What is a teddy bear guinea pig?

A teddy bear guinea pig is a small domesticated animal of the guinea pig species, with a short coat of fluffy, kinked hairs. They are distinct from Rex guinea pigs in that the teddy bear hair texture does not affect the whiskers or belly fur.

Teddy bear guinea pigs have been considered a distinct breed since 1978. They are short bodied with wide, curved noses. There are several different variations in coat. Satin teddy bear guinea pigs have shinier coats than others of the breed. The more usual coat type can be either soft or rough. The rough coat is never as coarse as the fur found on Rex types, another distinction between the two curly furred types of guinea pig.