Not Red Flags
_There are some "flags", or characteristics and behaviors, that some people may view unfavorably. Some of these are not really "red flags". Though they may in fact be the sign of a good breeder.
1. Breeder does not allow visitors into rattery.
Rats unfortunately are susceptible to some very serious infections that could be transferred on clothing. For this reason some breeders have decided to close their rattery to the public. These "closed ratteries" do not allow visitors, and instead will meet potential adopters some place outside of the rattery. This does not mean the breeder is hiding something or keeps their rats in dirty conditions. It may simply mean the breeder is looking out for the well being of their animals. Most rat breeders also have their rattery in their home. In such a circumstance, it is understandable for the breeder to not want strangers coming and going. Since you can't see the breeder's rats in person, you will have to do a little more work to find a good breeder, by asking more questions about the breeder, but it can be well worth it knowing that your future babies are being protected from infectious diseases.
2. Breeder charges an adoption fee.
No breeder should be breeding animals to make money. This does not mean the breeder can't charge an adoption fee. Adoption fees of breeders are often higher than what you may pay in a pet store. This is partially a mechanism to weed out people looking for reptile food. This is also a way to recover just a small portion of the cost to raise the babies. Raising litters is very costly though, and adoption fees will rarely, if ever, cover all of them.
3. Breeder uses inbreeding or line-breeding as tools.
Despite popular ideas, inbreeding and line-breeding in and of themselves is not bad in rats. Some animal species are very sensitive to inbreeding, but rats are generally very tolerant. Inbreeding, defined as the breeding of close relatives such as parents and offspring or siblings, will not make animals sick or deformed. What it will do is concentrate those genes already in the line. This may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what those genes are. Either way, inbreeding is a very valuable tool to good breeders. It can be used to bring out desired traits, as well as remove undesired traits. Line-breeding, defined as breeding individuals with a common ancestor, is also a very valuable tool. It will not concentrate genes as strongly as inbreeding will, but it can still be used to keep certain desired traits and to keep out certain undesired traits.
4. Breeder admits there are health problems in the line.
It is not a bad thing for a breeder to admit there are health problems. In fact it shows responsibility when a breeder admits health problems, rather than hiding them. No line is ever free from all health problems. The major issue with breeders is what health problems are present in the line, and how serious that presentation is. When finding a good breeder, ask about the health problems in the line. Decide if it is something serious enough for you to find a different breeder, or if it sounds like the breeder is doing all they can to eliminate the health issues and breed healthy rats.
5. Breeder specializes in one or two varieties only.
Although it may be nice being able to pick from many different colors, it is far better for a breeder to specialize in a couple of varieties. Breeders are supposed to try to better the animals they are producing. The priorities should be health and temperament, as well as conformation, but breeders should also work toward improving the color and markings they are producing. If a breeder breeds too many different varieties, there is no way for him or her to improve any of them. In addition, some markings are not compatible with others. It is good to specialize in only a couple varieties and know those varieties well, than to breed too many and end up with deadly results.
6. Breeder also breeds another species.
Although this is also on the "red flag" list, it is also a possible "not red flag". This really depends on the situation. One can breed rats and one breed of dog, and do well at both. When contacting a breeder who breeds multiple species, find out how they do things, their ethics for both species, and so on. If everything seems to check out and the breeder looks good, don't be scared away simply because that breeder also breeds another species.
7. Breeder has "quarantine homes" set up.
A responsible breeder always follows proper quarantine. As a result that breeder may have one or several "quarantine homes" set up. This means when a breeder has rats that need to go into quarantine, there is a rodent-free home available to care for those rats during that period. The breeder is able to quarantine without exposing his or her resident animals.
8. Breeder shows their animals.
Showing is not necessarily a bad thing either. It does expose the breeder's animals to possible disease, but it is also a good way for the breeder to get input on their animals. This can be a valuable tool in ensuring the breeder is succeeding in bettering their animals. If a breeder is showing, make sure he or she does have proper quarantine facilities. It is never acceptable for a breeder to show and not quarantine.
9. Breeder is a member of one or several clubs.
This is also not necessarily a bad thing. Clubs can help different people connect. Breeders can be in touch with other breeders, and adopters can find breeders from which to adopt. Clubs also provide standards for a breeder, which will help in the overall breeding program.
