Preparing a pet short haired cavy for a basic cavy pet show (Show quality Rexes, Peruvians etc need to be prepared differently) First of all, you will need to find out when a show is on and book in either by phoning up the secretary or by sending of a entry form. The "Cavies Magazine" has show dates and contact details of the clubs. I personally bath my cavies in a small animal shampoo for cavies and small animals called "Squeaky Clean" and more recently trying the gorgeous guineas range . If you have a male guinea pig it will need its grease spot cleaned, as a dirty greasespot will penilize him. A grease spot is a greasy spot near a boars bottom which is their scent gland (a picture of which is located below!). To clean it I use fairy liquid and a soft toothbrush and I very gently rub in the fairy liquid and then rinse it off. After cavies have been washed they need to be dried with a hair drier or with a towel. Keep you cavy inside so it doesn't get chilled. When they are dried cavies may need their ears cleaned (be careful) and then be brushed with a soft brush. You may also need to cut your cavies claws, but be careful not to cut their quick. For your cavy at the show take hay and some veg and fruit for your cavy to enjoy (although I reccomend carrots for after judging - not before ;)). Use a suitable pet carrier to transport your cavy to the show, I use wooden boxes. Leave home in plenty of time to get to the show allowing for any traffic jams or holdups. When you get to the show, go to the secretary to ask for your paperwork and collect it. It is likely that you will be given a sheet with your cavies pen numbers on it and at cavy shows, their ear labels. Check your cavies over and settle them into their pens. Later on the judging will begin. The cavies will come out in classes, for example Smooth Cavy and be judged by their pen number. For a pet cavy, it must be clean (no stains, clean greasespot), well presented, in a fit condition, nails cut, ears clean and be a friendly and easy to handle cavy. Each judge, off course, will have different preferences of what he or she likes a cavy to be. The winner of each class will go against to find the Best (pet) Cavy in Show. Best of luck!