My story (Debs)
After my parents separated I went away to a boarding school just before my 9th birthday. There they had a pets corner and  I got my first guinea pig, an Abyssinian black brindle boar that I named David. Within a term I had added Cassidy a pet boar. I am sure my generation will have worked out who my idol was at the time! David and Cassidy got on really well together.
David and I had a wonderful bond. At school I would place him on the front lawn and he would follow me around wheeking. On a couple of occasions other school girls guinea pigs followed David in a line, like a conga dance, as I would weave about so did they. I felt like the Pied Piper!
I lost David a couple of years later during the Summer holidays when he escaped in to a huge wheat field next to our garden.
I was so upset that after some time my dad took me to a local pet shop and we brought home Sandy a gold and white Abyssinian cross.
After a month or more my Granddad, who lived next door, called me in to the garden. There amongst the cabbages was an upside down orange bucket. Granddad called me over to the bucket and said there was something under it...
David and he was so fat! 
My granddad had seen the wheat rustling every day. However after trying a couple of times to catch David, he just waited for the right opportunity! Luckily we got him back just two days before the field was harvested.
As a 10 year old girl I tried putting David and Cassidy back together, unaware that they would fight now a female was within range of their noses. I still bear the scar on my finger to this day where I put my hand between them to break up the fight! Lesson learnt!
A year later I got another gorgeous little sow called Rusty.. a red brindle with lots of beautiful rosettes.
My dad made a few more cages!
Along with my rabbits, that came in my mid teens, I bred the same line of guinea pigs until 1986 when the majority got slaughtered by some 'travellers' and their dogs :-(
I had many other types of guinea pigs from the mid 70's to 1986 including; Peruvian, Sheltie, Coronet, American Gold Crested, Satins in a few colours but mostly in agouti.
When young my daughter had a few Rex guinea pigs and my son Peruvians.
When I was at a National rabbit show back in the early 80's I fell in love with the lilac/blue tan colour (not wanting the breed though) then at another show saw an acquaintance with some lilac tan mice.. I was smitten.
I am happy that I have now similar colours in my teddy's, where I am producing lilac/slate/black/chocolate with gold and white.
​Although as with the rabbits coat and type take precedence.

 Crescent Cavies in the making

Where it started

The cavies I purchased from various breeders have qualities that could be used to assist in the development of my own line and hopefully amalgamate the good points without too many of the bad points! 
Previously with the rabbits I found that a few years of hard work and a good understanding of what you are working towards is the best recipe for a successful line. 
Although colour has virtually no importance in showing cavies, it is nice to be able to work with colours you enjoy. 
​These photos need updating as I am now on the third and fourth generations.

The Silver's

It is kind of frustrating to love so many different colours/patterns!
I love Silver and Lemon Agouti's. Fortunately they work well together. The silver boar went to this Lemon Agouti and produced these two lovely sows (one is silver and the other is a bi-silver and white)
The Lemon Agouti has a sister who just would not mate with the silver so she is now visiting a black and white boar, fingers crossed she likes him!

Outcrosses in black & gold

All three (now adults) have nice coats and compliment each other.
Two babies both went to help another exhibitor in the making and the gold baby had a super coat (I should have kept her!)

The Tri's

I have several different colour projects. 
The tri colours are mostly gold, slate, white. Occasionally gold, black & white and sometimes a combination of gold / chocolate / cream & white. 
​For now type and coat are paramount. Ears and eyes on some may need some work but I have definitely seen improvements in coat and type.
A couple of photos snapped when a few days old, a few weeks old then 8 weeks old finally a few months older in with some adult sows in the run that they live with.

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The Argente's

Mr Fox is a Bi - Golden/Lilac Argente (Deep lilac undercolour with golden ticking. Belly golden)
He has produced a cracking son (photo to follow) when bred with my Bi- agouti sow (deceased)
From another pairing I got a Lemon/Lilac Argente sow. (Deep lilac undercolour with lemon ticking. Belly lemon)
When the lemon argente sow is old/large enough I will put her to Mr Fox's son.

The Teddy breed standard

Head, Eyes & Ears
  Head to be short and broad, with a gently curving profile.                                                             20 Points
  Muzzle to be of good width and rounded at the nostrils.  
  Eyes to be large, bright and bold and set with good width between.  
  Ears to be large and drooping, with lower rim parallel to the ground & set with good width between.  
Body Shape
  To have short, cobby body; thick-set, with good width across shoulders.                                   15 Points
  To be fit and of good substance, with plenty of firm flesh covering shoulders.  
  To have good size appropriate to age.  
 Coat Appearance
  To have a short, raised coat of even length, with a definite lie from the rump towards the head. 
  There should be a visible fringe (‘cap’) due to the forward orientation of the coat.                      30 Points
  To appear dense and even all over the body, with no areas of flatness.  
  Guard hairs to be removed. Coat on the belly to be well-covered.  
  Coat length to be no more than 1.2 cm (0.5 inches) in length, with a shorter length preferable.  
Coat Feel                                                                                                                                                    35 Points  
  (of which) Density - To have thick, dense coat all over the body.      (15)
  Bounciness - To have a bouncy feel when brushed with the hand.   (10)
  Texture -  To be plush but slightly harsh to the touch.                          (10)
  To be clean and free from grease.  
                                                                                                                                                            TOTAL POINTS 100