Show Qualities of a Chinchilla
The main attributes of a chinchilla come down to it's fur. It is this fur which makes them so beautiful on the eye, and so tactile to the touch.
When it comes to judging chinchillas we separate the fur qualities into many aspects, perhaps the most important of which is fur quality. Fur quality is basically a combination of strength, texture and attitude of the individual fur fibres.
Fur Quality
The fur quality or fur type is a description of the actual fur fibres. These are in the NCS Appraisal Sheet as follows
Silky, Strong, Stand-up fur - This is the best fur quality possible and combines a good fur strength, with the silkiness which adds so much to the eye appeal of the chinchilla. The fur must also stand at right angles from the body, being upright.
Strong, Stand-up fur - This is the second grade for fur quality, and although the silkiness is sacrificed, the fur type is still strong and stands at right angles to the body.
Weak Fur, bent at tips - This is the third rating for fur quality, which means the fur has a tendency to lie backwards, along the chinchillas body, or stands upright, but seems to be slightly bent over just before the fur fibre reaches the tip.
Weak Fur with swirls - This is the final, and worst rating for fur quality, and describes fur fibres which lie back along the chinchillas body, and/or form into a pattern of swirls and wheels across the animal's grotzen (fur in the back).
Any chinchilla which is given a grade three or four at an NCS show will not win a ribbon. This is because without fur quality, in other words, fur strength, it is not possible to properly judge and identify the other fur attributes at their best. Show Champions at NCS shows will all have grade 1 fur quality, that is to say silky, strong-stand-up fur.
Guard Hair
When judging chinchillas in the UK, guard hair is not particularly judged for. If guard hair is present, it can aide the fur strength of the overall fur, which is of great benefit. If the guard hairs are not as long as the fur fibres, they will not be seen. If the guard hairs are longer, they will protrude above the tips of the fur, and as long as these don't detract from the overall appearance of the animal, are disregarded by the judge.