Tweed

FROM FABRIC TO FANCY: NEW ZEALAND’S NEWEST UNIQUE BREED

The Tweed is New Zealand’s newest fully standardized pedigree success story.  Officially granted full show status by the New Zealand Cavy Judges Association (NZCJA) in 2016, the breed was developed right here in our country by renowned New Zealand cavy judge Christa Krey of Lessentine Cavy Stud.

Because of its relative youth and high genetic specificity, maintaining the purity of this breed requires dedicated preservation breeders.  As the only clubs in New Zealand actively supporting and providing show benches for Tweeds, the Independent Cavy Clubs are entirely dedicated to preserving, protecting, and celebrating this unique Kiwi breed for generations of fanciers to come.

The Heathered Breed Standard

The Tweed is one of the most visually striking and distinct breeds on the show bench, named after the classic, woven woolen fabric it closely resembles.  The defining feature of a Tweed is its heathered coat.  Instead of solid patches of colour, the coat consists of a beautifully even, intermingling of chocolate and white hairs across the entire short, cobby body.  This patterning occurs in both light and dark varieties, and can also manifest in an exceptionally glossy, radiant satin sub-variety featuring hollow hair shafts that amplify the coat's natural sheen.

The Chocolate Mask & Markings

A pedigree Tweed must feature a clean, solid chocolate head patch (the mask) around its nose and mouth.  The lips and nostrils must be completely solid chocolate.  They possess large, bright eyes surrounded by a distinct, clean circle of solid chocolate.  The ears are a solid, deep chocolate colour and shaped like drooping rose petals.  This solid colour extends down to the foot pads, while the heathered Tweed pattern runs cleanly down the top of the feet.

The Secret of the Heathered Coat: Tweed Genetics

The visual beauty of the Tweed is only half the story; what lies beneath the coat is a fascinating genetic puzzle that took years of dedicated breeding to solve.  To find out the interesting story of how the Tweed genes arrived in New Zealand and dive deep into the breed's unique genetic blueprint, explore our comprehensive guide.

★ Explore NZ Tweed Genetics

Tweed Photos

Explore our collection of beautiful Tweed guinea pigs. See their unique coat patterns and distinct colours up close.
Close up of a Tweed CavyA cobby, short-bodied Tweed guinea pig with broad shoulders, a roman nose, and chocolate-coloured rose-petal earsTweed Cavy being judged at an Independent Cavy Club show in New ZealandTwo cute Tweeds being hold by a cavy judge in NZThree Tweed Cavies NZThree shades of the Tweed CavyPedigree Tweed Guinea Pig looks like a WombatClose up of a Pedigree Tweed FaceBeautiful Tweed Guinea PigTweed Cavy at Independent Cavy Club showClose up Face of Tweed Guinea PigCute Baby Tweed Guinea Pig in BasketClose up of Tweed Cavy Face and TummyBaby Tweed Rex Pedigree CavyFrankenstein Mr Bond - Tweed CavyTweed Cavy Litter from Lessentine Cavy Stud in NZ
Show Results Preservation Breeders

Essential Tweed Facts


  • Origins & Status: Officially established in New Zealand where the breed is now celebrating a proud 10-year milestone. The Independent Cavy Clubs are the only organizations in the country that officially recognize and support the rare Tweed breed.

  • Global Naming: In Germany, these beautifully patterned cavies are known as 'Dapples' and achieved full breed standardization earlier in 2010.

  • International Recognition: In the United Kingdom, as of January 2024, the Tweed is officially permitted to be exhibited within the Rare Varieties section under the 'New Emerging Breed' category.  

  • The Satin Variety: Features a high-gloss, shimmering coat caused by light-reflecting hollow hair shafts. This variety has an incredibly bright, radiant sheen and very fine hair compared to standard coats.

  •  Safe Gene Behaviour: The heathered coat pattern is entirely recessive and 100% safe to breed.  Unlike the Roan gene, the Tweed gene carries absolutely no association with lethal or harmful breeding mutations.

  • Coat Variations: The stunning intermingled coat patterning is officially recognized and available in both light and dark varieties.

  • Affectionate Lookalikes: Because of their short, compact, and cobby bodies paired with a deep chocolate facial mask, Tweed cavies are sometimes affectionately said to look like miniature wombats or adorable Ewoks!

Meet The New Tweed

Join Tweed creator and cavy judge Christa Krey from Lessentine Cavy Stud as she compares the standard Tweed coat with the radiant Satin Tweed.

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YouTube Channel Tweed Playlist

Tweed Complete Guides

Delve into our master guides to uncover the origins of the Tweed, navigate the genetic modifiers and study the show standards.
Frankenstein Miss Money Penny Tweed Cavy

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