Showing Berkshire rat

[Aspen and Misty]

I haev a berkshire rat named Brook. I really would like to show her. Can anyone give me any information on showing rats?

Thanx,
Ash

[luckies4me]

What do you need to know. First you need to kow the standards that are set for every rat and then the standards that are set for the classification of the rat, which would be berkshire and the color, if she is dumbo etc. Most often Berks are shown together in a class. You first need to make sure that she is really a berk and not a banded. Berks have a white tummy that DOES NOT extend up the sides. Banded rats are similar to berkshires and have a very thick hood that stops right before the tummy, with white extending up the sides.

Every rat needs to be bathed before show, have it's nails clipped, be free of mites/lice etc.

Rats are compared NOT to other rats but what a perfect rat would be. The tail should be square at the base and not rounded, eyes need to be not poppy and of equal size, tail should not have any kinks, all toes should be there, nails clipped, no tears in ears, no sneezing. Since you just had a sickness in your colony I would wait to show your rat. Also it is manadatory that all rats entered in shows be quarantined for a minimum of three weeks. This means no new rats for about a month, no taking your rats out of the house, no touching other rats and then touching your without washing your hands etc.

[Aspen and Misty]

I went to a standard page which had both breeds. At frist I thought she was a Banded but without the line and stuff. But the white is no where bu on her tummy and legs and only comes up to about the ebow of her leg. She is really cute. I know she doesn't have Dumbo in her as her ears are the same as my other 3 rats and I doubt they all are dumbo's. The querenten thing will eb easy as I plan on no more new rats and my rats barly ever leave my house expet for a good romp in the yard.For the three weeks does she have to be alone? Or can she be in with my other 3 rats? I have been looking at websites all day on Berkshire and have found many pictures, they all look like her but some are dumbo's so they have the ears.

Ash