PREPARING THE SHOW ANIMAL
Cleanliness. You will want to choose your animals for the show several days in advance so you have time to prepare them to be shown. Attention must be paid to cage cleanliness, and you will want to be sure the cages are kept cleaner than normal during this time. If the animal is in any way dirty, wet, or stained, you can be sure the judge will see it. Also, the type of bedding you use may affect the coat. Pine and cedar are not only toxic, but may cause staining in the coat. There are many non-toxic beddings available that are safer to use.

Feeding before the show can include a small amount of oily seeds such as sunflower, linseed, or budgie mix. These will put a shine on the coat if the animal is already in good condition. Don’t overdo it however, since you don’t want a greasy appearance, just a shine. Be aware that dog food can give some mice a greasy- looking coat, and seed mixes and dog food may cause scabs on some rats, so be careful in what you feed as the basic diet. Lab blocks are the best diet to feed your mice and rats. They are a completely balanced diet, and you normally don’t have to feed anything else with it.

Bathing. You may bathe your rats if they get stained, have an oily coat (males mostly, they sometimes develop a yellow skin and oily coat), or are just plain dirty. Your white and light colored rats will usually need a bath prior to every show, even if you keep the cages super clean all the time. You can use a bluing shampoo made for cats and dogs which will help get them sparkling white. Bathe your rat about a week before the show as this will allow the animal a few days to get some of the natural oils back in the coat. Use a shampoo made for cats or baby shampoo.

When bathing, use the bathroom or kitchen sink, a bucket, or a dishpan. You can either give the rat a bath or a shower depending on which works best for you and your rat. If giving a bath, only put a couple inches of warm water in the sink. Holding the rat with one hand, scoop the water onto the rat with the other. If you give a shower, hold the rat under the running water to get it wet. Use a small amount of shampoo and lather well, remembering to keep the soap and water out of the ears and eyes. To clean the tail, a soft toothbrush works well. If your rat is really dirty or stained, you may need to repeat the shampooing or use a toothbrush in the soapy coat to comb through and get really clean. Rinse well, squeegee off the excess water, and towel dry. You can then let it air dry or use a blow dryer to completely dry it off. If you use the blow dryer, the rat can sit in your lap or if he fusses too much, try placing him or her in a small wire cage or your show box and blow dry through the wires. Don’t forget to wash the rat’s cage and use fresh, clean bedding before placing your rat back in its home!

Show Boxes. Most clubs use show boxes or show cages, but again check with the club putting on the show as to their requirements. This is a good time to prepare your show boxes. Make sure you have enough boxes and that they are CLEAN inside and out. You will want clean bedding in each one making sure to use ENOUGH bedding so that the animal feels comfortable and secure. AFRMA has Sani-chips available at the shows if you need some bedding. A mouse in a bare cage is very frightened, and within a few minutes will appear to be in poor condition as it huddles miserably in a corner of the cage with its eyes squinted and coat standing up against the cold. Not much there for a judge to be impressed with!

Keep an eye out for any illness during this preparation time.

ENTERING AN AFRMA SHOW
You will receive a Show Schedule 2 to 3 weeks prior to the show provided you are a member of the club or have requested to be on the mailing list for the show information. This schedule lists classes, directions, show rules, etc., so be sure to READ the entire show schedule. You can save yourself some questions this way. You should know what class to enter your animal in after reading the standards. As a member, you will receive the Standards, or you may purchase them for a nominal fee. Have the Standards in front of you and LOOK at your animal. (Keep in mind that many of the same colors are named differently in different clubs.) First decide on what color/marking it has. (Example: For a Cinnamon English Irish you will list it as “Cinnamon English Irish”; for a spotted mouse you might list “Black Broken” or “Blue Dutch,” whatever is correct.) If you are not sure on the exact color of your animal, make a note on your entry blank that you need someone to look at your animal the morning of the show; just be sure to list the name/number and all information you do know on your entry ahead of time.

The most important thing in showing is arriving ON TIME.

Some exhibitors fail to read the standard as to type of animal they have and then proceed to enter it in the wrong category, only to have the judge eliminate it. If you read the standard, you shouldn’t make such a mistake. Next, you determine which Section to enter it in under the SECTION heading. This will be determined by the coat pattern of your animal. (Example: a Tan belly on a mouse will be entered in the Tan & Fox Section, a Cinnamon English Irish rat will be a Marked.) Next you will determine its VARIETY. (Example: a Long Haired mouse will be entered as a Long Haired, a Tailless Rex rat will be entered as a Tailless.) OTHER is for listing the miscellaneous classes (i.e. Kitten, Unstandardized, Stud Buck, Most Matched Pair, American Mouse, Youth Show, Progeny classes—Get of Sire and Produce of Dam, Pet classes, or English (at the January show only). BRED BY/STUD NAME is where you list who bred the animal and that person’s Stud Name. For example, if you bought one animal from Karen Robbins, then you would list “Karen Robbins/Karen’s Kritters.” If you bought another animal from someone who may not have a Stud Name, then just list that person’s name. If you bought an animal from a pet shop, then list “Pet Shop.” Or, if you bred it, then list your name and Stud Name (if you have a Stud Name). Remember to always spell out these things, DON’T just list initials for a Stud Name. There are so many Stud Names out there, and some may not be listed with AFRMA, that it may be impossible to give the proper credit to the person who bred an animal that won a class. If you are showing Kittens (rats between 6–9 weeks of age, mice between 5–7 weeks of age—age change 4-25-09), write the birth date on the Entry Blank. Pet classes only need the name of the pet and which class it will be in—“Adult” is for exhibitors age 17 and over, “Youth” is 16 and under. Fill out all the bottom criteria. Don’t forget to have youth pet exhibitors list that they are “Youth.” Make sure you e-mail your entries to the Show Secretary so she gets it before the deadline!