10. Breeder makes a special effort to keep in touch with adopters.
All breeders should put in special effort to keep in touch with adopters. This way a breeder is able to know what happens to his or her rats after they leave the rattery. It is a good way to gain valuable information for pedigree records, and thus provide necessary data to evaluate lines. Adopters should put in the effort to keep in touch, but breeders especially should make the effort.
11. Breeder specializes in nonstandard varieties, but is not making up names for standardized varieties.
Some varieties are not standardized in any clubs, or are in the process of being standardized. It is okay for a breeder to breed these varieties. What might be questionable is if the breeder is making up terms for those varieties. If you see a term you are unfamiliar with, ask the breeder about it. Sometimes it is a lesser-known nonstandard varieties. Ask about the genetics of that variety, then put in some extra research to find out if it is not standardized, or if the breeder is just making up a name so it seems more special or attractive.
12. Breeder has a combined goal for bettering health, temperament, type, and color.
All good breeders should be set on improving health, temperament, type, and color in their lines. They may not put the same priority on all of these, but they should be working towards all. A breeder who claims just to be breeding "pets" and "not for show" may not be ignoring some of these important goals. When contacting breeders, make sure their goals are clear and understood.
13. Breeder weans babies at five weeks of age.
There is controversy over the "right" age to wean babies. Some say four weeks, some say four and a half weeks. May good breeders wait until five weeks. This is acceptable. At this age, the babies are still quite young and it is unlikely the baby boys impregnated their sisters or mother. A good breeder should not wait much longer after five weeks though.
14. Breeder has an involved adoption procedure that requires the adopter to answer detailed questions, and requires the adopter to provide home address and phone number.
A good breeder should have an involved adoption procedure. This shows the breeder cares about where their babies are going and is making sure they get good homes. It is also common for breeders to ask for home addresses and phone numbers before the babies are picked up. This makes it easier for the breeder to fill out the adoption contract, and gives you less writing to do when you pick up the babies.
15. Breeder's pedigrees offer names and colors, but breeder is also able to provide detailed information about the rats on the pedigree.
The more information a breeder provides about a line, the better. This shows a breeder is paying attention to their lines. Records are a good resource to use in evaluating lines. The more information that is attached to a pedigree, the more conscientious the breeder is likely to be.
1. Breeder does not allow visitors into rattery.
Rats unfortunately are susceptible to some very serious infections that could be transferred on clothing. For this reason some breeders have decided to close their rattery to the public. These "closed ratteries" do not allow visitors, and instead will meet potential adopters some place outside of the rattery. This does not mean the breeder is hiding something or keeps their rats in dirty conditions. It may simply mean the breeder is looking out for the well being of their animals. Most rat breeders also have their rattery in their home. In such a circumstance, it is understandable for the breeder to not want strangers coming and going. Since you can't see the breeder's rats in person, you will have to do a little more work to find a good breeder, by asking more questions about the breeder, but it can be well worth it knowing that your future babies are being protected from infectious diseases.
2. Breeder charges an adoption fee.
No breeder should be breeding animals to make money. This does not mean the breeder can't charge an adoption fee. Adoption fees of breeders are often higher than what you may pay in a pet store. This is partially a mechanism to weed out people looking for reptile food. This is also a way to recover just a small portion of the cost to raise the babies. Raising litters is very costly though, and adoption fees will rarely, if ever, cover all of them.
3. Breeder uses inbreeding or line-breeding as tools.
Despite popular ideas, inbreeding and line-breeding in and of themselves is not bad in rats. Some animal species are very sensitive to inbreeding, but rats are generally very tolerant. Inbreeding, defined as the breeding of close relatives such as parents and offspring or siblings, will not make animals sick or deformed. What it will do is concentrate those genes already in the line. This may be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what those genes are. Either way, inbreeding is a very valuable tool to good breeders. It can be used to bring out desired traits, as well as remove undesired traits. Line-breeding, defined as breeding individuals with a common ancestor, is also a very valuable tool. It will not concentrate genes as strongly as inbreeding will, but it can still be used to keep certain desired traits and to keep out certain undesired traits.
