Flemish Giant Breed Info
Recognized colors: Black, Blue, Fawn, Light Gray, Sandy, Steel Gray, White
Size: Minimum of 13-14 pounds
National Specialty Club:
www.nffgrb.net
Flemish Giant Rabbit Information and HistoryIn the last several decades, breeders have been enamored with small rabbits. However for many years, the only very small breed in this country was the Polish. Then in the late 1970’s and 80’s, Holland Lop, Mini Rex, Jersey Wooly, American Fuzzy Lop, Britannia Petite, and Dwarf Hotot were accepted in quick succession. But in the late 19th and early 20th century, big bunnies were all the rage. From Flanders, Belgium comes the biggest bunny of all, the Flemish Giant.
At least, very big rabbits were being bred in Belgium by the mid-1800’s, and our Flemish of today certainly got its name from that region. But some stories tell of Dutch sailors that travelled to the Argentine Republic in South America in the 16th and 17th century, and brought back giant rabbits to Europe. It’s possible that our current Flemish are crosses from the Belgium rabbits and the Argentinian ones. The breed was well established by the turn of the 20th century, desired for its meat-producing qualities. The first Flemish Giant club in the United States was established in 1915.
These days in America, the Flemish Giant comes in a number of attractive colors – black, blue, fawn, white, sandy, light gray, and steel gray. The latter three are unusual names for fairly usual varieties: sandy is a chestnut agouti, light gray is a chinchilla, and steel gray is a black silver-tipped steel. Colors are best kept fairly pure: breeding certain colors to others, such as sandy to fawn, can muddle the color quality.
The English Lop has a minimum ear span length, but the Flemish is the only breed where the standard specifies a minimum rabbit length. This happens to be the same number as for the English Lop ear span: 21 inches. Weight is at least 13 pounds on senior bucks and 14 pounds on senior does. No maximum weight is specified, but some Flemish have pushed even to 20 pounds. However, when judging the Flemish it is important to remember that big is good, but balanced is better. Bone should be heavy, the ears large, and the standard actually calls for a reposeful expression in the eye. These are gentle giants.
The Flemish these days is primarily a fancy breed, raised for show and pets. People who first see them sometimes think these biggest ones must be meat rabbits, but Flemish consumes too much feed for the meat yield to be a very efficient commercial breed. They have always had a strong following.
Mini Rex Breed Info
Recognized colors: Black, blue, broken, castor, chinchilla, chocolate, Himalayan, lilac, opal, otter, red, silver marten, sable point, seal, tortoise, white (ruby-eyed), blue-eyed white.
Size: 3-4.5 pounds
National Specialty Club:
nmrrc.net
Mini Rex Rabbit Information and History
Who doesn’t love the Mini Rex, a 3 ½-pound bunny with a sweet personality and a coat that feels like deep velvet? No wonder the Mini Rex has such a huge following! There were over 2,500 Mini Rex entered in the 2011 ARBA convention, more than any other breed.
Rex is a distinctive rabbit fur type caused by a recessive gene. The first Rex rabbits appeared in France around 1920, and the breed was soon spread around the world. The ARBA adopted a standard for the 9-pound Rex (sometimes called the Standard Rex) in 1929. But of course, it didn’t take long for people to want to put that beautiful coat on a smaller bunny. The Europeans got to it first, using Netherland Dwarfs to produce the Dwarf Rex. By 1984, the Dwarf Rex had arrived in America, and a lady named Mona Berryhill won a pair at an auction. She bred the Dwarf Rex buck to a lynx standard Rex doe, and three does from that litter became the foundation for the Mini Rex. The breed was accepted for its final showing at the Madison, Wisconsin, convention in 1988. In terms of popularity, the Mini Rex took off right away and has never looked back.
The Mini Rex does carry the dwarfing gene, but its type and appearance is certainly not “extreme dwarf.” This breed is in the compact type group and is posed with the head low on the shoulders. Ideally, the topline rises right behind the ears to form a very round, deep body. The desired coat length is 5/8 inch. Fur shorter than 7/8 inch or longer than 1 ½ inches should be disqualified. Mini Rex fur sticks up nearly perpendicular to the body, and with good density feels plush and incredibly soft to the touch. Long guard hairs, poor density, or narrow tips to the hairs can destroy the proper texture. The Mini Rex standard recognizes well over a dozen colors, with more in development all the time. The most popular colors include black, broken, and castor. The most recently accepted color is Silver Marten, officially added to the standard in February 2012.
