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I think that Bengal breeders the world over all have their own idea of what the Bengal should look like, there is not one look. Some want to recreate the ALC, some like the snow leopard look, some want the clouded leopard pattern, some like ocelot patterns, some just want a very nice patterned domestic looking cat. Some are happy with small spots and arrowhead rosettes, others want nothing but huge donut rosettes and anything less is a "pet". Some want big, heavy cats, others are not too fussed as their model the ALC is not a big cat.
Jean Mill wanted a Domesticated small leopard look alike, not an ALC replica. It seems that some breeders now do want a domesticated ALC replica, so the focus has shifted for some, but not for others who are not really fans of the ALC look, and see the Bengal as a cat in its own right.
It is also interesting to see what other people think looks "wild", the variation of breeders perception is also varied. What looks wild to one is domestic to another. I have often seen cats described as "wild" looking and to me there is nothing "wild" about them at all, but that is just my particular perception.
Who can say who is "right". It is a new breed, it is still evolving, it has many good looking traits, no matter which look is preferred, each have their own good points. At the moment with everything being so diverse cosmetically, there will never be total agreement as to a common "look".
Judges also have different approaches to what they desire the Bengal should look like, hence the varying show results. The woolly breed standard and varying looking cats presented must also be confusing for judges. I think however that if we tweaked the standard and sharpened it to favour one particular look then we may be missing out on some of the nicer aspects of some of the other looks though.
I do however feel that breeders should try and breed to the standard as outlined, breeding cats with huge ears, nondescript spots, short fat bodies, thin tails, etc is fine if a breeder has a goal, knows what they are doing genetically and is using such cats to further that goal. However it seems some have no goal whatsoever and are breeding merely for the sake of breeding.
I think that this lack of breed focus and lack of a sharp breed standard is not always beneficial. It makes it easier for all sorts of breeders to form their own opinions, egged on perhaps by "confused" judges and that is not always for the good for the breed as a whole. Some breeders "like" a certain look as that is the only "look" that their particular cats can produce. That can lead to "cattery blindness" and that can be a problem in any breed.
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