In This Chapter
Each breed has a unique
appearance, with differences in size, coat type, and color. Even a rabbit’s
personality can vary according to breed. So, you ask, how are you ever going to
sort through it all? Well, go to the experts. All the ARBA rabbit breeds have a
unique history and a set of fans who believe their breed of rabbit is the
absolute best. You’ll find many of these experts in breed clubs, groups of
people who specialize in each of the ARBA breeds.
Take a look at these breeds and
judge for yourself. Then see the Appendix of this book for ARBA contact
information and the recognized breed clubs.
American
Compact in appearance, the
American is a medium-size rabbit, weighing around 10 pounds. Its
mandolin-shaped body provides a slight arch over the loins and hindquarters and
a taper from the hindquarters to the shoulders. In existence nearly 100 years,
the American breed comes in two color varieties: blue or white. The blue
variety has blue-gray eyes, and the white version has pink eyes.
American Fuzzy Lop
The Fuzzy Lop, which is related
to the Holland Lop and the Angora, is available in many colors. This color choice,
along with its furry coat and long, floppy ears, make it a popular breed with
rabbit lovers. The American Fuzzy Lop is shown in six different groups based on
its color pattern: broken, pointed white, wide band, agouti, shaded, and self.
Within those groups are the agouti colors of chestnut, chinchilla, opal, and
lynx. The broken colors of any recognized rabbit breed are allowed, as are the
solid colors of black, white, lilac, blue, and chocolate. A number of other
color patterns are also available in this small rabbit, whose body is short and
stocky. This cobby (stocky) little rabbit’s coat is long and woolly, requiring
frequent grooming.
American Sable
The ears, face, legs, and tail of
the American Sable are darker than the main part of its body. This rabbit is
well named because its coat is a beautiful dark brown — the result of crosses
with the Chinchilla. A medium-size rabbit sporting a slightly arched back, the
American Sable is an attractive pet, weighing around 9 pounds.
Angora
Angora rabbits come in one of
four types:
- English Angora: Originating in Turkey, the English Angora breed is at least 200 years old, if not older. This rabbit comes in six color groups: the pointed white, self, agouti, shaded, wide band, and ticked. Within these groups, the colors available are white with black; blue lilac or chocolate points; solid blue, black, chestnut, agouti, chinchilla, chocolate agouti, chocolate chinchilla, copper, lilac, lilac chinchilla, lynx, squirrel, opal and wild gray; shaded blue cream, chocolate tortoiseshell, dark sable, frosted pearl, lilac cream, smoke pearl, sable and tortoiseshell; solid cream, red and fawn; and ticked chocolate steel, lilac steel, steel and blue steel. Compact in size and stature, the English Angora weighs in at around 6 pounds.
- French Angora: The French Angora was developed before the English Angora, specifically for its wool. The French people used to hand pluck its wool and spin it for clothing. This breed comes in the same four-color varieties as the English Angora and in the identical colors. While the two breeds are similar, the French Angora is somewhat bigger than the English, weighing in at around 9 pounds. The French Angora also has less hair on its head, ears, and legs.
- Giant Angora: Bathed in fur, the Giant Angora, with its dramatic appearance, tends to stand out among the rest of the Angora breeds. Unlike the other Angoras, the Giant is available only in white, with blue eyes or ruby eyes. It’s larger than the English or the Satin, weighing in at around 9 pounds. Its coat is similar to the English Angora in that it has longer furnishings (hair on its ears, face, and legs).
- Satin Angora: Slightly smaller than the English Angora, Satin Angoras usually weigh around 7 pounds. The Satin Angora comes in the same color varieties as the English and French Angoras. The main difference between the Satin and the other Angoras is its coat. The Satin, as its name would imply, has shinier, silkier hair than its counterparts.
Each one of these Angoras is a
separate breed and has the characteristic long, woolly hair typical of this
rabbit family. Angoras come in a vast array of beautiful colors and come in two
color classifications: white and colored.
Remember
Because of the Angora’s dense coat, which measures about 3 inches in length, this breed needs plenty of grooming. You should only consider owning an Angora if you have the time and patience to spend brushing its luxurious coat. Chapter Making Fitness and Fresh Air Fun for Your Bunny offers grooming information.
