I've never denied that I hold high standards for mice. You may choose not to accept my opinions, as is your wont.
To be sure, these mice are poor in other areas--mainly type but also temperament, somewhat. It's a trade-off. You get mice who are the right shade of red, but lack in other areas, or mice who have good type and lack in color, or mice who lack in all those areas except temperament (like yours).
If you cannot use judgment-laden terms such as "good," or "bad," or "too light," or "too dark," or "washed-out," or "rich," there's no point in breeding for show. It's all about getting things right. As many things as possible, not just pet-qualities.
It's fine that you're a pet-breeder, but you may not force your disregard for color (or type, or whatever) on others. We simply do different things with the same species of animals. We actually have more in common than not.
moustress said:
And I'm sure no one else would think that my fawn mousies are 'washed out' or watered down'.
As I'm sure some people would. They're not even the right color for fawn. And that's ok since you only breed for pets. Do you mind if I create a poll with pictures of your mice asking this very question? I can do it here, on one of my websites, or elsewhere. Or you can do it. Either way, you'll see the same results.
It's just a different genotype with different modifiers. Your negativity reflects very poorly on whatever value you may have as a member of this Forum.
You're mistaking criticism for negativity. They're not always the same. Without honest (hard to hear, but honest) appraisals and words or terms that some folks don't like (in relation to our standards), the fancy would never advance. We'd all be sitting at home breeding poorly-colored, poorly-typed mice and never showing, never comparing, never exchanging ideas on what the "right" color/shade/body is, and so forth.
I know it hurts to hear that all your hard work isn't what some people (or mouse clubs) want, yet it's the truth and that's ok. If you're confident in your own abilities and accomplishments as a pets-only/hobby breeder, you will take that criticism in the right way (or deflect it all together) since judgments such as "too pale," "too weak," and "too small" don't apply to mice who are pets-only. Uniquely-colored, small mice with modest ears (or whatever the case may be) can make
great pets. I've had plenty of them over the years.
