03/31/2023
As cavy exhibitors we are a part of a uniquely rewarding, fun and supportive hobby. A great deal of what makes our hobby so enjoyable are a set of unwritten rules not set forth by the ACBA. We’ve been hearing a lot of whispered complaints about perceived ethical violations from members of our hobby that are beginning to make our hobby not as enjoyable or fair for all. Therefore, we wanted to take a moment to set out a few unspoken principles we feel make cavy showmanship what it is, a hobby that is NOT primarily about winning at all costs like some of the other animal exhibitor hobbies are. Many of us have chosen to participate in this hobby as a means of teaching our children the value of hard work and fair competitive participation, so not abiding by such behavior and being rewarded for it with show wins really undermines that.
If you have other points you’d like added to the list below, feel free to add them in comments. These are not hard fast rules but we truly believe they are the principles that ensure the longevity of the hobby we love so much. Also, because there are so many new exhibitors who might not be aware of these principles, we feel it important to have a real, frank discussion. In the end, it is always about the animals first, and as Sheri Dixon famously says, “it’s GUINEA PIGS, folks”, so it really should be an enjoyable experience for all and not be a cut throat hobby. That kind of attitude is going to drive away our youth who are the heart of our hobby.
So, without any more preaching, here we go:
1. When showing another breeder’s animals, you always credit the breeder in your wins. This means listing the caviary the cavy was breed in and/or simplify stating ”breed by ____” in all postings or acknowledgment of wins.
2. When showing cavies, ideally they should be bred by you and raised by you. Wins are an acknowledgment of your skills in breeding and animal husbandry. There is some leniency to this with longhair and coated breeds, including also teddies and teddy satins, as they require so much husbandry and grooming skill which stated or not in the standard is a tremendous part of the judging process.
3. The caveat to #2, however, is that it is really not appropriate to allow someone else to groom and put your longhair breed on the show table, since so much of the judging is directed toward presentation.
3. If you are showing another breeder’s animal, it is generally accepted that will not show it until at least 60 days from the date of purchase.
4. If you have an animal bred by a judge, it should never be shown to that judge.