With any breed that is so widespread, some lines will have better personalities than others. However, Mini Rex in general have friendly temperaments. This breed is an excellent choice for a child starting in rabbits, ranking up there with Himalayan and Dutch.
Size: 3-4.5 pounds
National Specialty Club:
nmrrc.net
Mini Rex Rabbit Information and History
Who doesn’t love the Mini Rex, a 3 ½-pound bunny with a sweet personality and a coat that feels like deep velvet? No wonder the Mini Rex has such a huge following! There were over 2,500 Mini Rex entered in the 2011 ARBA convention, more than any other breed.
Rex is a distinctive rabbit fur type caused by a recessive gene. The first Rex rabbits appeared in France around 1920, and the breed was soon spread around the world. The ARBA adopted a standard for the 9-pound Rex (sometimes called the Standard Rex) in 1929. But of course, it didn’t take long for people to want to put that beautiful coat on a smaller bunny. The Europeans got to it first, using Netherland Dwarfs to produce the Dwarf Rex. By 1984, the Dwarf Rex had arrived in America, and a lady named Mona Berryhill won a pair at an auction. She bred the Dwarf Rex buck to a lynx standard Rex doe, and three does from that litter became the foundation for the Mini Rex. The breed was accepted for its final showing at the Madison, Wisconsin, convention in 1988. In terms of popularity, the Mini Rex took off right away and has never looked back.
The Mini Rex does carry the dwarfing gene, but its type and appearance is certainly not “extreme dwarf.” This breed is in the compact type group and is posed with the head low on the shoulders. Ideally, the topline rises right behind the ears to form a very round, deep body. The desired coat length is 5/8 inch. Fur shorter than 7/8 inch or longer than 1 ½ inches should be disqualified. Mini Rex fur sticks up nearly perpendicular to the body, and with good density feels plush and incredibly soft to the touch. Long guard hairs, poor density, or narrow tips to the hairs can destroy the proper texture. The Mini Rex standard recognizes well over a dozen colors, with more in development all the time. The most popular colors include black, broken, and castor. The most recently accepted color is Silver Marten, officially added to the standard in February 2012.
With any breed that is so widespread, some lines will have better personalities than others. However, Mini Rex in general have friendly temperaments. This breed is an excellent choice for a child starting in rabbits, ranking up there with Himalayan and Dutch.
Havana Breed Info
Recognized colors: black, blue, broken, chocolate
Size: 5-6 pounds
National Specialty Club:
www.havanarb.org
Havana Rabbit Information and HistoryIn any show breed, there’s the ideal type – that wonderful, deep, smooth, sleek body – and then there’s what representatives of the breed really look like. No matter what the standard says, how close does that breed come to meeting it, on average? In some breeds, the real and the ideal are rather a long ways from each other. But there are a few breeds that have been developed to the point where the average show breed is a fine representation of the standard, and the best ones are nearly perfect. One of those breeds is the Havana.
It’s no wonder that Havanas are often honored with the Best in Show award at local, state, and even national levels. There’s nothing particularly flashy about this breed, such as might grab a pet owner’s attention, but to the trained eye of a judge, a top notch Havana is simply breathtaking. The body type is incredibly short and deep, approaching a “half basketball” shape when viewed from the side. When viewed from the top, the hindquarters evenly taper to the shoulders. Ideally there should be no flat or narrow spots in the body type, no squared hips, no pinched hindquarters. The head and ears are of medium length and balance with the body. Although type is important, the coat and color are to be given strong consideration as well. Havanas have flybacks – fur that returns very quickly to its usual position when the rabbit is stroked from tail to head. Havanas do not have a Satin sheen, but their fur does carry an unusually high luster. There are currently four recognized colors: black, blue, chocolate, and broken. The solid colors are all of a dark, rich shade.
In fact, it was the richness of the first chocolate Havana that prompted its development into a new breed. In 1889, according to most sources, a beautiful dark brown rabbit was born in Holland. The breed became known as Havana, suggested by the likeness of the rabbits’ color to Cuban cigars. Havanas arrived in England in 1908 and were recognized by the forerunner of the ARBA around 1916. Blue was recognized in the 1960’s and black in 1980. The most recent variety is broken, achieving acceptance in 2007 thanks to the efforts of Brad and Katie Boyce.
Havanas can range in temperament from very docile to having a bit of an attitude.
