DWARF RATS
The spontaneous dwarf rat (SDR) was found in a laboratory colony of Sprague Dawley rats in 1977. It is a recessive mutation that causes them to have reduced GH or Growth Hormone which causes them to be up 40-75% smaller than their normal-sized counterparts, and in fact, a little larger than some fancy English mice. Dwarf rats have been found to be resistant to some cancers, as scientists have studied the effect of chemically induced cancer on dwarf rats and found dwarfs do not develop cancerous tumors like typically sized rats due to their lack of Growth Hormone. That is great news for those whom keep rats in the rat fancy!

As their size has been reduced, their health, longevity and personality have not. Spike and Angel, our first albino dwarfs, came to us as older rats. They lived around 3 years. The story goes that they were derived from laboratory stock and were brought into the fancy and passed to rat breeders in Northern CA. They travelled up the coast to Washington state to Odd Fellows Rattery in September 2003 where their mild-mannered charm and incredibly mellow dispositions won the entire family over...(and many in the Northwest rat fancy). They were exhibited at the March 2004 RatsPacNW rat show where they were introduced to the club.

In May 2004, two more males came to Odd Fellows Rattery from Lil Rugrats Rattery in N. CA. They were a black male named LLR Goober and an agouti male named LRR Coastal. Though their lines go back to rats like Spike and Angel, the blocky traits of Spike and Angel have been bred out and LLR Goober and LLR Coastal look just like standardized minature show rats. 

There was discussion at the RMHF, Rat, Mouse & Hamster Fanciers Show on May 1st, 2004, that selectively breeding for both qualities, the more classic 'dwarf' features of Spike and Angel and the streamline features that make the rats of Lil Rugrats Rattery look like perfect sized minature rats, should be selectively bred for and maintained. Today, there are dwarf rats actively being bred throughout the Northwest. Some have retained the blocky, wide eyed features of Spike and Angel and others are minature versions of their 'standard' counterparts.
Odd Fellows Rattery
www.skyclyde.com
Spike and Angel in May, 2004
Albino dwarf males
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LLR Coastal, an agouti dwarf male, travelled up the coast with us from San Francisco, CA to Tacoma, WA on April 2nd, 2004 after I judged the RMHF, Rat Mouse, & Hamster Fanciers May 1st Show in San Jose, CA  He was born on  3-5-04 to LLR Dobby X Drusilla of LLR.
LLR Goober, a black dwarf male, also travelled up the coast with us from San Francisco, CA. He was named because of his non-stop theatrics in his cage.

Here he is pictured next to Doc, who is close to the same age. Doc is a regular sized Dumbo Siamese rat that carries tailless from Tina Sharoody in SF, CA.. (His new coat is molting in, you can see a spot of darker baby fur on his forehead).

LLR Goober was born on  3-27-04 to LRR Koda and LRR Kim Chee.
5-2004
5-2004
5-2004
Size Comparison!
Angel, smaller rat, is chubby in this picture, right, but much smaller than PsR Blazing Hot, a mock mink standard sized male.
OFR Caramel, left, is a fluffy Siamese. His sister is OFR Betty Davis and  OFR Tea Biscuit,  right, Himalayan Harley- Coated.
They are some of my favorite rats!
3-2005
OFR Sprite, left, is the son of OFR Tea Biscuit. He won Reserve Best in Show, Self, at RatspacNW in March 2005.
In June 2005, his cousin, owned by Ashli Roy, won Best in Show at the Boise, Idaho RatsPacNW rat show.
OFR Tea Biscuit is the only Harley-coated dwarf rat in the world. She is very fluffy!
OFR Tyndell is a Dumbo-eared, mink, Berkshire marked, dwarf rat. He is the son of Professor Dumbodwarf, a dumbo Himalayan Rat and SPAR Sweetie, a standard sized black and white rat, who carried the recessive dwarf gene.
2005
2004