Survey Submitted by Kelli Slack

8 to 15 years

I would support adding Lilacs as they are the fourth "table leg."  There are lovely tables with three legs, but they are sturdier with four.  I think adding the lilac would give breeders the option of improving type in the chocolates by opening the door to working with blues.  However, I also think this could cause more issues with incorrect eye color. 
I would also support adding blue steels with the provision that black and blue steels would be shown together.  I think this would help to increase steel numbers because steel breeders could show the blue steels that appear in their litters as well.  When I raised steels I kept a few blue steel does for breeding purposes. 

Right now I feel that the club will continue to be conservative.  We have six good varieties that are well represented at Nationals.  When I first started showing I know that Chocolates were often second or third in numbers at the National Shows.  Over the years Grays moved into that second and third position.  At the ARBA National Convention this last fall, Torts were the second highest in numbers.  I think we see cycles in the popularity of colors and the second and third highest numbers will continue to change.  I know that Torts haven't been as popular in Indiana as the other varieties, but we also have very few Chocolates shown right now. This will change as we gain and lose breeders, but Dutch continue to be fairly popular.
I don't think it would be wise to have as many varieties as the Mini Rex have.  Personally, I like competition.  I like to know how my breeding program compares to other breeders and I like to have competition in classes.  Most of the classes I see in Mini Rex and Neth. Dwarves have 2-3 animals per class.  For me, I like to see larger classes even when I know my animal will be first off the table. 

I don't know how the chin gene works with the steel gene.  I am not sure that it would complement either the gray or the steel variety. 

I would prefer to not see a Red Dutch.  I don't think it would complement the existing colors.  What colors would we (as a club) need to add to complement the Red?

I would be in favor of showing Grays (Black, Blue, Choc., etc.) and Steels (Black, Blue, etc.) if the varieties are accepted individually to ensure quality.  For example: Blue steels are passed.  We could now show Steels (Black and Blue).  Then Chocolates are passed.  We could now show Steels (Black, Blue, and Chocolate).  I feel that it is important that we continue to ensure the quality of our breed and colors. 

Steels are difficult to breed.  In all of my mother's litters since September she has only produced two nice steels.  In those litters she has also had several nice blues and blacks, but we haven't seen a high number of steels in the litters, even though we are specifically breeding her does for steels.  I think this is what contributes to small steel numbers. 

From the customers that I've talked with over the last few years, I have gathered that most are drawn to the breed because of the markings and many like the black best (as can be seen by the numbers at any show!).  I'm not sure that more colors would necessarily add more interest.  A striking Dutch is a striking Dutch, no matter the color.