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Old 05-23-2016, 02:45 PM   #11
souffle
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

The judge likes to see some form or enrichment in the carrier / travel cage he is in. This can be something like a cardboard tube or box, a nibble stick or a wooden chew. Bedding should be safe (not fluffy) and absorbent and there must be a source of food and fluid. This can be normal food or a dog biscuit and for fluid a chunk of veg like cucumber or a mouse water bottle.
When I judge pets I like easy access to the hammie so no small tubes or tiny enclosed boxes he can wedge himself in. I personally prefer a safe carrier or a smaller sized plastic tub with ventilation as these are easy to get the hammy out of.
I would say 6 weeks is really rather young for this sort of experience. Part of the judging is on tameness and they can go a little skitty when they move home and if you have only had him a week he may still be settling in. You can decide the day before the show though - that's the beauty of pets
Young stock is 9 -16 weeks so I think he would be too young at 6 weeks to go in main show myself but you could check with the show sec on that as it may vary club to club.
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Old 05-23-2016, 04:23 PM   #12
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

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Originally Posted by chesca_27 View Post
I've never heard of points for environment but I'll give it a go. As it's my first ever show, could someone else confirm the environment points (not that I don't believe you, just never heard it before)? I've certainly got plenty of toys (my dad will never forgive me lol).

Do I have to use woodshavings as substrate or can I use carefresh (travel cage is set up for my hammy's adoption already with carefresh lol)? Where can I buy safe shavings cos I'm concerned about the phenols?

Thanks
As it's pet class there's no hard and fast judging points and judges are free to allocate points how they wish. But it's usually something like out of 10 for tameness, out of 10 for condition (health, coat condition, nails, teeth etc) and 5 points for environment (sensible travel cage/carrier with veg, water etc as Souffle describes above). But it varies widely.

You can show in pet class on any bedding as long as you have no fluffy bedding as above.

You said he might go in pearl class so I assumed he's a Winter White? So 6 weeks old is the limit for the Andover show for young stock. Pet class doesn't have a limit to my knowledge but most people are quite sensible.
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Old 05-23-2016, 11:18 PM   #13
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

Quote:
Originally Posted by souffle View Post
The judge likes to see some form or enrichment in the carrier / travel cage he is in. This can be something like a cardboard tube or box, a nibble stick or a wooden chew. Bedding should be safe (not fluffy) and absorbent and there must be a source of food and fluid. This can be normal food or a dog biscuit and for fluid a chunk of veg like cucumber or a mouse water bottle.
When I judge pets I like easy access to the hammie so no small tubes or tiny enclosed boxes he can wedge himself in. I personally prefer a safe carrier or a smaller sized plastic tub with ventilation as these are easy to get the hammy out of.
I would say 6 weeks is really rather young for this sort of experience. Part of the judging is on tameness and they can go a little skitty when they move home and if you have only had him a week he may still be settling in. You can decide the day before the show though - that's the beauty of pets
Young stock is 9 -16 weeks so I think he would be too young at 6 weeks to go in main show myself but you could check with the show sec on that as it may vary club to club.
For this show in particular, the youngest age for young stock is 6 weeks to 16 weeks I believe.

Would it be better to have this [URL="http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/small-pet/hamster/hamster-homes/pets-at-home-hamster-wire-cage"] or this [URL="http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/pets/aladino--animal-carrier#"] as I have both for a show pen?

The first one has more space and ventilation, but the second on has a much deeper base and better access to the pet.

Will a hamster be marked less points if they are difficult to get out?

Thanks
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Old 05-23-2016, 11:27 PM   #14
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

Personally (but that is me judging at a Northern show) I would prefer the second one - the carrier as long as it is the larger sized one. It will provide a better shelter and more privacy too for a young hamster and you can also use it more easily for travel and vets trips should you need to. I'd get the guinea pig sized one so you have room for some enrichment and to move around a bit as well.
If you use the cage type don't put in the house thing and just have a big heap of tissue bedding.
As I say that is my preference.
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Old 05-23-2016, 11:40 PM   #15
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

Go for the carrier if you can. Its a lot easier to get them out of and many people use those. He'll probably appreciate the more enclosed space and its safer for the car. You can also use it for things like vet visits later on (although hopefully he'd never need to go)
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Old 05-23-2016, 11:52 PM   #16
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

Ok thanks. I already have both of those cages but the carriers are used by my guinea pigs, so I'll wash one out completely for my hamster. Can I just take the substrate out his cage and put it in the carrier to make it familiar?
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Old 05-24-2016, 12:05 AM   #17
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

I would yes
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Old 05-24-2016, 01:31 AM   #18
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

I'd also prefer to judge a hammy in a sensible carrier than a small cage, both from the point of view of getting the hamster out and also from travelling safety. I would echo Souffle's suggestion to not put in a house or large toys - these can fall on a hamster on the journey.
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Old 05-24-2016, 11:09 AM   #19
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

Hi Chesca! Glad you are getting your Tuftyfluff ham soon. You have been given all the right advice about a show above. I thought you might like to hear about it from your point of view! My daughter (adult) and I went to the Andover show last year and it was our first one. We collected our Syrians from Tuftyfluffs at the start of May. By Andover they were 12 weeks old but we had had them 5 weeks. I did not take Mocho as he had not been handled as much as my daughter had handled Jarvis. Sue will be there again this year as a judge I think. You can ask her what she thinks on collection.
I watched the vid on the National Hamster Council on the pet class at a show. Very helpful as it follows a judge and you can hear his comments and scoring. We took Jarvis in a guineapig size carrier. Fitch substrate, bowl of food, cucumber wedge, healthy chew and a bendy bridge with torn up toilet paper for him to settle under.
Andover is a smallish show and the male Syrian pet class had about 12 entries. I watched the judge handle him. He had to be woken up, picked up by a stranger, be examined and stroked! Also a look inside his carrier to assess his care. He behaved beautifully. Calm and no wriggling. He was placed second and proudly has his blue rosette and certificate by his cage. Thus ended his show career! Great experience.
However there is the Real London show in September in Bracknell to aim for if your little one isn't ready.
Not sure if we can go this year sadly.
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Old 05-25-2016, 12:14 AM   #20
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Default Re: Entering a hammy in the Andover Hamster Show

I've never been to shows before (mainly because Willow despises being handled by strangers lol) but I think a suitable-sized carrier (Guinea pig size preferably, the hamster one is teeny) would be a better option. Not only does it allow for more security, access and digging space but it can be used for other things like vet trips and cage cleans. They're more compact as well so easier to store
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