Seeing past colour

This is for Annette :)

My tricks on evaluating Mini Rex based on type and fur alone:

Sit at a table, on each side of you have a basket. One for those who make it past round one and those who don't. Put all the ones you wish to evaluate on a table. Close your eyes or put on a blind fold. Choose a rabbit.

As you feel this rabbit if you feel narrow or long bony shoulders, if your hand catches hugely at the hips. Or just overall rangy and boney. Put it in the "pet" basket.

A keeper should feel very solid and smooth, you shouldn't get caught on any hips or feel any pin bones or narrowness.

Once you go through all the potentials this way, put the pets back in their cages then go back to the keepers. (You can take the blind fold off too).

Evaluating potential keepers:
1.) Fold one ear down the nose, if it is longer then the face stick it in the pet basket. (Most likely oversized, ears out of balance)
2.) Sit the rabbit facing away from you. Place your hands on either side of it following the hip lines. If your hands point out in a V stick the in the pet basket.(Pinched). Your hands should sit parallel
3.) Pose the rabbit. If you can get two or more fingers between the base of the ears and the rise. Place it in the pet basket. (Long Shoulders)
4.)Keeping the rabbit posed (making sure the hind toe is in line with the hip and all 4 feet are flat). Place a finger between the ribs and the hip. If you can get more then one finger between the ribs and the hip place the rabbit in the pet basket. (Long midsection)
5.) Now place a pencil at the hind toes vertically. The highest point of the black should be in line with the hind toes. If the highest point is infront of the pencil the rabbit peaks early and you tend to get a flat spot over the HQ. If the highest point is behind the pencil the rabbit will tend to have a longer midsection. The highest point should also be higher then the ears.

to be continued (with pictures later)