Size: 5-6 pounds
National Specialty Club:
www.havanarb.org
Havana Rabbit Information and HistoryIn any show breed, there’s the ideal type – that wonderful, deep, smooth, sleek body – and then there’s what representatives of the breed really look like. No matter what the standard says, how close does that breed come to meeting it, on average? In some breeds, the real and the ideal are rather a long ways from each other. But there are a few breeds that have been developed to the point where the average show breed is a fine representation of the standard, and the best ones are nearly perfect. One of those breeds is the Havana.
It’s no wonder that Havanas are often honored with the Best in Show award at local, state, and even national levels. There’s nothing particularly flashy about this breed, such as might grab a pet owner’s attention, but to the trained eye of a judge, a top notch Havana is simply breathtaking. The body type is incredibly short and deep, approaching a “half basketball” shape when viewed from the side. When viewed from the top, the hindquarters evenly taper to the shoulders. Ideally there should be no flat or narrow spots in the body type, no squared hips, no pinched hindquarters. The head and ears are of medium length and balance with the body. Although type is important, the coat and color are to be given strong consideration as well. Havanas have flybacks – fur that returns very quickly to its usual position when the rabbit is stroked from tail to head. Havanas do not have a Satin sheen, but their fur does carry an unusually high luster. There are currently four recognized colors: black, blue, chocolate, and broken. The solid colors are all of a dark, rich shade.
In fact, it was the richness of the first chocolate Havana that prompted its development into a new breed. In 1889, according to most sources, a beautiful dark brown rabbit was born in Holland. The breed became known as Havana, suggested by the likeness of the rabbits’ color to Cuban cigars. Havanas arrived in England in 1908 and were recognized by the forerunner of the ARBA around 1916. Blue was recognized in the 1960’s and black in 1980. The most recent variety is broken, achieving acceptance in 2007 thanks to the efforts of Brad and Katie Boyce.
Havanas can range in temperament from very docile to having a bit of an attitude.
Dwarf Hotot Breed Info
Recognized colors: black banded, chocolate banded
Size: Maximum weight of 3 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
www.adhrc.com
Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Information and History“Look, it’s a bunny with eyeliner!” Such is the exclamation of many people when they are introduced to this breed, and they become instant fans. The Dwarf Hotot is a small rabbit with a round head, short uppity-ears, a sprightly personality and a pure white coat, except for the “eyeliner.” What could be cuter? Perhaps only the spotted mismarks that this breed throws.
The Dwarf Hotot is one of the more recent breeds to be recognized by the ARBA, gaining acceptance in 1984. It has never been without a strong following, but also has never been among the most popular breeds. There’s an unusual story behind this breed’s development. The much larger Blanc de Hotot was produced in the early 1900’s in an effort to produce a black-eyed white rabbit for meat and fur. In that era, large rabbits were valued for their commercial value. But in later years, big bunnies went out of style and people started pursuing dwarf breeds. In the 1970’s, one breeder in East Germany and one in West Germany started working on a Dwarf Hotot, completely independent of one another. One crossed a REW Netherland Dwarf to a Blanc de Hotot; the other didn’t use a standard Hotot at all, but crossed a black Netherland Dwarf to a Dutch and bred out markings until only the eyebands remained. The two strains were eventually united to produce the breed we know today.
This “eye of the fancy” is of compact type and has a gentle rollback coat. Unlike the Polish, which as similar body type, the shoulders are supposed to be as wide as the hips, and not show any taper. The head set is not as high on the shoulders as that of a Netherland Dwarf, but should not rest on the table either. The head is bold and broad. Ears are carried in an upright V shape, and are disqualified if over 2 ¾ inches in length. The eyes are encircled with narrow bands of colored fur. Ideal eyeband width equals the thickness of two pennies, and the bands of color are even all around the eye. Weak or streaky eyebands are faulted, but a complete break in the band is disqualified.
For many years, the only accepted variety was white with black eyebands. In the year 2006, chocolate banded Dwarf Hotots were accepted by the ARBA. The black and chocolate banded bunnies are shown together, but the color must be specified on the registration forms. You can read the touching story of how chocolate banded DH’s were accepted on the National Specialty Club’s website: adhrc.com/Choc%20Band%20Story.htm Blue-band Dwarf Hotots have also been in development, but are not very near acceptance at this time.
The Dwarf Hotot is strictly a fancy breed. At 3 pounds max, they are too small to be of commercial value. Temperaments can range from outgoing to moody, but as a rule they are friendly rabbits and well suited to a pet life. The breed does struggle sometimes with health issues such as GI Stasis, and there are a number of the babies produced will not be showable due to colored spots on the body, eyeband breaks, or incorrectly colored eyes.
