TEMPERAMENT & EVALUATION
What is Temperament? Temperament is a person's or animal's nature, especially as it permanently affects their behavior. It includes behavioral traits such as sociability (outgoing or shy), emotionality (easy-going or quick to react), activity level (high or low energy), attention level (focused or easily distracted), and persistence (determined or easily discouraged). There are two main components to temperament, genetic, and environmental (called Epigenetics).
Genetic temperament is the temperament passed down through inheritance. Its what they are born with. In a study done by Dmitri Belyaev, 200 wild norway rats were gathered and split into two groups. Both groups were bred for over 60 generations. One group was selected for aggression, the other for tameness. At the end of the experiment, the differences in the behavior of the two groups was drastic. The aggressive group would try to attack or flee from people, whereas the tame group were more calm and would approach them. This shows a pattern of inheritance of temperament.
Genetic temperament is the temperament passed down through inheritance. Its what they are born with. In a study done by Dmitri Belyaev, 200 wild norway rats were gathered and split into two groups. Both groups were bred for over 60 generations. One group was selected for aggression, the other for tameness. At the end of the experiment, the differences in the behavior of the two groups was drastic. The aggressive group would try to attack or flee from people, whereas the tame group were more calm and would approach them. This shows a pattern of inheritance of temperament.
Next up, there is Epigenetics, which are the environmental factors to temperament. When you treat an animal kindly, and socialize it, you are influencing the animals temperament. A study done by Frances A. Champagne, shows the the relationship between the amount of nurturing baby rats receive and their tameness as adults. The more attention a baby got, the more likely they were to be calm as adults. Alternatively, the less amount of attention a baby received, the less calm they were as adults.
So what does this mean? It means that there are both genetics and environmental factors that contribute to the overall temperament of rats! So why then, do we still choose not to handle our young babies? Well, its quite simple. We choose to focus first on the genetic aspect. By understanding both sides, we choose to utilize both to their full potential!
So what does this mean? It means that there are both genetics and environmental factors that contribute to the overall temperament of rats! So why then, do we still choose not to handle our young babies? Well, its quite simple. We choose to focus first on the genetic aspect. By understanding both sides, we choose to utilize both to their full potential!
To elaborate, consider the impact that socialization has on behavior. Skittish, and even aggressive rats by nature (genetics), can be calmed down by using socialization. This is often referred to as "Trust Training" among pet people. Socialization and training can turn a poorly tempered rat into a friendly pet with enough effort. Epigenetics truly are amazing! However, its because of the tremendous effects of epigenetics that we choose to put it on the backburner. If we focus first on genetic inheritance to produce the very best that genetics can offer, once this genetic temperament is consistent in a line, we can then put focus on epigenetics in the way of socializing to produce even better pet rats! Limiting handling in the first few weeks of the rats life also allows us to see what the base genetic temperament is without the influence of excessive handling. Of course, during this time, it would be incorrect to believe that you can avoid epigenetics entirely. Environmental influence can be as small as the association between breeder and food and water when care is given. Handling for cage cleaning, photos and health checks also go into this. Even the temperament of the mother, who has a positive relationship with humans, will influence her babies. So even when taking a hands-off approach to breeding, we cannot technically claim no epigentic influence. Nonetheless, without excessive socialization, we can more clearly observe the inherited temperament, which will allow us to choose our holdbacks with more accuracy and without bias. Furthermore, lets face it, sometimes appearance influences our decisions! If we then unintentionally socialize our subconscious favorite more than the others, its likely going to affect their temperament more than the others and that rat may stand out more in both aspects, and we may then choose them instead, even if another, less appealing rat had the better genetic temperament. The thing about epigentics is that there seems to be a lot of back and forth about it, almost hypocritically. People who focus on epigenetics and heavy socialization, often insist that epigenetics cannot drastically change temperament. A poor tempered rat will always be a poor tempered rat, even with heavy socializing. But we have seen time and time again, aggressive and fearful rats overcoming those behaviors and becoming a friendly rat. If we apply that to babies, it is possible, especially with handling from a very young age (influencing temperament), that an otherwise skittish or even aggressive rat, genetically, could pass as pet quality. Why is this an issue though, if epigenetics changes the temperament? Because if you are producing genetically fearful or aggressive rats, you need to put more effort into socialization to continue "hiding" those traits while unknowingly breeding for them. I suppose in the larger scheme of things, this isnt an issue if you continue to heavily socialize baby rats as long as you continue breeding, never slacking or becoming too busy (maybe you got sick? maybe you had to pick up more hours at work?). But for myself, it makes far more sense to put focus on the genetic temperament, selecting for the best genetic temperament, and then, once a line is established, then, begin to work towards epigenetics!