AT AN AFRMA SHOW
The most important thing in showing is arriving ON TIME. Make sure you allow plenty of time to get to the show place before the deadline. Many times you will find that weekends are the time construction is done on the freeways and you may have an extra half- or one-hour delay. If you find you arrive early, go have breakfast or help with setting up the show area! Usually, many exhibitors arrive at the last minute and by the time everyone is checked in and the animals are health checked, that delays getting the show started on time. Don’t grumble to the show secretary or other official about a late-starting show as they are already overworked as it is! Do your part and get to the show 15 to 30 minutes before the deadline in the Show Schedule because it takes time to get checked in. This will make it a much more smoothly running and enjoyable show all around!

Health Checking/Check-in Procedure: When you come in, we will have tables set up at the entrance. The first couple tables will be the Health Checking Stations where you will have your animals checked. Then follow your way down to the Show Secretary table to pick up your paperwork, make any substitutions, get questions answered, pick up show boxes, etc. You may then proceed into the room and find a table to put your animals on. Remember not to handle anyone’s animals without first using a disinfectant on your hands. It would be a good idea if each person has a spray bottle of Parvosol or disinfectant and paper towels and have anyone looking at your animals clean their hands first before handling. Then quarantine your animals when you get home for 2 weeks to 2 months!

Health Checking: ALL animals (show or otherwise) at every AFRMA show must be health checked and approved by an AFRMA representative. If any sick animals are found (any illness or problem that would normally take the animal off the show table, e.g. respiratory, scabs, etc.), we will require that the entire cage be set aside (divided wire cages to be considered as one cage) and none can be shown out of that cage. Colored dots will be used denoting whether the cage passed or didn’t pass. Yellow is OK, blue is NOT OK. If the health checker finds any illness or problem with your animals, make sure they explain what the problem is and how to solve it.

JUDGING TIME
After you get to the show, before your class is called to the judging table, you may groom your animal with a silk cloth or a shaving brush if you like, to remove any stray specks of dust. Animals may not be groomed or touched after the show box is set on the judging table.

When it is time to show your animals, the steward will call the class. You will put the small ID slip for your animal in the clip on the show box, place the animal inside, and bring to the table. Find the judging card with your animal’s name/number on it and place the box in front of it on the rack. If any of your animals are not to be shown, please let the steward know so you aren’t holding up the judging.

While judging is in process DO NOT TALK TO THE JUDGE, nor make any remark in his or her hearing which lets the judge know which animal is yours. Also, keep your conversation down around the judging table as this is distracting to the judge and is considered very bad form at any sort of animal show. The judge will be happy to answer any questions for you after the judging is over. If your animal has been eliminated from competition, after the class you may ask questions before the next class begins.

If for some reason you need to take your animal off the table during the judging because of the condition of the animal or temperament, ask the clerk. You will forfeit any awards that animal would have won, but sometimes it may be necessary for the safety and well-being of the animal and judge to do this. The judge may also request that the animal be removed for these same reasons.

If your animal has won first place in its class and is still in competition for Best in Show, you must not indicate which animal is yours, nor take it off the table unless the judge has asked that it be removed because of lunch. All animals that are ready to be removed from the table are either placed in another spot or the clerk will indicate that it is time to take the animals back.

AT AN AFRMA PET SHOW
These shows are run the same as a regular show except the classes are all fun classes and the entries may be made ahead of time or on the day of the show (see the current show schedule). You may enter your pet rat or mouse in several classes (such as Pet Rat, Most Affectionate, Costume, and Most Unusual Markings or Pet Mouse, Cutest Mouse, Friendliest Mouse, and Best Trick Mouse), thereby having a better chance at a ribbon or trophy. At the pet shows, there are awards for each class in both the adult and youth divisions. We may also have extra fun classes for the talented fanciers who like to take photos, draw or paint, make mouse or rat 3-D art, or decorate a cage for the Kooky Kontainer contest!

For more information on showing rats and mice or to receive a Show Schedule of an AFRMA show, contact AFRMA, 9230 64th Street, Riverside, CA 92509-5924.