2 weeks today is the annual ferret show at Bawtry RSPCA.

Has anyone ever entered their ferret into a show before? What do i need to do to prepare my boys?

If anyone else is interested in going, i can post details

__________________

Hi well a ferret needs to be friendly, they dont get marks for this but any that bite get disqualified.

They are awarded points on coat condition, nails, eyes, ears, sometimes length of tail comapred to body but this sounds like a fun show so i woudnt worry, just make sure your ferrets ears are clean its amazing how dirty some fererts ears are, dont use a cotton bud but wipe gently round the folds with a baby wipe, clip your ferrets nails slightlty before the quick a WEEK before the show this gives them time to round off again otherwise they will be squared and lose points, any longer than a week before the show and they start growing again.

You may want to brush your ferret but it wont make much difference really, dont bath as it makes them produce more oills and jusdges liek ferrets to smell like ferrets other than this have a good time, wish i was closer

__________________
Tiggy, 13 yr old Collie x Alsation, Lucy 11 yr old epileptic cross breed, Kara, collie x whippet

Hi There

ferrets do get judged on there temper not just for not biting they will loose a point if they wriggle too much so the calmer the ferret the better really. They normally get judged on:

Handlability
Eyes
Ears
Teeth and gums
Nails and paws
Coat and skin
Posture (the way they walk)
Proportions: (how they look ie are they too fat)
colour: how good are they - (each judge is different)
Skull and face (the shape)

each catigory is 10 points so the most a ferret can get is 100 but thats very rare.

I would recomend cutting your ferrets nails a week to ten days but this will really depend on the judge again weather or not they like long nails. You should clean the ears the night before the show and the morning of the show before leaving, you can use cotton balls with warm water on that usually lifts it all out, a little tip if the ferrets live together you could put abit oilve oil in there ears and they will all lick eachothers ears but dont do this on the morning of the show. if you want anymore help then feel free to pm me.

different shows are different and judges look for different things, as its a fun show i woudlnt imagine they would be as strict as say the national shows or qualifier shows.

Colour is judged, for example a polecats mask but these are nothing you can do anything about.

I was steward two weeks ago at a show, they didnt award points on temprement but one that bit was disqualified and one was so wriggly it coudnt be judged but they didnt actually award marks for this.

so long as your ferret is healthy clean in good condition with clean ears and clipped nails i woudnt worry, just go and have a good time and i hope you win

__________________
Tiggy, 13 yr old Collie x Alsation, Lucy 11 yr old epileptic cross breed, Kara, collie x whippet

yeah i did say that but was just trying to outline what they would look for. so they had a better idea.

Thanks for the advice

Neither of my boys are biters but one of them is a bit wriggly

To be honest, i'm going more for the day out. Plus i get to meet other ferret owners and there's going to be a ferret race too
I thought i might as well enter the actual show as a bit of fun, although if my boys do come back with a ribbon, i would be extremely pleased

__________________

Good luck at the show......please let us know how you get on.......we have two ferrets DK is fab if you need any info he has been very helpful to me in the past.....and Betty and Bert are very greatful to uncle DK........

You will have a lovely day out i find it very hard judging there are so many lovely ferrets it takes me ages lol

I only enter the more laid back shows, i think once it gets to the qualifier stages and the more serious shows it loses the fun and becomes more competative not for me.

Its always nice to get a rossette, mine are like wallpaper al over the walls lol it feels like someone else likes your ferrets too.

Ive had a year off this year from shows and PR so cant wait for next year to come a round.

__________________
Tiggy, 13 yr old Collie x Alsation, Lucy 11 yr old epileptic cross breed, Kara, collie x whippet

it is a great day out you'll be happy you went but at some shows they sell baby ferrets too so be warned lol

Yes even though its illegal, mainly the worker type shows i found or these country type shows, i always want to get them all as they have obviously just left mum and i feel so sorry for them lol im a soft touch.

I dont think there will be any for sale at your show as its R.S.P.C.A, i woudlnt imagine them allowing animals to be sold, just as well if your a soft touch like me lol

There are 12 for sale in my local pet shop, one lot had no food and they get fed tinned cat/dog food not a great start to life.

__________________
Tiggy, 13 yr old Collie x Alsation, Lucy 11 yr old epileptic cross breed, Kara, collie x whippet