There’s only left to mention that this writer has noticed that Dwarf Hotot breeders tend to keep cages impeccably clean, but we’ll leave that study in psychology for another day!
Size: Maximum weight of 3 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
www.adhrc.com
Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Information and History“Look, it’s a bunny with eyeliner!” Such is the exclamation of many people when they are introduced to this breed, and they become instant fans. The Dwarf Hotot is a small rabbit with a round head, short uppity-ears, a sprightly personality and a pure white coat, except for the “eyeliner.” What could be cuter? Perhaps only the spotted mismarks that this breed throws.
The Dwarf Hotot is one of the more recent breeds to be recognized by the ARBA, gaining acceptance in 1984. It has never been without a strong following, but also has never been among the most popular breeds. There’s an unusual story behind this breed’s development. The much larger Blanc de Hotot was produced in the early 1900’s in an effort to produce a black-eyed white rabbit for meat and fur. In that era, large rabbits were valued for their commercial value. But in later years, big bunnies went out of style and people started pursuing dwarf breeds. In the 1970’s, one breeder in East Germany and one in West Germany started working on a Dwarf Hotot, completely independent of one another. One crossed a REW Netherland Dwarf to a Blanc de Hotot; the other didn’t use a standard Hotot at all, but crossed a black Netherland Dwarf to a Dutch and bred out markings until only the eyebands remained. The two strains were eventually united to produce the breed we know today.
This “eye of the fancy” is of compact type and has a gentle rollback coat. Unlike the Polish, which as similar body type, the shoulders are supposed to be as wide as the hips, and not show any taper. The head set is not as high on the shoulders as that of a Netherland Dwarf, but should not rest on the table either. The head is bold and broad. Ears are carried in an upright V shape, and are disqualified if over 2 ¾ inches in length. The eyes are encircled with narrow bands of colored fur. Ideal eyeband width equals the thickness of two pennies, and the bands of color are even all around the eye. Weak or streaky eyebands are faulted, but a complete break in the band is disqualified.
For many years, the only accepted variety was white with black eyebands. In the year 2006, chocolate banded Dwarf Hotots were accepted by the ARBA. The black and chocolate banded bunnies are shown together, but the color must be specified on the registration forms. You can read the touching story of how chocolate banded DH’s were accepted on the National Specialty Club’s website: adhrc.com/Choc%20Band%20Story.htm Blue-band Dwarf Hotots have also been in development, but are not very near acceptance at this time.
The Dwarf Hotot is strictly a fancy breed. At 3 pounds max, they are too small to be of commercial value. Temperaments can range from outgoing to moody, but as a rule they are friendly rabbits and well suited to a pet life. The breed does struggle sometimes with health issues such as GI Stasis, and there are a number of the babies produced will not be showable due to colored spots on the body, eyeband breaks, or incorrectly colored eyes.
There’s only left to mention that this writer has noticed that Dwarf Hotot breeders tend to keep cages impeccably clean, but we’ll leave that study in psychology for another day!
Mini Lop Breed Info
Recognized colors: Many. Shown in broken pattern and solid pattern groups.
Size: Ideal weight 6 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
amlrc.com
Mini Lop Rabbit Information and HistoryIf you’d like a huggable bunny, this is a breed worth consideration. The Mini Lop looks like a big plush toy: pudgy face, floppy ears, solid body, long soft coat, and a little extra skin here and there. Besides being cuddly, Mini Lops can also be very competitive shown animals. There’s a lot to like about the Mini Lop – even if it isn’t really the smallest breed.
That is, at least in America. In the UK, Australia, and other countries that use British Rabbit Council standards, the “Miniature Lop” only weighs 3-4 pounds and is essentially the same breed as the ARBA’s Holland Lop. The American Mini Lop is larger at 5-6 pounds.
Lop-eared rabbits have been known in Europe for centuries, the original breed being the English Lop. Eventually other breeds developed, including the German Big Lop. This was bred to a small Chinchilla rabbit, and German breeders developed a small lop they called the Klein Widder, or “Little hanging-ear.” In the early 1970’s, a Californian man named Bob Herschbach spotted them at a show in Essen, Germany. He bought a trio home to the United States and started breeding them, crossing in a Standard Chinchilla. The breed attracted some attention and was first presented to the ARBA as the Kline Widder, but the name was changed to Mini Lop in ’74 because it had more public appeal. A man named Herby Dyke finally saw the Mini Lop to ARBA acceptance in 1980. Later the French Lop was crossed in to introduce the broken pattern.
