed daily.

Conditions for reproduction

These animals are excellent for breeding. But in order to breed purebred English Selfies, a number of conditions must be met. For crossbreeding, a pair of purebred pigs of the same color is formed. Offspring with a coat of a different shade are considered marriage. Cubs with different colored paw pads are also rejected.

Selfie guinea pigs remain pregnant for two months. Young females who have not yet given birth carry their young for a maximum of 72 days. Pigs that already have experience bearing offspring give birth faster - their maximum gestation period is 54 days.

During pregnancy, mumps noticeably increases in weight. The animal spends the nutrients it receives not only on itself, but also on its developing offspring. Therefore, a pregnant pet needs additional feeding. At three weeks, you can feel the babies in the expectant mother’s belly. Typically one brood consists of five newborns.

One of the most striking character traits of English selfies is nepotism. Pigs belonging to the same pride take care of the offspring that appear together, amicably, in peace and harmony with each other. Moreover, the head of the family, the self-father, does not relieve himself of responsibility. All members of the pride take care of newborn babies, everyone who lives side by side in the same cage.

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Conditions for breeding

The female selfie is ready to become a mother when she is fully formed. This happens no earlier than 1.5-2 years. An earlier pregnancy is extremely undesirable for the health of the female and the cubs.

To breed purebred animals, it is necessary to select parents of the same color. The presence of other shades in the coat or non-compliance with the standard color of the paw pads is considered a defect.

As a rule, breeding adult selfies is not difficult. Pregnancy lasts on average two months. Females who will give birth for the first time carry their cubs for 72 days, older females can give birth after 54 days.

While carrying babies, the pig rapidly gains weight. At three weeks, the cubs can already be easily palpated. One litter can have up to 5 babies.

English selfies are good family men. Females take care of their babies very closely. The male also joins in the “general bustle” and takes care of the cubs. All animals that are in a cage will take care of the small members of the family.

What else you need to know about the breed

Already at birth, Self has excellent physical parameters. They are inherent in the animal at the genetic level. The English pig is characterized by endurance and activity. They simply love running and games based on constant movement.

To keep your pet's muscles in good shape, it is recommended to let him go for a walk every day - to run around a lot, etc. Those pets that are not constantly locked up, but are regularly released into the wild, have a strengthened immune system. In addition, active pigs eliminate the likelihood of developing pulmonary diseases and significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.

What else you should know about selfies

Selfies have excellent initial physical characteristics, laid down at the genetic level. These are strong and energetic animals. To keep them in shape, pets are given a walk at least once a day.

Rodents that have the opportunity to walk a lot and lead an active lifestyle have excellent immunity, they are not afraid of colds and cardiovascular diseases.

Natural products are recommended for pigs: sprouted grains, vegetables, fruits, herbs, hay from meadow grass, branches of trees and shrubs, roots.

Granular mixtures are given out in limited quantities; they cause obesity in selfies.

Owner reviews

There are no selfie owners who are disappointed in their purchase. As the owners note, these pigs are ideal pets. Unpretentious, friendly and sociable. They are even suitable for families with small children - selfies get along well with everyone. The only “but” is that these rodents cannot be kept next to aggressive or large pets.

You can buy an English Selfie at a pet store or nursery. The cost of such a pig depends on the age and sex of the animal. The price range starts from two thousand rubles. At this price you can purchase the simplest Selfa pig, which corresponds to the main characteristic features of the breed, but does not have a pedigree. However, the presence or absence of a pedigree is not the main thing when purchasing such a wonderful pet as the English Selfie. This is a reliable friend, an affectionate and calm pet, and just a beautiful, sweet animal.

Sources:

https://rex24.ru/articles/post-161 https://vplate.ru/morskaya-svinka/self/ https://msvinkam.ru/porody/morskaya-svinka-self.html