CHA Summary List of Standards Classes
How To Use This List
Generally a color (or a pattern, coat length, etc.) starts in the Unstandardized Class.  At this stage in the process, the color is bred by those interested in it, and the gene or gene combination is investigated.  Once the color has stabilized, better understood, and there is interest in standardizing it, we move it to a Guide Standard Class.  At this point, the judges and members get familiar with it and finalize the color and wording of the standard.  Once it is approved, the color moves to the Standardized Class.  So colors move from Unstandardized to Guide Standard to Standardized.  This is the progression.

So what do you do if your hamster’s color/pattern isn’t listed here?  Is it automatically Unstandardized?  No, not if your hamster is a combination of a color, pattern, coat type, etc. listed here.  Let’s explain this.  If you have a Black Dominant Spot Syrian hamster.  You see that Black is Standardized and Dominant Spot is Standardized.  Thus, your hamster should be entered in the Standardized category.  Let’s say, though, that you had a Black Mottled Dwarf.  Black is a Guide Standard color while Mottled is an Unstandardized pattern.  In this case, your hamster would be Unstandardized due to the Mottled gene.  Essentially, you must enter your hamster in the earliest Class in the progression listed above (Unstandardized --> Guide Standard --> Standardized).

Let’s take another example.  Let’s say that you have a Dove Banded Satin Syrian.  Dove is a Guide Standard.  Banded and Satin are Standardized.  Thus you would enter him in the Guide Standard Class.  Let’s say, though, that you had a Dove Satin Dwarf.  Dove is Unstandardized.  Satin is Standardized.  Thus, this hamster would be entered in the Unstandardized Class.

If you have any questions about which Class your hamster belongs in, please put a note in your entry to the Show Secretary.  Remind her at Check-in to have the Class checked.  This is easily done and will ensure that your hamster is entered in the appropriate class.
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Standardized Syrian Colors/Patterns
Beige
Blonde
Cinnamon
Dark Golden
Light Golden
Dark Grey
Light Grey
Silver Grey
Honey
Lilac
Rust
Smoke Pearl
Yellow
Sable
Copper
Black-eyed Cream
Red-eyed Cream
Black-eyed Ivory
Red-eyed Ivory
Dark-eared White
Flesh-eared White
Black
Black-eyed White
Chocolate
Banded
Dominant Spot
Roan
Tortoiseshell
Tortoiseshell and White
Dominant Spotted Banded
Satin
Guide Standard Syrian Colors/Patterns
Yellow Black
Dove

Unstandardized Syrian Colors/Patterns
Mink
Extreme Dilute
Honey Black
Light Gray Pearl
Recessive Dappled
And all other colors and patterns
Standardized Campbells Colors/Patterns
Normal
Albino
Red-eyed Argente
Opal
Dilute Platinum (Black-eyed White)
Satin

Guide Standard Campbells Colors/Patterns
Black
Blue
Black-eyed Argente
Moscow

Unstandardized Campbells Colors/Patterns
Blue Fawn
Lilac Fawn
Beige
Blue Beige
Dove
Red-eyed Lilac
Black-eyed Lilac
Mottled
Platinum
And all other colors and patterns
Standardized Winter White Colors/Patterns
Normal
Sapphire
Pearl

Guide Standard Winter White Colors/Patterns
None

Unstandardized  Winter White Colors/Patterns
Imperial
Note: Chinese Hamsters are illegal in California.  Thus, they are not allowed at any CHA shows.  Roborovskis are legal and are shown only in the Unstandardized Class.
CHA Standards
CHA Guide Standards
BHA Standards