A Mini Lop looks like a smaller version of the French Lop. The head should be of “bulldog” shape – broad and massive, and on does is often pillowed on a large dewlap. Ears be of a horseshoe shape. Body should be very deep and round, with sturdy bone. Coat is a luxurious rollback. The Mini Lop is recognized in a number of colors, but like other lops is shown in two groups, broken pattern and solid pattern. The most common colors are chestnut agouti, opal, chinchilla, and steel.
This breed usually has a personality to match its “teddy bear” appearance. Mini Lops are a good choice for the 4-H project of a child big enough to handle them. With over 1,100 entered in the 2011 ARBA Convention, this breed has a strong showroom following. There are currently two National Specialty Clubs for the Mini Lop in this country. The American Mini Lop Rabbit Club holds the ARBA charter.
Size: Ideal weight 6 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
amlrc.com
Mini Lop Rabbit Information and HistoryIf you’d like a huggable bunny, this is a breed worth consideration. The Mini Lop looks like a big plush toy: pudgy face, floppy ears, solid body, long soft coat, and a little extra skin here and there. Besides being cuddly, Mini Lops can also be very competitive shown animals. There’s a lot to like about the Mini Lop – even if it isn’t really the smallest breed.
That is, at least in America. In the UK, Australia, and other countries that use British Rabbit Council standards, the “Miniature Lop” only weighs 3-4 pounds and is essentially the same breed as the ARBA’s Holland Lop. The American Mini Lop is larger at 5-6 pounds.
Lop-eared rabbits have been known in Europe for centuries, the original breed being the English Lop. Eventually other breeds developed, including the German Big Lop. This was bred to a small Chinchilla rabbit, and German breeders developed a small lop they called the Klein Widder, or “Little hanging-ear.” In the early 1970’s, a Californian man named Bob Herschbach spotted them at a show in Essen, Germany. He bought a trio home to the United States and started breeding them, crossing in a Standard Chinchilla. The breed attracted some attention and was first presented to the ARBA as the Kline Widder, but the name was changed to Mini Lop in ’74 because it had more public appeal. A man named Herby Dyke finally saw the Mini Lop to ARBA acceptance in 1980. Later the French Lop was crossed in to introduce the broken pattern.
A Mini Lop looks like a smaller version of the French Lop. The head should be of “bulldog” shape – broad and massive, and on does is often pillowed on a large dewlap. Ears be of a horseshoe shape. Body should be very deep and round, with sturdy bone. Coat is a luxurious rollback. The Mini Lop is recognized in a number of colors, but like other lops is shown in two groups, broken pattern and solid pattern. The most common colors are chestnut agouti, opal, chinchilla, and steel.
This breed usually has a personality to match its “teddy bear” appearance. Mini Lops are a good choice for the 4-H project of a child big enough to handle them. With over 1,100 entered in the 2011 ARBA Convention, this breed has a strong showroom following. There are currently two National Specialty Clubs for the Mini Lop in this country. The American Mini Lop Rabbit Club holds the ARBA charter.
Holland Lop Breed Info
Recognized colors: Many. Shown in two groups, broken and solid pattern.
Size: Not over 4 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
hlrsc.com
Holland Lop Rabbit Information and HistoryTo say that the Holland Lop is America’s favorite breed is probably an understatement. It might be more fitting to call it the world’s favorite breed. Countries that use ARBA standards (such as the US, Canada, Japan, Malaysia) call it the Holland Lop. Countries that use British Rabbit Council standards (such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand) call it the Miniature Lop. But whatever the name, breeders everywhere love these little flat-faced rabbits with floppy ears.
A man from the Netherlands named Adrian DeCock has been made famous for developing this breed. He crossed a Netherland Dwarf buck to a French Lop doe, and developed the breed from there. The breed first appeared in America in 1975 and attracted immediate admiration. It was quickly recognized by the ARBA and has been one of the most popular breeds for show and pets ever since.
The original color was a dark tortoise called Madagascar, and tortoise remains the most common variety of Hollands today. Though most Hollands you see are tort or broken tort, other fairly common colors include black, blue tort, sable point, orange, chestnut, chinchilla, frosty, and the broken versions of those varieties. Rabbits that are blue-eyed white, tricolored, and any other of the lesser-known varieties are considered “colored Hollands.” Some breeders prefer to specialize in “color” and take pride when a “colored” rabbit beats the torts. There are in fact many recognized colors of Holland Lops, but they are all grouped for show into broken pattern and solid pattern.
