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From the pedigree to the novelty – why these guinea pig lovers put their pets on show in central Queensland

Master Snow enters the fancy dress category at a recent guinea pig show. (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Kimberley Meddings frequently spends hours painstakingly grooming her prized pedigree guinea pigs: bathing, clipping nails and ensuring a single hair isn't out of place.

She's driven more than 800 kilometres from Brisbane to Rockhampton, in central Queensland, with half a dozen of the beloved critters to show them at the Capricornia Cavy Club's show.

Cavy is the scientific name for a guinea pig.

"It's not just breeding a guinea pig, it's colour, density … even the shape of their ears and the colour of their eyes," Ms Meddings said.

"It's getting the judge's opinion of – do you need to focus on darkening their colour … getting your ticking shorter.

"There's so much involved."

Kimberley Meddings has more than 50 guinea pigs of different breeds. (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Ms Meddings is among many passionate breeders of guinea pigs in Australia who enter competitions in a bid to improve and preserve the different breeds.

From breeders to judges and the everyday pet owner – there is one common theme among these guinea pig shows, and that's the love the participants have for the animals.

Ms Meddings named her long-haired alpaca guinea pig Jar Jar Binks. (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Dress up competitions

Rockhampton resident Laura Galley used to go to guinea pig shows when she was a child, and it was a post on social media that drew her back in as an adult.

Laura Galley says her guinea pigs love cuddling on the couch and eating carrots.  (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Her guinea pig Master Snow was recently entered into the pet fancy dress competition as a wizard.

"It is absolutely geeky … and I've become the mad guinea pig lady," Ms Galley said.

"Each one is an individual. They all have their own little quirks and idiosyncrasies, and they all have their own little habits and their favourite foods.

"They're gorgeous creatures."

Ms Galley said she adored the sense of community and camaraderie that the shows have, with attendees all bonding over their love of the animals.

Tahnae Grace Butler, aged three, won the junior handler under-10 prize, as well as best groomed pet. (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

How do you judge a guinea pig?

Noosa resident Melanie Barnes is the secretary of the Queensland Cavy Council and also treasurer of the Australian National Cavy Council.

She spent 45 years of her life dedicated to guinea pigs, and has been a qualified judge for 17 years, travelling across Australia and New Zealand to assess their quality.

Passionate breeders show off their pedigree guinea pigs.  (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

She said they were judged on their colouring, the texture of their coat, whether there was any coat damage, as well as the condition of the animal, with points deducted for any health issues.

"We also look at the shape of the guinea pig, if it's got a lovely shape and a rounded face, nice big round eyes," Ms Barnes said.

Jan Louttit shows one of the guinea pigs from her stud line. (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Preserving rare breeds

Ms Barnes said pedigree competitions were important to ensure certain rare breeds don't become extinct in Australia.

The Federal Department of Agriculture has banned pet guinea pigs from being imported as they can carry pests or diseases.

Judge Jen Ballin travelled from Norfolk Island to Rockhampton to judge the animals.  (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Ms Barnes said the last guinea pigs were imported into Australia in the 1990s.

"The breeds that we do have here we want to preserve so future generations can enjoy the beautiful, different breeds that we have," Ms Barnes said.

"Things like the Dalmation … they will lose all their characteristics and the gene can't be recreated.

"Some people think, 'Oh the grandfather was one, then another [Dalmation] could pop out.

"It doesn't stay in the bloodline. That's not the case with these kinds of genes."

Ms Barnes said the average pedigree guinea pig could set you back about $50, but enthusiastic breeders could spend up to $200 on a quality animal.

Crested guinea pigs have an unusual tuft of hair on their forehead. (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Animal welfare

Ms Barnes said while the pedigree competition was strict, the pet competition was all about encouraging people to attend club events to promote best practice care.

Children and adults enter their beloved pets in the dress up competition.  (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Pet guinea pigs can be judged on their condition, as well as how easily they can be handled.

"There's a lot of misinformation out there on how you should care for a guinea pig and a lot of guinea pigs do perish quite easily," Ms Barnes said.

"Animal welfare is a big thing for all the clubs."

Owners go to a lot of effort to prepare their animals for competition.  (ABC Capricornia: Jasmine Hines)

Like many others, Ms Meddings is using the judge's feedback at the recent Rockhampton show to help her prepare for the national competition, which will be held in Dubbo in August.

"It was just a lot of fun, you don't always have to go for the big trophies," she said.

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