Preparing Gerbils for Show

by Donna Anastasi,  ABC Gerbils (NH)

Everyone has their own way of getting their gerbil hopefuls ready for the show. This is how we do things here at ABC Gerbils.

 

Checklist for the New England Show 2011

 

NOW:

• Look over all the gerbils and come up with a preliminary list of whom to show. If you are new to this, look at the gerbils in the AGS Standards or ask someone who shows what they think. (For example, send photos of your gerbils to experienced AGS members and ask for opinions.) The list can be larger than the 12 that you will show, because usually you will have to scratch a few gerbils from the show for various reasons.

• Make sure all of these gerbils are AGS registered. Register any gerbils that you will show, may show, or are breeding.

• Start preparing gerbils who are the top show candidates. For example:

• Give the chunky gerbils a wheel and less seeds and nuts.

• Give the ones you want to mature and bulk up more protein (ferret food), seeds, and nuts.

• I pull out my top contenders into pairs (if they are in larger adolescent groups or are pup-sitting in the nursery) to reduce the chances of over-grooming or bickering.

• Feed only the highest-quality food (I feed the mix from Furry Flowers), and feed every day.

• Give a dust bath at least a couple of times a week.

 

ONE MONTH BEFORE THE SHOW:

• Come up with a final list of whom to show, and register these gerbils for the show.

• Put your kennel into quarantine. Look every night at the tank to make sure that there are no mites."

• Get into the habit of taking the gerbils that you will show out a few times a week to go over them like a judge would. Use hand sanitizer first so that they get used to the smell.

• Order medium-sized Kritter Keepers from That Pet Place before they are sold out from all of the other AGS members buying them!

 

ONE WEEK BEFORE THE SHOW:

• Print out all of the show information, including the hotel and show site, the quarantine form, the show schedule, and important phone numbers.

• Bathe gerbils that will be shown in warm water using a fine layer of Head & Shoulders shampoo. Spot-clean with hydrogen peroxide any stains, especially on white bellies. Rinse thoroughly in warm water. Blow dry and then leave in front of a space heater on 80 degrees until completely dry.

• Give a dust bath every day.

• Handle every day for a couple of minutes before feeding.

 

AT THE SHOW:

• Bring their normal food and water from home and give plenty of both before the show.

• Give one last dust bath in their regular housing the morning of the show.

• Get all of the show pens ready to go. Affix the labels (get these from the show secretary) to the pens and add fresh litter (judges prefer Carefresh Ultra). Add a carrot or celery (not apple or cucumber or other “wet” fruit!) and a big handful of food.

• Pop the gerbils into their show pens right before they need to go on the judging table.

• Give them a kiss on the head and tell them to shine.

• Place your gerbils on the appropriate show table. As the show secretary if you have questions.

Good luck!!

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Cleanliness

Most of the show standards are dependent on gerbil genetics, and there is little that you can do about it.  However, one easy way to increase your gerbils’ chances is to make sure that their fur is clean.  As a judge, I often see yellow stains on white, spotted, and light colored gerbils.  To see if your gerbil has this problem, turn him over and look at his underside.  This is where you will most often see staining.

 

In Europe, show exhibitors bathe their gerbils before shows.  Last year one member, with multiple winning gerbils, gave all her show gerbils a bath before the show.  They really did look great!

 

While I have never bathed my gerbils, I do use Nature’s Miracle Pet Wipes on them.  These are safe, and will help to remove stains.  You may want to start working on stubborn, old stains a month in advance.

 

Gerbils should never be exposed to a breeze or draft, and this is especially true when they are wet.  Use chinchilla dust and a warm room or space heater to dry them after a bath or a wipe down.

 

My next recommendation is to bring some chinchilla dust to the show.  The judges have noted, especially at the summer shows, that many gerbils appear to have greasy fur.  It will separate, and not lay smoothly with a good sheen.  This will immediately cost you precious points that could be easily avoided.   If you have never given your gerbils a dust bath, give it a try.  When they are done take a good look at their fur.  Then feel it.  The difference can be quite amazing!  They will have a healthy sheen/shine, and the fur will be at its softest.   An added benefit is that gerbils thoroughly enjoy and good roll in chinchilla dust.

