I found the best way to learn what a good Chinese looked like was to steward at shows and listen while the judge was discussing the good and bad points of each animal. Chinese classes are some of the larger ones at the moment at Southern shows, and at Hereford there were 12 normal Chinese! I also found it tricky to tell without seeing what is looked for. Pictures are also tricky as they don't always show depth of colour and you can't feel how much body the hamster has, so I would encourage you to come to a show and see them 'in the fur'. Your comparison points seem pretty good to me
That said, I do like the description of the 'ideal' Chinese hamster in the NHC standard:
Quote:
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The build should be long and slender, firm but not thin. The head is set apart from the body on a short neck. The eyes should be set well apart and form an equilateral triangle with the nose. The back legs and tail are noticeably visible. The fur should be short and dense with a smooth appearance. The feet are finely haired. Adults should have an approximate length of: 10cm female, 12cm male. The hamster should be fit, curious when awake and to handle. The flesh should be well toned with no surplus fat. The coat shall have a healthy sheen and be clean. The eyes should be round and not too prominent. The ears shall be large in proportion to its head and rounded.
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What makes an attractive animal? I divide it into the categories that points are awarded in judging: type, colour, fur, condition, size, eyes and ears. A winner is the hamster that most meets the standard.
In terms of type (incl eyes and ears), I look for a Chinese that is chunky, but not fat, with an equilateral triangle shape to the head and ears in proportion (no mousey bat ears, no matter how cute!). In terms of colour, I look for a deep mahogany with even ticking in a normal. I want the same colour but in spots which are evenly spread over the hamster in a dom spot. This has been one of my biggest challenges in terms of show standards. I want a hamster that is a good size (40-50g, usually females at the lower end, males at the top). Weight isn't everything though as it has to be in proportion and not fat or flabby. Older hams can get folds of skin when they lose bulk from their peak condition. Gavroche (left) beat his dad (right) recently despite being smaller as his type and colour/markings are better. The picture isn't great as they were a bit too interested in each other if they were closer!
Traits that I've struggled to breed out? Diabetes. You just have to start again. Another tricky thing with the BEW and dom spots, although not inherited, is staining. That's a real pain for showing.
Princess Sparkle is a good example of a lovely pet hamster! She won dwarf novice for me at my first few shows (I was the only dwarf novice!) but was right at the bottom of the table with 'please see judge' written on the pen label, bless her.
Sparky had no body/bulk to her and her eyes were bulgy and her ears impressively large. She had few spots which were pale and blotchy. Still, she was a lovely little lady and got me hooked on Chinese hamster showing.
A good show dom spot, Lotus:
A pet normal Chinese, Lani:
Grand Champion Vectis's Angel Islington is a good example of a fabulous hamster (even if I do say so myself!). She has seven certificates of merit and has won her class multiple times as well as three Reserve Best in Shows and one Best in Show (that was out of 81 hamsters):
In person, she has the depth of colour and some of the mahogany that the standard needs. Her type is also nice.
Does this help?
Chinese show standard.
). I'd be interested to see how he does now as I haven't shown him in a while.
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