How can I tell what breed mine are?

[NewPiggyLover]

I have been dutifully reading posts and a number of books and other online resources and I now know quite a bit about guinea pig breeds but that being said I still can't tell exactly what breed(s) my two babies are. I think I get confused looking at the type of hair and the colour of hair. These pictures are a couple of weeks old now (and I can't believe how much they have grown!) Can anyone help me?

 

[Slap Maxwell]

The bottom one looks like a Broken Tri Abby cross. The top one looks like a Broken Tri Sheltie cross.

 

[Myspoiltpiggies]

I'm not good with colours. But I agree with Slap, they are abyssinian and sheltie. The sheltie (tricolour) looks to be white/black/cream and the abyssinian looks like cream/cream agouti maybe.

 

[mom to cujo]

Whatever they are they are certainly beautiful piggies!

 

[~Panda~]

I agree......

 

[NewPiggyLover]

The bottom one looks like a Broken Tri Abby cross. The top one looks like a Broken Tri Sheltie cross.

Thank you! Could you help me out please and explain what exactly is meant by "Broken" and "cross". I take it the broken has to do with the colour and the cross means it isn't a pure-bred. Is that right?

 

[Guinea_Gal]

Just curious, where did you adopt them? They are so cute!

 

[NewPiggyLover]

Just curious, where did you adopt them? They are so cute!

I'm a Kindergarten teacher and shortly after my last classroom piggie died (one of a pair of adoptees from a student, the other of the pair died in a rather tragic accident at school shortly after joining us - not at the hands of the children I can assure you) a parent of a Grade 6 student called the school looking to see if anyone wanted these baby guinea pigs. The secretary knew about our recent loss in Kindergarten and put the woman right in touch with me. I'm not sure why they didn't want these girls - they are so sweet, but I gladly accepted and the next day the Grade 6 student showed up at my door, baby guinea pigs in hand (well, okay a box) having made their first trip to school on the school bus!

 

[Guinea_Gal]

oh, i am SO glad they have you to look after them. I HATE when class animals are in tiny cages in the corner and not taken care of properly. You have them in a C and C cage, right.
I am sure your students are very happy! My sister is in kindergerten and i know that she would LOVE to have piggies in her classroom!
Good for you!

 

[Baby Bears]

The abby (swirly hair) looks almost like an agouti on his head and butt, and yes, is broken, because he's not all agouti, and he's an abby.

The other one is a tri-color, but the colors on the head are kinda "smeared" together, making him broken too. But I LOVE that look! I'd like one like that. I believe he's a sheltie because of his coat length and the way it grows back from his face.
They are ADORABLE! Make sure the kids learn all about respecting the little guys. (or girls). It will be something they remember the rest of their lives and will maybe always have that kind of respect for life - any life!