THAT is what we do. Our new lines and our project lines are not handled for the first few weeks of their life. Whereas, our established lines, who have a consistent stable genetic temperament, are handled more! We arent anti-handling, we simply prefer to know our lines are genetically stable before we put emphasis on socialization and epigenetics. We dont want rats that are made to be friendly, we want rats that are genetically friendly, which can then be improved further by using epigenetics and socialization to produce the very best rats possible!
THAT is what we do. Our new lines and our project lines are not handled for the first few weeks of their life. Whereas, our established lines, who have a consistent stable genetic temperament, are handled more! We arent anti-handling, we simply prefer to know our lines are genetically stable before we put emphasis on socialization and epigenetics. We dont want rats that are made to be friendly, we want rats that are genetically friendly, which can then be improved further by using epigenetics and socialization to produce the very best rats possible!
TEMPERAMENT EVALUATION
I do not temperament test my rats. I do not follow a list of things with check marks in a clear cut YES or NO option. I evaluate their temperament beginning before their eyes even open. Yes, I do this without touching. I observe them each and every day. I see how they interact with their siblings, with their mother.. Are they curious? Do they approach the side of the cage when I come in the room? Do they scatter? Do they freeze at loud noises? Do they investigate new toys and treats that are given? Do they hide all the time? Theres lots that can be seen without handling babies! Once babies are 4 weeks, it becomes a bit more hands on. Do they approach my hand? Do they come to greet me? Do they try to climb out? Do they hide? Squeak? Play? Nibble? Freeze? By 5 weeks, I see how they handle new situations, new environments, new cage, new cagemates, new sounds, sights, smells... During this time, they are handled, they are adjusted to handling, with people. They have seen new sights, new smells, new places, new rats.. When you're buying rats from me, from a breeder who "doesn't handle" it doesnt mean your rats have never seen the light of day or been handled or any silly thing like that. But it does mean that the initial evaluation was on the base genetics, not based off how friendly I could make them by forcing socialization. Because I know what epigenetics can do! I've seen aggressive rats become potatoes with "trust training" (which is forced socializing and epigenetics!). I know that a rat that might not be pet quality could be made to be pet quality. Choosing to focus on genetic temperament isnt because of a lack of understanding or not accepting epigenetics or laziness. Its because I know how powerful epigenetics is that I want to focus on genetics first.
In my stable lines, which already have fantastic genetic temperaments, I do often handle more often. I take more photos, I interact with them more, because I LOVE my rats! Who can resist adorable little babies? I'm not a cold-hearted monster who shuns her baby rats and neglects them. And to be frank, my project lines which aren't consistent or stable, benefit more from this lack of handling because handling stresses them out. They prefer not being handled, and so I dont push it on them. As the line solidifies in the genetic temperament, then they receive more hands on interaction. And when good babies are pet homed out, each rat will have been handled and will know human interaction prior to going home. So, when discussing breeders who dont handle babies, please dont assume that we dont understand or accept the influence of epigenetics, or that the babies you would receive will be unsocialized, neglected babies! It simply means that we put emphasis on inherited temperament before focusing on epigenetics. And it also doesnt mean that your babies will come to you not knowing human interaction.
In the end, the thing to take away here is that there are more than one way to achieve friendly babies. The way that one breeder chooses to accomplish this is up to them. It doesnt need to be a battle for the one right way to breed. This is my stance, my method, and it has worked for me for the past 4 years of breeding. The results speak for themselves. If another breeder chooses to focus on epigenetics and wants to handle their rats, then that all good, so long as what they're releasing to the public is stable, friendly pet rats!
In the end, the thing to take away here is that there are more than one way to achieve friendly babies. The way that one breeder chooses to accomplish this is up to them. It doesnt need to be a battle for the one right way to breed. This is my stance, my method, and it has worked for me for the past 4 years of breeding. The results speak for themselves. If another breeder chooses to focus on epigenetics and wants to handle their rats, then that all good, so long as what they're releasing to the public is stable, friendly pet rats!
If anyone has any other questions, please dont hesitate to ask!
CITATION
Champagne, F., 2008. Epigenetic Mechanisms And The Transgenerational Effects Of Maternal Care. [online] The National Center for Biotechnology Information. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682215/> [Accessed 6 September 2020].
Champagne, F., 2008. Epigenetic Mechanisms And The Transgenerational Effects Of Maternal Care. [online] The National Center for Biotechnology Information. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682215/> [Accessed 6 September 2020].
Champagne, F., 2008. Epigenetic Mechanisms And The Transgenerational Effects Of Maternal Care. [online] The National Center for Biotechnology Information. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682215/> [Accessed 6 September 2020].
Champagne, F., 2008. Epigenetic Mechanisms And The Transgenerational Effects Of Maternal Care. [online] The National Center for Biotechnology Information. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682215/> [Accessed 6 September 2020].