Belgian Hare
Europeans developed the Belgian
Hare in the late 1800s specifically for the lean, racehorselike appearance.
Despite its name, the Belgian Hare isn’t really a hare but is actually a
domestic rabbit. However, its long legs and ears give it the appearance of a
hare, hence its name. Only available in red chestnut, the Belgian Hare is a
large-size rabbit of about 9 pounds.
Beveren
A large rabbit of about 10
pounds, the Beveren has a thick, silky coat. It’s of medium length and has a
slightly arched back. Not as frequently seen in the United States as some other
breeds, the Beveren was developed in Europe and comes in the color varieties of
white, blue, and black.
Britannia Petite
Known for being curious and
alert, the tiny, fine-boned Britannia Petite can make a good pet for older
children who can treat this light-stature breed gently. This rabbit is all
white or black otter-colored and weighs only about 2 pounds.
Californian
Originally bred in the Golden
State in the 1920s, the Californian is related to the Himalayan, which is
similar in appearance. This popular rabbit looks much like a Siamese cat, with
its white coat and black-tipped ears, nose, feet, and tail. Somewhat large in
size, the typical Californian weighs about 9 pounds. Its body is plump and firm
to the touch.
Champagne d’ Argent
The Argent, an old breed, was
originally bred in the Champagne province of France for its fur and meat.
Weighing about 10 pounds, the medium-size Argent is a popular pet in the United
States. The Argent coat contains a marvelous mix of colored hairs that has a
silvery effect.
Checkered Giant
The Checkered Giant was first
brought to America from Europe in 1910 and sports a long, well-arched body.
This popular breed comes in black and blue color varieties. The breed is
typically white with dark markings, including a “butterfly” on the nose, dark
ears, dark circles around the eyes, spots on the cheeks, and various other dark
patches on the body. Weighing a solid 11 pounds or more, the Checkered Giant is
related to the Flemish Giant.
Chinchilla
The Chinchilla comes in three
breeds: the Standard, the American, and the Giant. All three types have the
coloring of an actual chinchilla and are popular pets because of their
attractive coats.
- Standard Chinchilla is the foundation of the Chinchilla breed, weighing around 6 pounds. Reportedly developed in France by crossing a wild gray rabbit with some domestic strains, the breed was first shown in 1913. It has a medium body with a slight arch to the back.
- American Chinchilla is the middleweight of the three Chinchilla breeds, coming in at around 10 pounds. It was bred down from the Standard variety for its size.
- Giant Chinchilla is the largest in this family and the result of a cross between the Flemish Giant and a smaller Chinchilla by an American breeder sometime after World War I. It was developed as a meat rabbit, but makes a nice, albeit large, pet at about 14 pounds.
Cinnamon
This breed comes only in a
reddish color synonymous with its name. The ears, face, and feet bear a darker
shade of this same color. Occasional shades of gray on various parts of its
body contribute to this breed’s unusual appearance. Cinnamons, which are
related to the New Zealand White, the Checkered Giant, the Californian, and the
Chinchilla, weigh approximately 10 pounds.
Crème d’ Argent
The Crème d’Argent, which
originated in France, is a handsome rabbit with an exquisitely colored coat of
pale orange. Lighter guard hairs give this rabbit a smooth and silky
appearance. Typically, the Crème d’Argent weighs about 9 pounds.
Dutch
Originally from Holland, the
Dutch is one of the oldest established rabbit breeds. Small and compact, these
rabbits weigh around 4 pounds. The Dutch is an extremely popular rabbit and
easily recognizable because of its markings; they have a band of white around
the chest. Available in six color varieties, the Dutch has a dark head with a
white nose, a white blaze (a white stripe starting at the nose and going
upward toward the face), and dark britches (the back half of the
rabbit). Its dark eyes blend into the color on its face, which can be black,
blue, chocolate, tortoiseshell, steel, or gray.
Dwarf Hotot
Only seen in white with dark
eyes, the Dwarf Hotot weighs about 3 pounds and was bred down from the Hotot in
the 1970s. At first sight, the tiny Dwarf Hotot appears to be wearing eyeliner.
The breed’s characteristic black eye bands give it this look.