4. Breeder admits there are health problems in the line.
It is not a bad thing for a breeder to admit there are health problems. In fact it shows responsibility when a breeder admits health problems, rather than hiding them. No line is ever free from all health problems. The major issue with breeders is what health problems are present in the line, and how serious that presentation is. When finding a good breeder, ask about the health problems in the line. Decide if it is something serious enough for you to find a different breeder, or if it sounds like the breeder is doing all they can to eliminate the health issues and breed healthy rats.
5. Breeder specializes in one or two varieties only.
Although it may be nice being able to pick from many different colors, it is far better for a breeder to specialize in a couple of varieties. Breeders are supposed to try to better the animals they are producing. The priorities should be health and temperament, as well as conformation, but breeders should also work toward improving the color and markings they are producing. If a breeder breeds too many different varieties, there is no way for him or her to improve any of them. In addition, some markings are not compatible with others. It is good to specialize in only a couple varieties and know those varieties well, than to breed too many and end up with deadly results.
6. Breeder also breeds another species.
Although this is also on the "red flag" list, it is also a possible "not red flag". This really depends on the situation. One can breed rats and one breed of dog, and do well at both. When contacting a breeder who breeds multiple species, find out how they do things, their ethics for both species, and so on. If everything seems to check out and the breeder looks good, don't be scared away simply because that breeder also breeds another species.
7. Breeder has "quarantine homes" set up.
A responsible breeder always follows proper quarantine. As a result that breeder may have one or several "quarantine homes" set up. This means when a breeder has rats that need to go into quarantine, there is a rodent-free home available to care for those rats during that period. The breeder is able to quarantine without exposing his or her resident animals.
8. Breeder shows their animals.
Showing is not necessarily a bad thing either. It does expose the breeder's animals to possible disease, but it is also a good way for the breeder to get input on their animals. This can be a valuable tool in ensuring the breeder is succeeding in bettering their animals. If a breeder is showing, make sure he or she does have proper quarantine facilities. It is never acceptable for a breeder to show and not quarantine.
9. Breeder is a member of one or several clubs.
This is also not necessarily a bad thing. Clubs can help different people connect. Breeders can be in touch with other breeders, and adopters can find breeders from which to adopt. Clubs also provide standards for a breeder, which will help in the overall breeding program.
10. Breeder makes a special effort to keep in touch with adopters.
All breeders should put in special effort to keep in touch with adopters. This way a breeder is able to know what happens to his or her rats after they leave the rattery. It is a good way to gain valuable information for pedigree records, and thus provide necessary data to evaluate lines. Adopters should put in the effort to keep in touch, but breeders especially should make the effort.
11. Breeder specializes in nonstandard varieties, but is not making up names for standardized varieties.
Some varieties are not standardized in any clubs, or are in the process of being standardized. It is okay for a breeder to breed these varieties. What might be questionable is if the breeder is making up terms for those varieties. If you see a term you are unfamiliar with, ask the breeder about it. Sometimes it is a lesser-known nonstandard varieties. Ask about the genetics of that variety, then put in some extra research to find out if it is not standardized, or if the breeder is just making up a name so it seems more special or attractive.
12. Breeder has a combined goal for bettering health, temperament, type, and color.
All good breeders should be set on improving health, temperament, type, and color in their lines. They may not put the same priority on all of these, but they should be working towards all. A breeder who claims just to be breeding "pets" and "not for show" may not be ignoring some of these important goals. When contacting breeders, make sure their goals are clear and understood.
13. Breeder weans babies at five weeks of age.
There is controversy over the "right" age to wean babies. Some say four weeks, some say four and a half weeks. May good breeders wait until five weeks. This is acceptable. At this age, the babies are still quite young and it is unlikely the baby boys impregnated their sisters or mother. A good breeder should not wait much longer after five weeks though.
14. Breeder has an involved adoption procedure that requires the adopter to answer detailed questions, and requires the adopter to provide home address and phone number.
A good breeder should have an involved adoption procedure. This shows the breeder cares about where their babies are going and is making sure they get good homes. It is also common for breeders to ask for home addresses and phone numbers before the babies are picked up. This makes it easier for the breeder to fill out the adoption contract, and gives you less writing to do when you pick up the babies.
15. Breeder's pedigrees offer names and colors, but breeder is also able to provide detailed information about the rats on the pedigree.
The more information a breeder provides about a line, the better. This shows a breeder is paying attention to their lines. Records are a good resource to use in evaluating lines. The more information that is attached to a pedigree, the more conscientious the breeder is likely to be.