The Holland Lop is supposed to have a massive look, but be a small bunny. The standard says the ideal weight is in the 3-pound range, but breeders find their rabbits pushing the 4-pound limit as they select for thicker bone and more solid, heavyset bodies. The head should be large and bold. The ears should be short, thick, and round in shape. There are a number of ear faults, such as thin ears, rolled ears, or a “tight crown” which causes the ears to stick out to the sides instead of fall against the side of the head. The body should be short and muscular, with shoulders of nearly equal depth and width as the hindquarters. The coat isn’t worth many points in the Holland standard compared to type, but it should be a gentle rollback.
Properly typed Holland Lops have heads that are set high on the shoulders. A Holland’s head should never be pushed down to the table when judging, but the rabbit should be allowed to show off its natural head mount. These bunnies generally have nice personalities and are popular as pets.
Size: Not over 4 pounds.
National Specialty Club:
hlrsc.com
Holland Lop Rabbit Information and HistoryTo say that the Holland Lop is America’s favorite breed is probably an understatement. It might be more fitting to call it the world’s favorite breed. Countries that use ARBA standards (such as the US, Canada, Japan, Malaysia) call it the Holland Lop. Countries that use British Rabbit Council standards (such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand) call it the Miniature Lop. But whatever the name, breeders everywhere love these little flat-faced rabbits with floppy ears.
A man from the Netherlands named Adrian DeCock has been made famous for developing this breed. He crossed a Netherland Dwarf buck to a French Lop doe, and developed the breed from there. The breed first appeared in America in 1975 and attracted immediate admiration. It was quickly recognized by the ARBA and has been one of the most popular breeds for show and pets ever since.
The original color was a dark tortoise called Madagascar, and tortoise remains the most common variety of Hollands today. Though most Hollands you see are tort or broken tort, other fairly common colors include black, blue tort, sable point, orange, chestnut, chinchilla, frosty, and the broken versions of those varieties. Rabbits that are blue-eyed white, tricolored, and any other of the lesser-known varieties are considered “colored Hollands.” Some breeders prefer to specialize in “color” and take pride when a “colored” rabbit beats the torts. There are in fact many recognized colors of Holland Lops, but they are all grouped for show into broken pattern and solid pattern.
The Holland Lop is supposed to have a massive look, but be a small bunny. The standard says the ideal weight is in the 3-pound range, but breeders find their rabbits pushing the 4-pound limit as they select for thicker bone and more solid, heavyset bodies. The head should be large and bold. The ears should be short, thick, and round in shape. There are a number of ear faults, such as thin ears, rolled ears, or a “tight crown” which causes the ears to stick out to the sides instead of fall against the side of the head. The body should be short and muscular, with shoulders of nearly equal depth and width as the hindquarters. The coat isn’t worth many points in the Holland standard compared to type, but it should be a gentle rollback.
Properly typed Holland Lops have heads that are set high on the shoulders. A Holland’s head should never be pushed down to the table when judging, but the rabbit should be allowed to show off its natural head mount. These bunnies generally have nice personalities and are popular as pets.
Mini Satin Breed Info
Recognized colors: chinchilla, opal, red, siamese, and white
Size: 4 pounds
National Specialty Club:
www.asrba.org
Mini Satin Rabbit Information and HistoryAs popular as the Satin breed has become, and as long as it has been around, it’s a surprise that the Mini version was only recognized in the last decade. But when you consider how time and resource-intensive it is to create and present a new breed, and the exacting standards the ARBA requires of presentations, maybe it’s not so surprising after all. In fact, a lady named Ariel Hayes of Troy, Michigan, first set out to create a smaller Satin in the 1970’s, but the breed did not reach its final acceptance until 2005.
Mrs. Hayes crossed Satins to Polish and called her new breed “Satinette.” She had the size down to 4 ½ pounds, but by 1982 had to give up the project and her lines were, as far as we can tell, lost. Later in the 1980’s a breeder named B. Pettit started trying to put a satin coat on a Netherland Dwarf. Verle and Sue Castle joined the project in 1990. But also in 1990, a man was discovered in Michigan to have a number of small, “satinized” rabbits. He called them Satinettes, but claimed that he had invented the name and would not tell where they came from. The Castles obtained a working standard for the Satinette, but had to drop the project in 1994.
A man named Jim Krahulec purchased the Castle’s herd, but thinking they were too much like satin-coated dwarfs, decided to raise the size a little, make the type more like the standard Satin, and rename the breed to Mini Satin. Krahulec worked with the breed for several years, but Judge J. Leo Collins finally saw the acceptance of the first variety, white, at the 2005 ARBA Convention in Indianapolis.