English Spot
An old breed whose popularity
began in England in the late 1800s, the English Spot is still a favorite breed
and makes a good pet. The English, for short, is reminiscent of a Dalmatian
with its white coat and dark spots. The breed comes in seven different color
varieties of which the breed’s markings are made: black, blue, chocolate, gold,
gray, lilac, and tortoiseshell. A capped nose, dark ears, eye rings, and a
stripe along the back are all characteristic of this breed, which weighs about
8 pounds.
Flemish Giant
Seen quite often at rabbit shows,
the Flemish Giant originated in Belgium as its name suggests. Massive in size,
the Flemish Giant is the largest breed of rabbit and weighs over 14 pounds.
Available in steel gray, light gray, black, blue, white, sandy, and fawn, this
breed is popular as a pet because of its large size.
Tip
In general, the larger the rabbit, the greater the tendency to be more laid-back and relaxed than the dwarf breeds.
Florida White
This breed — a cross between the
Dutch, Polish, and New Zealand White — is relatively new; the American Rabbit
Breeders Association accepted this breed in the early 1960s. Sadly, the Florida
White is one of the breeds commonly used for laboratory research. This breed
comes in white only, as its name implies, with pink eyes. It weighs about 5
pounds.
Harlequin
The Harlequin, developed in
France in the 1800s, is an interesting, mediumsize rabbit of about 8 pounds
with unusual markings. Available in two color groups and four actual colors,
the Harlequin is best described as having an “ice-cream sundae” look to its
coat. Different colors swirl and blend in unique configurations. The heads of
Harlequin rabbits are split in half by color, making them look like a different
rabbit from one side to the next! Harlequin base colors are black, blue, lilac,
and chocolate and come in two types:
- Japanese Harlequin sports a coat that has a base coloring that interchanges with strips of orange or a lighter version of the base color.
- Magpie Harlequin base coloring alternates with strips of white.
Havana
The small, shiny Havana was
created from a single rabbit born to an unpedigreed doe in Holland in 1898.
First appearing in chocolate, the Havana is now available in blue and black
varieties as well. Prized for its coat, the Havana is short and stocky (close
coupled). Its weight of 6 pounds and its compact build can make it a nice
pet for an older child.
Himalayan
More widely distributed around
the world than any other breed of rabbit, the Himalayan is popular in China and
Russia, as well as in the United States. The breed has been around for many
years, reportedly originating near the Himalayan Mountains. Distinctive because
of its white coat and blue or black markings, this small-size rabbit weighs
only about 4 pounds.
Hotot
The breed was first imported into
the United States in the late 1970s. In France, this breed is known as the
Blanc de Hotot, which means the white of Hotot. Hotot is the area where
the breed was developed. Available only in a frosty white color with thin black
eye circles, the medium-size Hotot weighs around 9 pounds.
Jersey Wooly
A recently developed breed of
rabbit created in the 1970s through crossbreeding, the Jersey Wooly was created
specifically for its luxurious coat. The fur of the Jersey Wooly is available
in agouti (chestnut, chinchilla, opal, and squirrel), pointed white (black or
blue markings), self (black, blue, chocolate, lilac, blueeyed white, and
ruby-eyed white), shaded (sable point, seal, Siamese sable, smoke pearl,
tortoiseshell, and blue tortoiseshell), and tan pattern (black otter, blue
otter, silver marten, sable marten, and smoke pearl marten) color groups. A
small rabbit, the Jersey Wooly weighs about 3 pounds.
Tip
This breed is known for its gentle temperament and for being an exceptional pet. However, because of its long coat, the Jersey Wooly does require regular grooming.
Lilac
The Lilac comes in one color: a
light pinkish gray. Originally considered a deviation from the norm, the Lilac
began as a result of an unusual coloration within the Havana breed. Weighing
about 7 pounds, the body of the Lilac is substantial and compact. This breed
makes a good and attractive companion rabbit.
Lop
The Lop rabbits are probably the
most distinctive and easily recognizable of all the breeds. The Lop has huge
ears that flop down beside its head like a hound dog’s ears, giving it a
special look unique to the breed. Along with those big ears comes a wonderful
personality. Because Lops are bred specifically for show and pet purposes, they
tend to be people oriented. Owners of Lops report that they’re amusing rabbits
to live with and can also grow to be affectionate and sensitive to their
owners’ feelings.
