The Teddy Guinea Pig lives up to its name with its curly teddy bear coat. These little animals are valued by enthusiasts as household pets and as show animals.

Teddy Guinea Pigs, like most guinea pigs, make rather docile, quiet pets. They do not require lots of space, although they should have a good amount of exercise each day. Their diets are relatively inexpensive, and Teddy Guinea Pigs can make hardy, easy to care for pets. Because of their relatively short coats, most Teddy Guinea Pigs do not require as much grooming as many longhaired breeds.

Teddy Guinea Pigs have Roman noses. Their flesh is firm and they have broad crowns. Their bodies are medium in size and their shoulders are rather broad. Teddy Guinea Pigs have bright large eyes. The eye and coat coloration are available in a variety of shades approved by a breed society. All Teddy Guinea Pigs have short curly coats that are springy in texture and dense. The hairs are kinked and grow close to the body, usually becoming about three quarters of an inch long. There are C shaped curled patterns over the bellies of Teddy Guinea Pigs, and their whiskers are curly. Two varieties of Teddy Guinea Pig are available. The Plush, or Soft variety, has soft fluffy hairs in its coat. The Wirehaired, or Harsh variety, has wiry hair that is a bit longer and may partially obscure the guinea pig's face.

Like all guinea pigs, the ancestors of Teddy Guinea Pigs live wild in South America, where they have been domesticated for centuries. They were first noticed in 1967 as a form of mutation that was selectively bred. By 1978, the Teddy Guinea Pig had been recognized as an official breed. Today, Teddy Guinea Pigs are adored by many for their teddy bear appearance and sweet personalities that make them good pets and good show animals. There has been some debate, since a paper published in 1991, that centers on whether or not the Guinea Pig should be classified as a rodent. At this time they are still officially classified as rodents and will be treated as such until more information is revealed.

Because Teddy Guinea Pigs are prone to dry skin problems, they should be washed as little as possible. Dry skin can also be combated with dietary regulation. Many breeders recommend feeding a twice weekly supplement of sunflower seeds, wheat germ, calf manna, oats, or sweet feed.

Usually, it is best to begin breeding Teddy Guinea Pigs from animals whose coat qualities are already good. The traits that selective breeding seems to achieve most easily are those of head and body shapes; coat density and texture are more difficult to achieve. Between two and five weeks of age, young Teddy Guinea Pigs begin to develop fluffed out, kinky coats. These usually flatten or become scruffy as the guinea pig continues to age, although if the animal is well bred, the coat will return to its kinky, curly texture when the animal reaches maturity. The scruffy phase occurs in five to 12 week old Teddy Guinea Pigs. Adult, mature coats usually are evident by the time the animal is five to six months old.