Other colors have marched steadily on in behind the whites: chinchilla, opal, red, and siamese. Several more — such as lilac, blue and broken — are still in development. The body type is small and compact, shaped more like a miniature Satin than a Mini Rex. Ears must not be over 3 ½ inches. Fur has a beautiful sheen caused by a translucent hair shell.
The ARBA requires that each recognized breed is backed by a National Specialty Club, but does allow similar breeds (such as lops and angoras) to be grouped together under one club. Many of the early Mini Satin supporters were standard Satin breeders, so when the Mini was accepted, the American Satin Rabbit Breeders Association was happy to take the breed under its wing and sponsor both sizes of shiny-coated rabbits. Although breeders have some kinks to work out of the bloodlines (such as questionable temperaments), Mini Satins have already achieved high levels of quality. Amazingly, a white Mini Satin won Best in Show at the 2007 ARBA national convention, just two years after final acceptance. This one promises to be a popular breed in the future.
Size: 4 pounds
National Specialty Club:
www.asrba.org
Mini Satin Rabbit Information and HistoryAs popular as the Satin breed has become, and as long as it has been around, it’s a surprise that the Mini version was only recognized in the last decade. But when you consider how time and resource-intensive it is to create and present a new breed, and the exacting standards the ARBA requires of presentations, maybe it’s not so surprising after all. In fact, a lady named Ariel Hayes of Troy, Michigan, first set out to create a smaller Satin in the 1970’s, but the breed did not reach its final acceptance until 2005.
Mrs. Hayes crossed Satins to Polish and called her new breed “Satinette.” She had the size down to 4 ½ pounds, but by 1982 had to give up the project and her lines were, as far as we can tell, lost. Later in the 1980’s a breeder named B. Pettit started trying to put a satin coat on a Netherland Dwarf. Verle and Sue Castle joined the project in 1990. But also in 1990, a man was discovered in Michigan to have a number of small, “satinized” rabbits. He called them Satinettes, but claimed that he had invented the name and would not tell where they came from. The Castles obtained a working standard for the Satinette, but had to drop the project in 1994.
A man named Jim Krahulec purchased the Castle’s herd, but thinking they were too much like satin-coated dwarfs, decided to raise the size a little, make the type more like the standard Satin, and rename the breed to Mini Satin. Krahulec worked with the breed for several years, but Judge J. Leo Collins finally saw the acceptance of the first variety, white, at the 2005 ARBA Convention in Indianapolis.
Other colors have marched steadily on in behind the whites: chinchilla, opal, red, and siamese. Several more — such as lilac, blue and broken — are still in development. The body type is small and compact, shaped more like a miniature Satin than a Mini Rex. Ears must not be over 3 ½ inches. Fur has a beautiful sheen caused by a translucent hair shell.
The ARBA requires that each recognized breed is backed by a National Specialty Club, but does allow similar breeds (such as lops and angoras) to be grouped together under one club. Many of the early Mini Satin supporters were standard Satin breeders, so when the Mini was accepted, the American Satin Rabbit Breeders Association was happy to take the breed under its wing and sponsor both sizes of shiny-coated rabbits. Although breeders have some kinks to work out of the bloodlines (such as questionable temperaments), Mini Satins have already achieved high levels of quality. Amazingly, a white Mini Satin won Best in Show at the 2007 ARBA national convention, just two years after final acceptance. This one promises to be a popular breed in the future.
Lionhead Breed Info
Breed profile of the Lionhead, one of the newest rabbit breeds, named for the mane of long hair standing up in a fringe around the head. They are small rabbits, lively and energetic but good-natured.