Lops come in four different
breeds, each unique in both its appearance and history:
- English Lop: Developed at least as early as the 1800s, the English Lop is one of the oldest breeds of domestic rabbit still in existence and the first of the lop-eared breeds. The ears of an adult English Lop measure 25 inches or more in length. Weighing approximately 10 pounds, the English Lop comes in broken and solid color patterns. Within those patterns, many of the typical rabbit colors are found. When being judged at rabbit shows, the ears are the most important aspect of this well-balanced breed.
- French Lop: Developed in France in the 1800s from the English Lop and the Flemish Giant, the French Lop differs from the English in that it sports a heavier stature and shorter ears. The French Lop weighs in at around 10 pounds and comes in two color varieties: solid and broken. This breed comes in many different rabbit colors. The French Lop is a close relative of the English Lop, which was used in its creation.
- Holland Lop: Also known as the Netherland Dwarf Lop, the tiny, compact Holland Lop weighs only about 4 pounds. The Holland Lop is a dwarf breed of Lop, created in Holland in the 1960s. It falls into the same color varieties as the French and English: agouti, broken, pointed white, self, solid, shaded, and ticked. Holland Lops are available in any recognized rabbit color.
- Mini Lop: Developed in the 1970s in Germany, the Mini Lop was originally called the Klein Widder until its named was changed in the 1980s, when the American Rabbit Breeders Association recognized it.
Tip
The Mini Lop, shown in Figure 3-1, is similar to the French Lop, although it’s much smaller at around 5 pounds. The breed comes in the usual Lop color varieties of agouti, broken, pointed white, shelf, shaded, solid, and ticked. All recognized rabbit colors are seen in the Mini Lop.
Figure 3-1: The Mini Lop,
a relatively new breed of Lop recognized by the ARBA in the 1980s.
Mini Rex
The Mini Rex breed, shown in
Figure 3-2, is growing in popularity as a pet and show rabbit because of its
luxurious fur, which is short yet plush, and its small size. Cottony and airy
to the touch, Rex fur looks and feels like velvet and is shorter than normal
fur. Their guard hairs are erect and short and the undercoat is erect, which
gives it that cut fur look. (Guard hair is the coarse, outer hair on
most mammals.)
This breed was developed using
the standard-size Rex. Weighing about 4 pounds, the Mini Rex is available in
the same color varieties and colors as its larger cousin, the Rex.
Warning!
Rabbits with Rex fur lack the heavy protective fur on the foot pad. Rex rabbit owners need to take care to keep their pets from becoming overweight and house the pets on a surface that provides some softness.
Figure 3-2: With its short,
plush fur, the Mini Rex is growing in popularity.
Mini Satin
Weighing in at about 4 pounds,
the Mini Satin is a more petite version of the American Satin. An American
creation going back to the 1970s, the Mini Satin was recognized as a breed in
the ARBA standard only in February 2006, making it the 47th ARBA breed.
Although color varieties can include red, broken, and white, only the white variety
can compete for Best Mini Satin. Like its larger counterpart, Mini Satins are
known for their brilliant color, due to a recessive trait that results in a
more transparent covering of the hair shaft.
Netherland Dwarf
Tip
Part of the Netherland Dwarf’s appeal is no doubt the result of its babylike features; fully grown adult Netherland Dwarfs still resemble what’s commonly known as kits (baby rabbits) among rabbit lovers. This popular breed is the smallest of domestic rabbits, not weighing more than 2 pounds. Its tiny stature, wide availability of colors, small ears, and large eyes make it a popular pet. The Netherland Dwarf comes in the following color varieties and colors: self (white with ruby eyes, white with blue eyes, black, blue, chocolate, and lilac); shaded (Siamese sable, Siamese smoke pearl, and sable point); agouti (chinchilla, lynx, opal, squirrel, and chestnut); tan pattern (sable marten, silver marten, smoke pearl marten, otter, and tan); and any other variety (fawn, Himalayan, orange, steel, and tortoiseshell).
Warning!
This breed is definitely more prone to dental disease due to the small size of their heads and shortened jaws.
