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Is this realistic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Threepigs
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Threepigs

A breeder we hope to buy a baby off has said that if we have an alpaca or texel baby from her and trim once every two months, we will only need to groom once a week. I thought I had read you had to groom much more than that. How little grooming could we get away with?

Thank you
 
It depends how long you want to keep her coat as to how often you'd trim or cut their hair. I personally wouldn't be happy to groom either of my longhaired pigs (Shelties) just once per week as they knot easily. If you keep the hair around the back end very short, this helps to avoid knots. I have found the back end is the place that gets most matted, as longer hair gets damp.
 
Thanks. I imagine a sheltie would be easier to keep untangled than an alpaca or texel, so that doesn't sound good for us!
 
Perhaps you might try a local rescue - they can advise on all aspects of grooming etc and may have a little piggy in need too. There are very many pigs looking for homes, all ages, all colours, all coat types.

:)
 
I don't think Shelties are any easier to care for than the rougher longhaired breeds. I also have two Texel/Rex crosses and although their coats grow very slowly, they don't seem to get as knotted. I do think it's definately easier if they're trimmed quite short.
 
I do my sheltie x pigs a couple of times a week, more if needed
 
Hi Threepigs.
I own long-haired piggies and have done so over a number of years.

Yes, they do need extra care ... especially keeping the hair cut nicely around their rear ends to stop them getting matted and soiled.

I had an Alpaca called Fizz who is no longer with us :( and I have to say that she was very easy to keep groomed. She had long, curly hair but I found it easier than my Shelties or Coronets as when I cut her hair, it just sprung back into place without too much shaping.
 
It really depends on how you want your pigs to look.
The breeder may keep his/her breeding animals trimmed very short (and only keep two or three show pigs with any length of coat). If so, yes, a weekly check for tangles is absolutely fine.

But the whole point of you getting a Texel or Alpaca is that you want a longhaired pig! If the coat is trimmed so that the pig can keep himself clean (very short around the hind legs/privates and “Dougal Dog†length around the rest of the body so the hair doesn’t trail on the ground) you will need to brush/comb him at least 3-4 times a week and check for knots. It only takes a few minutes!

Two things to bear in mind.
If these are good quality Texels/Alpacas from a serious breeder (and not just a backyard breeder churning them out because they can sell them for higher prices than short haired pigs) their coats will grow at approx. one inch per month. Therefore, logically, in two months the pig will have grown 2 inches more coat and that is definitely long enough to get very tangled. Realistically a monthly clip is what is needed. Again, it really doesn’t take long; I find it very much easier and get a neater result by trimming my longhaired pigs after a bath.
Secondly, a neatly trimmed ‘Dougal’ style pig can look really cute …BUT… it is up to the pig’s friends (and not you) whether or not he stays that way. Some pigs just take great delight in chewing their friend’s coats off…so you could have a longhaired and never really know about it!
 
Thank Juniper. Is it hard to trim around the 'trouser' area though? Don't they hate it?
 
It depends on the nature of the pig really. All but one of my Shelties are fine with being trimmed. I also don't really notice if one of the other guinea pigs chews on their fur.
 
Just wanted to add what someone already mentioned earlier... rescue rescue rescue... lots of different types of piggies needing homes. Hope you find a lovely little longhaired piggie xx
 
Threepigs said:
Is it hard to trim around the 'trouser' area though? Don't they hate it?
Click to expand...

Some hate it, some just put up with it, but in my experience hardly any piggies like it! rolleyes

But they do get used to having it done. Sometimes they kick up such a fuss that they are exhausted when it is finished and they go for a lie-down. :{:))
 
Yes Grommit, I saw the other notice, thank you. The same applies though, even if it is a resue gp, I don't want to take on one I won't have time to look after/groom.
 
Actually Grommit, do you think there might actually be more long haired gps in rescue because people underestimate how long they take to look after?
 
Strangely enough I rarely get in long hairs and the rescues I have contacts with have the same experience. I would imagine that there are just alot less longhairs generally within the pig population.
 
There seem to be more and more long-haired pigs in rescue recently - I think people do underestimate the care they need. My original rescue pigs were 3 texel girls, I've now got lots of long-haired pigs including Peruvians and Shelties and I've also seen what happens to them when sadly their owners can't deal with the grooming required :-(

I find my Shelties need less grooming than the 'fuzzy' Texels with their curls and the Perus with their mops - but I do keep mine trimmed especially round the back legs and bottom - not all of them really like being trimmed but it's ok once you get the hang of it!

Good luck whatever you decide

Sophie
x
 
sophiew said:
There seem to be more and more long-haired pigs in rescue recently
Click to expand...

D'you want to know why?
It's because imbeciles like this churn them out. How many do you want to order ....it's obviously cheaper if you order 20+ ... Texels...whatever you want.

http://www.simonsrodents.co.uk/pet_rodents.php

What's more, they will take them back on a 'sale or return' option. Great.

These sorts of places p*** me off big time. They are based in Cambridge but I know for a fact that they supply pet shops (big and small) in Lancashire...suppose if you can shove 20 texels in a box it must be worth transporting a few boxes.

Edited to add…..have you seen what they call a “trio”? (Presumably a ‘breeding trio’)
TWO boars and ONE sow…..half-wits.
 
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Juniper~ I will *never* understand how anyone can deem an animal "too big to sell." I wish pet shops would stop buying in stock so those kind of farms are never profitable ever again.

As for the orginal topic, I have no idea, but everyone elses advice seems quite wise regarding long haired piggies.
 
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