So you have rats that you
wish to show?
Will it be shown in the pet or varieties classes?
To be shown as a
variety, it has to ‘fit’ into one of the classes as defined on the
varieties
schedule. If you are not sure, ask someone or bring the rat along to it’s first
show as a shoulder rat or enter as a pet (if suitable) and ask people what they
think at the show about your rat. There’s always the next show!
When shown as a pet, the
rat is judged on friendliness, tractability, condition and health, but if they
are clean and the judge doesn't get carved up by sharp toenails, it definitely
goes in the rats favour. Pet classes are split into Adult owned, Juvenile owned
and Breeder owned sections and also buck and doe and quite often have extra prizes that vary from show to show, like
prettiest doe, most handsome buck, cleanest rat, etc.
How do you prepare your rat for a show?
Show preparation in some
respects starts as soon as the rat is born – healthy diet, lots of handling,
care and attention. (It actually starts before the rat is born, by selecting the
best parents!) But in reality we are talking about the few days before the show
here!
Entries normally have to
be in (at the latest) 3 days before the show, so just before you phone or e-mail
your entries in, check the rats you are looking to show (this goes for pet and
variety). They should be in the peak of health: - coat looking healthy with no
‘holes’, scabs or scratches, eyes and nose looking clear and clean with no sign
of discharge, chest and breathing should sound clear. If your rat is showing any
signs of ill-health or mites then it should not be shown and is likely to be
disqualified by the judge anyway. Apart from the fact that you can pass these
onto other people’s rats, which will make you unpopular, if your rat is sick, it
will stress it more taking it to a show, so it is not fair on the rat.
Don’t forget to book
hire tanks if you don’t have a show tank of your own to use.
 Once you have submitted
your entries to the show secretary, you can start the real preparation. If
required the rat should be bathed. Bucks in particular get very greasy with
orange muck on their skin across the loins area. To wash a rat, ensure the water
is lukewarm, use rat-friendly shampoo (pet shops stock a couple of varieties
suitable for small animals) and ensure that you wash the shampoo out well before
drying the rat. Make sure that you dry the rat completely after the bath. Dark
rats should be washed a couple of days before the show, to allow their coats to
settle and regain their natural shine. Rex rats should be bathed about a week in
advance, as the rex coat looks better if it has a chance to get some of the
natural grease back. Pale or white rats will need washing either the day before
or even the day of the show so as to be clean for their class.
Rat’s toenails should be
clipped, it is recommended that you clip their toenails before you bath them as
this can save you some scratches! Using nail clippers, trim off the white sharp
part off each nail. (the judge will also appreciate a rat with short, blunt
toenails)
This preparation applies
to both variety and pet classes. Even though the pets are being judged on
friendliness and tractability, if they are healthy, clean and don’t scratch the
judges it will go in their favour.
What happens on the day of the show?
 Do a health check of all
your rats before leaving home. If any have noisy breathing, war-wounds from
fighting, scabs or any other ailment, they should be withdrawn from the show
and
left at home.
Put the rats in whatever
carrier you have to take them to the show. Allow plenty of time to get to the
show and prepare your rats once you are there – there is nothing worse than
having got caught in traffic and having to rush your preparations! Doors
normally open for the shows at least an hour before the judging starts, which
should give you plenty of time.
Ensure you take: -
Show tanks – or hire if
required (one rat per tank for adult rats, kittens can go in unalike
pairs). Pets can be shown in small cages/carriers or plastic fish-tanks as per
the NFRS standard tank on the right. Note
that the Ferplast Geo XL or Ferplast Nettuno XL with a properly fitted sliding
wire lid is accepted as a suitable tank for showing varieties in at NFRS shows
from 2005.
Shavings or alternative pale substrate (or alternatives
allowed for some regional clubs) – the hire tanks are not supplied with substrate so you do
need to bring your own. Substrate should be no more than about a couple of
inches deep in the bottom of the tank. Safebed (plain white soft paper bedding)
is permitted for kittens in addition to the base of shavings/biocatolet.
Water bottles – although not
allowed to be left on the tanks unless the conditions are really hot, your rat
will appreciate water after the showing has finished
Apple, cucumber or carrot (alternatives
allowed at some regional clubs) – you need one chunk of apple, cucumber or carrot for each rat
shown for moisture for them while they are in the show tanks. Judges do not
appreciate seeing the rat 'bedded' on a 'fruit salad'!
Snack or food for the journey home
– particularly if you have travelled a long way to the shows (wet pasta or
sweetcorn is often appreciated)
Other useful items: -
Water spray and cloth (or
babywipes) – to wipe off any marks that have appeared during the journey and to
wash the tail and ears if needed
Toothbrush – last minute
cleaning of tail
Nail clippers – trim any last
minute toenails
Soft cloth and/or brush – for
buffing and shining the coat
  When you arrive at the
show location, collect any hire tanks and your stickers from the show secretary
(you may be asked to pay a deposit for show tanks). Take yourself to somewhere
where you have a bit of space and sort your rats into their tanks with a couple
of inches of substrate in the bottom.
Go through each rat in turn, checking for any
problems and dirty marks. It is still not too late to withdraw if your rat is not
100% fit, although any withdrawals on the day will usually be charged for. (If a
rat is disqualified it will put a penalty point against your name towards having
to have all your rats checked before exhibiting, so it is better to withdraw a
sick or unhappy rat, rather than risk the judge disqualifying them.) Wipe off any dirty patches, smooth the coat with the soft cloth to
help the shine and put the rat in the tank. Cut up the apple, cucumber or carrot and put a
chunk in for each rat.
Put the stickers supplied on the tank in the top right
hand corner
of the opening end of the show tank (if using the tanks with the sliding lid –
for the plastic lidded type tanks permitted by some regional clubs this is the narrow ends of the tanks). When you are
satisfied you have done everything you can, place you rats on the showing table
with the rest of the rats to be shown. You are now free to do whatever! Perhaps
you could look around for anyone who needs help – everyone is new to showing
once in his or her life!
You could consider
offering to help out with the running of the show, particularly if you are an
early bird who is well organised. The kind of jobs available to help out with
are: -
What to do when judging has finished?
 When you are advised by
the steward or show secretary, you may collect your rats from the table. Prepare
your rats for the journey home, moving to carrier if not the show tank, giving
water and food. If you have a hire tank, ensure you put the shavings in the bin
and remove your stickers from the tank. If you don’t, you only make work for
someone else! With most shows, it is insisted that the hall is cleaned before
the presentation will start so please do offer to help clear up. The hall has to
be put back into the state it was in before the rat show, so a hand to clear
tables, sweep the floor will always be appreciated!
Collect any prize cards and rosettes you have won, and then
you are free to go.
What about the future?
Take note of the judges
comments in the club magazine and on critiques, it may help with your breeding plans
or handling/socialisation plans for the pet classes. If you get
the chance at shows, chat to the judge and other experienced rat breeders/owners about
your rats, this feedback will help with your future breeding and showing plans.
There is so much to
learn about our rats, and showing can be a fun way of meeting other rat keepers
and of course getting more rats – kittens are rarely for sale at shows, but many breeders will take reservations
or put you on their waiting list if you fancy some of their
rats!
Article written by Estelle
Go back |
