Rat shows are some what like dog shows but with more varieties and more
relaxed guidelines that must be met. Rats may not be something that one
would usually think of showing, considering how many non-rat owners still
believe that rats are dirty, plague-carrying vermin. Some of the many
categories for rat shows are pet, English, kitten (baby), breeders group,
brood doe, mot-matched pair (a pair of rats that look the most alike),
Progeny, stud doe, stud buck, and youth. Some of the rat varieties that
may be shown are Standard (STD), Rex, Tailless, Hairless, Satin, and
Dumbo. Dumbos have larger ears, similar to the Disney elephant movie
"Dumbo". Rex are softer with very curly hair. Standard are short-coated
with smooth glossy fur. Tailless completely lack a tail. The rat can be
in almost any color or marking. Hairless should have thin translucent skin
with as little hair as possible while satin should have a lustrous sheen
and a longer appearing coat. Some of the sections and sub sections are
Self (nearly solid colors) with the subsections being Beige, Black, Blue,
Blue-Beige, Champagne, Chocolate, Cocoa, Lilac, Mink, Platinum, Russian
Blue, Russian Dove, Sky Blue, B.E. White, P.E. White. AOC (any other
color) subsections are Agouti, Amber, Blue Agouti, Chinchilla, Cinnamon,
Cinnamon Pearl, Fawn, Lynx, Pearl. AOCP (any other color pattern)
subsections are Blue Point Siamese, Himalayan, Russian Blue Point Siamese,
Seal Point Siamese, Merle. Silvered subsections are Silver Black, Silver
Blue, Silver Chocolate, Silver Fawn, Silver Lilac, Silver Mink. Marked
subsections are English Irish, Irish, Berkshire, Essex, Variegated, Blaze,
Dalmatian, Hooded, Bareback, Capped, Masked. Odd-eyed have any color or
markings but have the distinct odd eye color as in one black eye and one
red eye. First the rats are placed in the appropriate section as mentioned
above. Then the rats are judged on how well they represent that color and
marking combination. There are a few different types of awards ranging
from cash money to ribbons trophies. Most of the time the rats will have
to be quarantined for about 3 months since they will be around so many
other people and rats that could be carrying some sort of virus that could
cause the rats to become sick or die. The American Fancy Rat and Mouse
Association rules as follows:
1. All exhibits must be shown by their owner or other responsible
person, and at that persons own risk. The American Fancy Rat and Mouse
Association will exercise reasonable care to see that all animals are
properly cared for, but the Association shall not be held responsible by
any party for the loss, death or injury of any exhibit.
2. All animals exhibited must be shown in their natural condition. Any
animal whose natural shade or color has been altered, or whose coat has
been plucked or otherwise changed in any manner, will be subject to
disqualification by the judge.
3. When entries are made and the exhibits are not received, the entry
fee/show box fee will not be returned nor will the entry fee/show box fee
be returned if the exhibitor leaves before judging.
4. Any animal entered incorrectly in a class, must be judged as
entered, and will be subject to elimination by the judge.
5. All exhibits are to be taken to and removed from the judging table,
by the owner or other responsible person in such a manner so as to
facilitate an uninterrupted flow of judging.
6. There will be NO discussion of individual exhibits, between any
exhibitor and the judge, prior to or during the judging, unless
specifically invited to do so by that judge. It may be possible to ask
questions after a class is placed-ask the judge. In addition, conversation
between exhibitors at or near the judging table, will be conducted in such
a manner so as not to distract or influence the judge, either by context or
volume. Any exhibitor not complying will be subject to having his or her
animals eliminated from further competition by the judge.
7. All placements made by any judge, are final and are not subject to
change.
8. Exhibitors should conduct themselves at affairs of this Association,
so as to set an example of good sportsmanship and co-operation. Members who
behave in a manner contrary to this rule will have their behavior brought
before the Board for disciplinary action.
9. Any non-AFRMA rat and mouse related literature shall be approved by
the AFRMA Board prior to being distributed at any AFRMA function.
10. The exhibits shall be judged according to the Official Standards of
the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association.
11. The show will be governed by the Official Show Regulations of the
American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association.