By Nanna M. Andersen | Published: 21.03.22 | Edited: 17.02.24
Do you dream of becoming a breeder? Maybe there is a breeder you look up to or idolize, aspiring to be like them or even better. There is a lot to learn before one can become a reputable breeder, but it may not be entirely clear how to reach that point. Whether you start under the mentorship of a reputable breeder or embark on your own, there are many pitfalls and hard lessons to learn along the way Starting with a mentor who can offer you breeding stock is always a good way to go because connections and relationships in this community are the key to success. If you start on your own without connections and quality breeding stock, the startup will be harder, and it might take longer before you can produce quality rats and sell them. This might mean that you either have to cull poorly performing rats or keep a lot of low-quality rats as they cannot be sold to the public as pets, which would be irresponsible and inconsistent with the ethics of a reputable breeder. As an aspiring breeder who has only viewed ratteries and the rat world from the outside, it is possible to have romanticized the idea of what it means to be a reputable breeder to some degree. This might seem from the idea that breeders only experience and deal with of the miracle of life, producing cute and adorable babies, posting beautiful photos, and gaining attention for being the quirky rat breeder. From the outside, this may be the image people see or the idea they have of what it's like being a rat breeder, but the truth is quite different. There are difficult choice and situations that we are forced to deal with. No matter how prepared there will be times when nothing could have prepared you. These might be one of the pitfalls of starting out as a breeder because the average life expectancy of most ratteries are 2-3 years on average. Some make it to +5 years but many mention stopping because of burnout or loss of passion for the hobby in general. Only a very few make it to +10 years and those who do have sure found ways to keep the passion alive. No matter which country you live in, it is incredibly difficult to become a reputable breeder. I emphasize the term "reputable" because any fool with two rats can breed them and sell the offspring—many do. Some may have good intentions, but deciding to bring life into the world is a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly In the end, it is the rats that suffer, and their reputation as a breeder also suffers tremendously. Poorly bred animals are a dime a dozen, and most often they are the direct results of careless people wanting to experience the miracle of life or wanting a "copy" of a beloved rat or any of the hundred other reasons uneducated people breed their rats. It may sound harsh but wanting quality, not quantity, rats in the general population seems like the best way to ensure that everyone can experience who amazing quality rats can be. Aspiring breeders are expected to expand their knowledge before starting to breed. If they cannot wait, it would be considered a red flag for most other reputable breeders. Learning the basics is a significant part of becoming a breeder, and luckily there are plenty of useful websites that can help with that. We are no longer reliant on mentors to learn about breeding, genetics, temperament, health, and behavior. All of this can be learned by reading what's readily available online. However, the connections within the community are still crucial for obtaining quality rats and helping the community grow and evolve. Without these connections, you will not be part of the community and may have a hard time finding the rats, genes, and the help you may need at times. Being part of the community, whether locally or globally, you will find that reputable breeders are a tight-knit group. Many of them are very active in their community and have dedicated many years of their lives to helping shape and grow the community. Our legacy is currently being built, and the dedication we show will help shape the next generation of breeders. Before the internet, there was a bigger divide between countries, and it was common to have unique ethics in each country or region. But now, the internet has given us all access to new and updated studies, and the ethics and breeding standards are slowly becoming more uniform across the globe. There is more that unites us than divides us. All breeding communities are known for being riddled with drama and gossip. The rat community is no different. Dealing with the breeding, raising, and selling of live animals that we are all incredibly passionate about, tempers also run high when we don't see eye to eye. Breeding ethics are one of those things that differ from person to person, and that sometimes causes friction. Most breeders take the high road and simply decide not to work with certain breeders, while others stoop to picking fights or starting drama. Some new breeders find themselves harassed or bullied by other breeders, sometimes due to differences in ethics. The breeders who engage in this behavior are never reputable breeders, no matter what they tell you, no matter how many followers they have or how popular they might seem. Reputable breeders do not harass or bully new breeders. They might offer advice or corrections when new breeders make a mistake, such as writing the wrong genotype or phenotype or sharing misinformation, but they will never go out of their way to publicly demean you. Although it is not uncommon for new breeders to feel attacked when reputable breeders point out their mistakes or offer much-needed advice on rookie mistakes, this is not an attack on their person. If the advice is constructive and factual, there is rarely a need to become defensive. If a new breeder becomes defensive about factual information, it does not mean that they were attacked or harassed. I do remember a conflict with a new breeder that I experienced firsthand serves as a good example of this. They asked about diets for weight gain as one of their does was a little thin. I gave my advice based on the information given—a detailed answer that took into account the rat's age, activity level, food quality, and snacks. Later, another person asked if this was the doe that recently weaned a litter and was pregnant again. This caused the original poster to become defensive and upset, claiming that it had no relevance to the topic at hand and that the comment was meant to cause unnecessary drama. However, the information was relevant. My advice was based on a rat that needed to bulk up, not a breeding rat. A nursing mother needs extra vitamins and minerals, which I had not taken into account the first time around. I calmly explained that it was indeed relevant to the advice I was giving. It is important to try to not get upset when people inquire about relevant data. So, how do you get the best start? Whether you learn best by doing research yourself or by being guided by another breeder, you must be willing to do a lot of reading, repetition, and physical note-taking. Many mistakenly think that choosing a rattery name and registering with a club will give them a good reputation right off the bat. But in truth, a name and registration number prove nothing to other reputable breeders. It might deceive more naive buyers into thinking that you are a reputable breeder, but building rapport with other breeders is just as important as finding buyers in my experience. Here is a list of key points that someone would need to know to become a reputable breeder:
Remember, this list serves as a general guide, and it's essential to delve deeper into each aspect and seek further information and guidance as you progress on your journey to becoming a breeder.
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Februar 2024
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