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Temperament

As a judge, and gerbil enthusiast, my next recommendation would be to start working with your gerbils daily.  The importance of this cannot be overstated!  Make sure that they feel comfortable with being inspected.  Temperament accounts for 25% of the show score, and a nip can cut them out of the running.

 

The judges will need to hold them, turn them over to see their belly and open their mouths to see their teeth.  If your gerbil is already people-friendly, start a five-minute-a-day show preparation routine.

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• Lift them out of their housing

• Start by giving them a few gentle strokes to calm them down

• Turn them over and look at their belly and scent gland

• Run your fingers down their tails a few times

• Gently open their mouths and check out their teeth

• With your face close to theirs, check out their eyes, ears and whiskers

• Let them sit on your hand, or walk back and forth on your hands and arms for a minute or two

 

If you have another breeder near you, trade off working with each other’s gerbils. Often a gerbil will be very nice to its owner, but skittish or fearful with a stranger.  A few practice sessions in the weeks preceding the show, with a stranger, can help a lot.

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These are all things that our judges will do while spending time with your gerbil.  If gerbils are nervous they will often put their ears back, and this makes it hard to judge the ears. Each nip will cost them a point or more, and a bite is grounds for immediate disqualification from the show.

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Some people have asked my why temperament accounts for so much of the show score.  This goes to the central question of:  why do we even have gerbil shows?  The primary purpose of shows is to improve the species: to make the colors and patterns more striking, to make gerbils more vigorous and healthy, and to make them better companions for their human families.  No matter how beautiful a gerbil is, it should not be bred if it is not gentle and human friendly.  Temperament is often passed on to pups.

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Conformation

I often read on the list about ‘fat’ gerbils, and it is true that I have had a few roly-polies myself.  However, male gerbils should be substantial and bulk shouldn’t be mistaken as fat.

 

Gerbils are not human, and we cannot compare their ‘perfect’ build to our ideals for a ‘perfect’ man.  A show quality male gerbil (in human society) would never be employed as a fashion model, a basketball player, or a swimmer.  Male gerbils should be football players.  They should look strong, and have muscular shoulders.  You would not believe how many people have told judges that one of their gerbils was ‘just too fat’ to be in the show.  Then, when he entered, he won!  It seems that what we perceive as fat is often ‘male bulk’. 

 

Females should not appear thin or bony.  They would never make it into the pages of Vogue, and Twiggy would be banned from the AGS Show circuit!  (Twiggy was an ultra thin model in the 1960s.) 

 

The show standards state, “Symmetry and general appearance of the body are decidedly solid and firm. Females should be streamlined and athletic in appearance. Males have a larger, heftier body-type…” 

 

 I often hear how owners carefully remove all the sunflower and pumpkin seeds from their gerbils’ food, as they are too fattening.  Remember that they are figured into the protein and fat level on prepackaged foods.  Non-breeding show gerbils should have 12% protein and 7% fat.  If your packaged food is close to that, do not remove the sunflower and pumpkin seeds.  In fact in the month prior to the show, give them extra.  It will “bulk them up” and add a sheen to the coat.  By keeping your gerbil “trim and slim” you may be keeping them out of the winner’s circle.

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On the other hand, don’t let your gerbils get fat.  If the belly is dragging on the ground or spilling over in your hands, you can be pretty sure he is overweight!

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Relax and Enjoy the Show

The last and most important thing to do is relax and enjoy the show!  When it is all over, I hope you will have talked to the judges and other breeders, will have learned more about shows and show gerbils, and will leave with information (and perhaps a few beautiful, sweet new gerbils!) that will make your kennel stronger and better. 

 

At the end of the show, some people will go home with first, second or third place ribbons, one very lucky person will have the Best in Show Rosette, but outward signs of success are not the most important thing gained at the show.  I believe the strong bonds of friendship that are formed will last for years.  They are the adhesives that not only hold the AGS together, but help it to grow.

 

It is here that we meet the people that we have laughed and cried with over the year.  It is at the shows that an intangible cyber pen pal becomes a true friend.