New Zealand
Despite its name, the New Zealand
was developed in the United States, where it was created for meat, fur, and
research purposes. In spite of its original function, however, the New Zealand
has become a popular pet and show rabbit. This breed comes in three distinct
color varieties: white, black, and red. The red was the first color to appear
after what experts believe was a cross between a Belgium Hare and a white
rabbit. Typical New Zealands weigh about 10 pounds.
Palomino
The Palomino’s golden color is
similar to the coat colors seen in the Palomino horse. (Surprise!) A newer
breed, the Palomino was developed in the United States and comes in two color
varieties: golden and lynx. Weighing about 9 pounds, the Palomino has a
slightly arched back and makes a good pet because of its easygoing personality.
Polish
Some experts believe that the
name of this breed doesn’t refer to the country of Poland but rather to this
rabbit’s shiny coat. A tiny bunny weighing only about 3 pounds, the Polish is
believed to have developed in England in the 1800s. Commonly seen at rabbit
shows, this breed comes in five color varieties: blue, black, chocolate,
blue-eyed white, and ruby-eyed white.
Rex
The Rex, which comes in a wide
variety of colors, is popular as a pet and show rabbit. Rex rabbit fur looks
and feels like plush velvet, as shown in Figure 3-3. Created in 1919 from a
mutation, the Rex’s unusual coat can be attributed to erect, short guard hairs
and erect, short undercoat. Weighing approximately 9 pounds, the Rex comes in
black, black otter, blue, Californian, castor, chinchilla, chocolate, lilac,
lynx, opal, red, sable, seal, white, and broken group varieties. All known
rabbit colors are seen in the Rex.
Rhinelander
Developed in Europe, the
Rhinelander is a medium- to large-size rabbit weighing anywhere from 7 to 10
pounds. The Rhinelander has an unusual coloration that can best be described as
patches of calico, much like the coloring on the calico cat. The breed’s base
color is white, with markings of black and orange on its nose, ears, cheeks,
eyes, back, and sides.
Figure 3-3: A Rex’s hair is
short but plush.
Satin
Created in the United States from
a mutation within the Havana breed, the Satin comes in ten different color
groups: black, blue, Californian, chinchilla, chocolate, copper, red, Siamese,
white, and broken. The Satin is so named because of its soft, shiny coat. This
is a medium-size rabbit with a weight of about 9 pounds.
Silver
Believed to have originated in
India centuries ago, the Silver breed was refined in England during the height
of rabbit show popularity. The Silver got its name from the silvery sheen on
its coat, created by a mixture of white hairs against a dark background.
Available in black, brown, and fawn, Silvers weigh anywhere from 4 to 7 pounds.
Silver Fox
Formerly called the American
Heavyweight Silver, the Silver Fox is large, weighing about 10 pounds.
Originally bred in Europe for its fur, the Silver Fox has an unusual coat.
Measuring an inch or more in length with a thick undercoat, the fur of the
Silver Fox comes in black or blue varieties.
Silver Marten
Created using the Chinchilla
rabbit, the Silver Marten has guard hairs that are gray-tipped on a dark
background of black, blue, chocolate, or sable. The area around the eye and
nose are also gray. Silver Martens typically weigh about 8 pounds.
Tan
Supposedly the result of an
accidental mating between a wild buck and a Dutch doe in England during the
1800s, the Tan has been popular for decades. The color and markings of this
breed are reminiscent of a Doberman Pincher, particularly the black and chocolate
varieties. The top part of the body is dark, but the underside is tan. The tan
coloring also appears around the eyes and nose, under the neck, and inside the
brims of the ears. The Tan is a small- to medium-size rabbit, weighing
approximately 5 pounds.
Thrianta
Known to its fans as the “Fire of
the Fancy,” the Thrianta is a breed known for its unusual orange-red coat. The
Thrianta was the 46th breed to be recognized by the ARBA and was approved in
February 2006, along with the Mini Satin. Thriantas are medium-size rabbits
weighing from 4 to 6 pounds, with an ideal weight of less than 5 pounds.
Although the breed is relatively new to the ARBA, its origins go back to the
1930s in Europe. Because all of the breed’s original stock in the United States
was imported, this newer breed may be less widely available than others.
Connie Isbell and Audrey Pavia
This is a great resource for finding bunny rabbits in all different breeds.
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