Preparing for pet class

Amethyst_ice · 09-17-2010, 07:13 AM

Hello,

I am going to my first hammy show in November but am only going to enter pet class.

I found a very useful video on the southern hamster club website and thought i would post it-

Judging the pet class

now i thought you only were allowed to put a piece of cucumber in and hes marking for food, toys, chews as well!

Now i am all worried because i was going to take mine in carriers and just put either house/bedding and cucumber!

Also i think i need ot start getting my lot used to being woken up!

if anyone has any experience/tips feel free to share

x

**Tammy22** · 09-17-2010, 07:23 AM

Hiya

i am guessing your first show is going to be Kingswinford:

this was my first show 3 years ago too!! and i think it is a great show for your first

there are usually a lot of members who go to this show as it the midland clubs xmas show, so everyone takes their xmas cards for their friends and there is also usually a tombola too - it is great fun!

Actually, i am literally sat just yards away from the hall now, lol, as my parents new house backs on to the same fields that the community centre backs on to

The pet show is a great place to start off. You only need a carrier with a tiny amount of food, a small piece of veg and a small dog biscuit for your hamster to chew on. It is a good idea to put a bit of bedding it too, so that he can snuggle down and go to sleep, but like you have mentioned this does mean that he will have to be woken up. Most judges will give a hamster two chances as sometimes they do get startled if they are not used to being woke up, but most judges are very good at being considerate to the hamster

Anymore questions just let me know - hope to see you there

Tammy x

internet_nobody · 09-17-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

Hello,

now i thought you only were allowed to put a piece of cucumber in and hes marking for food, toys, chews as well!

It's only the main show where the hamster is only allowed a dog biscuit and a piece of vegetable. The vegetable is for moisture, as a lot of hams will be out of the cage for 12 hours or so travelling to and from the show, and the dog biscuit in case they get peckish (and it isn't easy to pouch!).

Pet class hamsters are allowed in their own cages (though if you own a hamster heaven, please don't bring this as there is limited space in the halls!). The most important things for your hammy if s/he comes in a carrier are suitable substrate, safe bedding, a bit of veg and some food. If a hamster comes in its own cage (or a travel cage) then the pet class judge will normally expect there to be everything you have as standard in a cage (so those with a bit of veg instead of a water bottle may loose half a mark there for "extras").

The pet class is supposed to be a bit of fun for children, or a gentle introduction to showing for adults who are a bit nervous. It's also a great way to start talking to people as it gives you a reason to chat to people. Don't get stressed about it, just enjoy

Amethyst_ice · 09-17-2010, 07:35 AM

Yup that's the one, i have made my bf take annual leave! Im really excited! I have some more boxes that im going to make into carriers like this-

SDC14982.jpg

think im going to have to rethink the top though, it doesnt hold so i used string through holes to tie but wouldnt want to annoy the judge by making them fiddle with string lol

few questions-

do lh have to be on wood based cat litter
do you lose marks for not putting in toys etc
he mentions chews but none of my boys chew! lol

i think ill give them open nests because with houses they would probably get more grouchy, especially indy, hes the tamest of my hams but being an old man he gets grumpy hehe

i didnt realise it was the xmas one, how exciting!! also can you bring cages to sell or do you need to book them in/ be a member?

x

**Hope** · 09-17-2010, 07:39 AM

Nat are you telling porkies?! None of your boys chew??? Need I remind you of the cambridge shelf and a certain fluffy beast!? And they like Markies dont they? Could you not pop one of those in?

Amethyst_ice · 09-17-2010, 07:41 AM

hahaha chew stuff they are meant to chew! dont think the judge would mark highly for a half eaten cambridge shelf lol or some chewed duct tape hehe indy hasnt chewed

its pumpers and bear that are the synthetic munchers lol x

internet_nobody · 09-17-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

do lh have to be on wood based cat litter

No, this is just for the actual show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

do you lose marks for not putting in toys etc

Within reason, for most people judging, more extras = more marks. If the poor ham has no room to move in it's carrier because someone has crammed it with toys this is worse than no toys, but a big, bare carrier will get less "enrichment" marks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst_ice

also can you bring cages to sell or do you need to book them in/ be a member?

You need to be a member, and you need to have booked them in with the sales manager in advance (details on the schedule). You need to have shown at least once to sell hamsters, i'm not sure if this rule is bent for selling items.

Amethyst_ice · 09-17-2010, 07:47 AM

thanks for all that I_N. I have my cages listed on ebay atm but im struggling to sell and need space (to buy better cages hehe).

My carriers arnt huge but are bigger than a "hamster" ferplast carrier. Ill do open nests, scattered food, cucumber, dog bic and some toilet tubes..thats should be ok? my lot sleep in day anyway lol

oooh sooo excited!!!

on a side note, have you tried wood based cat litter as a normal cage substrate? indys hair is gtting finer and the sawdust is getting tangled more easily bless, hes turning into a rasta ham!

nooboo · 09-17-2010, 07:51 AM

all 'pet' judges judge differently, only a few core things are the same.

The pet show is FUN its not serious, its not meant to be, you do not have to be a qualified judge to judge it...

usually marks are given for a few catigories, but this doesnt need to be done, most will give points on condition, as obviously this is important for a healthy pet, how easy they are to handle, some add extras for 'star quality' it all depends!

the video is a great guide to know what many are thinking while they are judging, but remember its not serious, obviously a sick moody hamster wouldnt do well, but any healthy well cared for tame hamster has as good a shot as another.

those judging will take into account what the hamster is in, if someone brought a hamster in a carrier and gave the hamster a bit of veg and a bit of dried food i would find that fine, if they came in a huge cage and only had that i would be less forgiving! similarly i would and have marked down when toys etc are not...well up to standard, wheels obviously too small, fluffy bedding in the cage..remember any public in the area with a pet hamster can enter so you end up seeing a lot of more minor mistakes, but then you can talk to the owner to educate them, which is a great thing! things like that though even though i hate that and will note it down and talk to the owners would only tako a couple of points off...

remember anything in the tub with the hamster if not secure could harm the hamster! loose nest boxes etc could give the hamster a nasty hit while in transport!

as for sales as I_N said, you need to be a member and even then i would contact the sales manager, you need to ask them to know their rules on the matter!

Amethyst_ice · 09-17-2010, 08:00 AM

my lot are well travelled, we all went up to hadrians wall

that took 4 hours and kingswinford is only half an hour so they should be ok.

thanks for all the advice guys, i know its a bit of fun, just want to get into it a little before i get some breeder hams in the future, visit more shows and start competing!!

i think there are going to be lots of people at this one! x