How do you tell a good (syrian) show hamster?

[Mollz]

Firstly, I didn't know where to put this. It isn't about a specific show so doesn't really fit in the show section - anyway mods: feel free to move it if you want.

This is sort of aimed at Sue (just because she has the most hamsters experience), but everyone else aswell!

How do you tell which hamsters will do well in shows? I have read the "broad, cobby head" etc. descriptions, but does anyone have pictures of hamsters that have done really well, or even got best in show? Also can anyone describe it in common terms? How do you pick a hamster that you believe may have potential? What are the best "dimensions", shapes, sizes and ratios?

Thanks everyone. I wasn't going to ask, but figured that I would never learn if I didn't ask!

[Matty Day]

this is something i am going to need to know about to particularly I am going to have to know what makes a good satin cream as that is what my first Syrian line is going to be as i get more space i might try golden’s or something similar thought i am interested particularly in greys and blondes

With the Chinese I will probably just add a pure normal line or if I can find someone else who is interested try and stabilise the black eyed white mutation and get a line of it.

[souffle]

Have a good read at the standards in the book and know what you should look for. The best way to learn by far is to volunteer to book steward at a show. You can work up to this by firstly doing pen steward. This way you can watch and listen to the judges comments. Explain you want to learn and then they are usually very helpful and will answer your questions and point things out. All judges differ in their preferences but the judge should be judging each hamster against the standard for its type. The one that is closest to the perfect standard will win the most points. You will soon come to recognise what makes a good show hamster.
The key is really to ask, ask, ask.
When choosing from a litter it is good to take advice from a judge or an experienced breeder as to the best prospect but often a hamster can change a lot from 5 weeks to its prime showing time and many people part with hamsters which turn into BIS!

[Holly]

Originally Posted by souffle

When choosing from a litter it is good to take advice from a judge or an experienced breeder as to the best prospect but often a hamster can change a lot from 5 weeks to its prime showing time and many people part with hamsters which turn into BIS!

This is exactly what David Baglin talks about in his book! He says, even though a breeder will likely want to keep the best show prospect/s in a litter, it's not always easy to tell which they are when they are young and it's perfectly possible to find show winners on the sales table!

[souffle]

Exactly. Look at Red. She was a scrawny runty little thing who since no one really took a shine to we kept. She took two BIS and two BOS! She was still just a mch loved pet though and we still miss her cheeky face every day.

[Mollz]

Thanks Souff, I just wish I could get it into my head exactly what it is a hamster is "supposed" to look like!

So Red won BIS a couple of times (congratulations!)? I'll have to look on your website and have a little look at her.

[I_am_plankton]

I think you can only really learn through trial and error. I have a better idea now of what I need to look for in the future, but only through sitting with some judges and asking questions really.

[Bourne Valley Hams]

It comes with experience really. The more shows you go to and the more judges you watch judging the better really. Volunteering to help with pen stewarding is a great way of getting to know what you are looking for.
Don't be afraid to ask any of the experienced exhibitors for advice - we all like to think our opinion is valued!
Most of us are really keen to encourage newer exhibitors and will willingly help with advice and with suitable show babies.
You can't always tell a good show animal at 5 or 6 weeks, some are late bloomers and others will show early promise that will come to nothing, but if you start with good show stock you obviously have more chance of getting it right. However - the offspring of two show winners will not necessarily be a winner and occasionally a fabulous baby will come out of two average hams!
You will often see breeders rehoming hamsters at 6 months old or thereabouts, this may be because they haven't quite made the grade, or because a breeder has run-on several from a litter before deciding which to keep, or they have been used for breeding a litter and the offspring look even better than the parents. One of my first winning hamsters was aquired this way - we got her when she was about 6 months old and had had one litter and she turned out to be a late bloomer and did really well in show when she was a year old.

[Bunsey]

i had Paddy from a breeder who must have thought he wasn't very good standard and then he went really dark and he has won his class 3 times and won BIS once and reserve BIS once!

[Gust0o]

I'm going to Topcliffe to answer this very question

I'll let you know how I get on!