* Breeding Goals & Pet Tips *
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This is (or should be) the first goal of all pet breeders. Personality is also a very important ongoing concern. If you wish to continue your breeding efforts over any period of time, select only the best personality and calm demeanor for your foundation stock.
Selection for health and size:
While these could be two separate catagories, they are somewhat dependent and complimentary to each other. Look for breeders that have better size, but do not sacrifice form. Health in the animals is important not just stated an individual has not been sick, but also has a robust nature and general vigor. Weight is another method to gauge growth and monitor health. Never bred any animal that has shown signs of wet tail. Even after the disease is seemingly cured, the animal is pet only! Mental health can not be ignored, so remember the personality selection must be maintained.
Breeding to standards:
* BHA * CHA * MHC * AFMRA * AGS * NGS * Each group has set standards for the various divisions and species. You must set your personal goals and decide how those fit into the groups goals and standards.
I understand that many of us live in areas that we will never get to attend a hamster/rodent show. However, this does not exclude anyone from setting goals and following good breeding practice while breeding any pet animal.
Your personal goals maybe much less ambitious then those of a show breeder. You may want to develope a very deep dark black with very little or no white on the chin, paws and belly. Or is a nice even banded something that appeals to you? Maybe a plush, thick, long coat with a uniform length more to your liking. Whatever goals you set, be stearn when culling, and re-evaluate on a regular time table... be ready to adjust and re-define these goals. Show standards may help you do just this.
Never wake a sleeping hamsters by trying to pick it up! Here, a bite is not the hammies fault.
Find several shops that have hamsters, if possible. Visit each as often as possible before you condisider buying a pet. A good pet hamster will not throw itself onto it's back and scream when a hand is presented. Biting is not acceptable. "talking" is not biting. Select for young a hamster. 6-8 weeks is a good age to select a baby hamster.
Hamster at the ideal age may still be a bit more reactive and will benifit from being left alone for upto 3 weeks, other then daily feeding and interaction. Let the ham come to you at first. Do not confuse an active, nervous younster with a hammie that is ill mannered. While most nasty (Syrian) hamsters can be tamed well enough to be handled, the calmer hamsters are much nicer to have around and I feel the well mannered animals live longer. Food motivation is great with hamsters. The large striped sunflower seeds are like candy to your hams. The tame, well bred hamster will not bite the hand that feeds it! But, be aware that your fingers coming down on a small furry body can look like a talon or claw. Getting all your info on hamster care from the person at the pet shops is not always the best source. A group on the net and reliable published information should also be examined when every possible.
More taming tips
Russian Dwarf Hamsters