Size: Small/Medium
Hair Type: Medium
Origins
The Lionhead is one of the newest rabbit breeds and has been developed following a genetic mutation that causes the growth of a longer 'mane' of hair around the head. In nature, mutations occur quite frequently, and many breeds result from a mutation that is fixed through a selective breeding programme. The Lionhead gene is the first major mutation in rabbits since the Satin in 1932, and unlike other fur gene mutations it is dominant. This means that a Lionhead rabbit crossed with a normal rabbit will still pass on the 'mane' gene to some offspring, producing more Lionheads. There are differing accounts of where the Lionhead mutation first occured; some sources say it originated in Belgium, as a result of crossing Swiss Fox with Belgian Dwarf rabbits to create a long-coated dwarf rabbit, with the progeny then bred with the Dwarf Angora. Other sources say the mutation simply occured in a litter of pure-bred Dwarf Angoras, with the dominant Lionhead gene spreading through the Dwarf Angora breed in Europe. An undesirable trait in the Dwarf Angora, attempts were made to set the gene in a new breed, 'Téte de Lion'. Whatever its origins, the Lionhead certainly originated in Europe, and the Dwarf Angora played an important role in its early development. Rabbits with the 'mane' gene were imported to Britain and bred with other small wool breeds and Dwarf breeds, to develop the Lionhead breed as we know it today. (The Netherland Dwarf has had a particularly strong influence in establishing the compact body shape and small ears of the breed standard, and also introducing a wide variety of colours). The Lionhead was officially recognised by the British Rabbit Council in 2002, in all known colours and patterns. Lionheads were imported to the United States around 2000, where the breed is under development but not yet recognised by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
Appearance
The Lionhead is a small rabbit, weighing around 1.3-1.7kg (3-3¾lbs).
Lionhead rabbits have a compact, medium build with a short, broad and well-rounded body. The head is broad, slightly rounded and close-set on the body, with short, upright ears.
Lionheads have soft, medium length hair on their body, with a 'mane' of soft wool, 5-7cm (2-3inch) long, standing up in a fringe around the head and extending to a 'bib' on the chest.
Breeding Lionheads true to the breed standard is not simple. Rabbits that inherit two dominant genes (MM) will have a double mane; baby double-maned rabbits have normal fur on the head and back extending to a vee shape at the tail, with bare flanks and belly. As they grow, the body develops normal fur, with a thick mane of longer wool right around the head, shoulders and chest and extending in a vee shape behind the neck. Many double-maned Lionheads have excessive fur on the flanks and some can develop tufts on the tips of the ears, these are considered a fault in the show standard. Rabbits inheriting one dominant gene and one recessive gene (Mm) will have a single mane; baby single-maned rabbits have normal fur, as they grow they develop longer wool around the head and ears which often thins by adulthood. Single-maned rabbits are usually hybrids, the result of crossing a double-maned rabbit with a normal rabbit. Crossing two single-maned rabbits results in some (MM) double-maned, some (Mm) single-maned rabbits and some rabbits inheriting two recessive genes (mm) will have normal fur. As double-maned rabbits often develop too much fur, and single-maned rabbits usually lose some of their mane in adulthood, breeding the ideal Lionhead is complex.
Colour
All colours found in other breeds are recognised in the UK, commonly White (red or blue-eyed), Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Siamese Sable, Siamese Smoke Pearl, Sable Point, Tortoiseshell, Agouti, Chestnut, Opal, Lynx, Chinchilla, Squirrel, Tan, Fox, Sable Marten, Smoke Pearl Marten, Silver Marten, Otter, Orange, Fawn, Steel, Butterfly.
The Lionhead breed is not yet recognised in the USA, but is undergoing development in many of the above colours, including Broken pattern.
Temperament
Lionheads are generally good-natured rabbits, although lively and often timid. Gentleness and understanding are needed to win their trust and bring out the best in their personality. They can be quite outgoing and sociable and will thrive on attention. They are usually energetic, active and playful, and despite their small size, need plenty of space to run and play.
Lionheads are not generally recommended with children as they need experienced handling. They tend to be easily frightened and may become aggressive.
Some Lionheads may have a more skittish, or even aggressive nature. The Lionhead is a recent breed and still under development in many countries, temperament can vary quite a bit depending on the breeds used to develop each line.
Special Requirements
Lionhead rabbits may be more prone than other breeds to dental disease, a potentially fatal condition that is often inherited.
Choose a rabbit with a good temperament and a low risk of hereditary teeth problems, from a reputable breeder or rescue centre.
Lionheads need some additional grooming, the longer 'wool' of the mane needs to be combed once a week to prevent matting, daily grooming is necessary during moult.
Lionheads are more at risk of developing hairballs, which can cause potentially fatal digestive problems.
- See more at: http://www.bunnyhugga.com/a-to-z/breeds/lionhead.html#sthash.emA8wSz8.dpuf
Size: Small/Medium
Hair Type: Medium
Origins
The Lionhead is one of the newest rabbit breeds and has been developed following a genetic mutation that causes the growth of a longer 'mane' of hair around the head. In nature, mutations occur quite frequently, and many breeds result from a mutation that is fixed through a selective breeding programme. The Lionhead gene is the first major mutation in rabbits since the Satin in 1932, and unlike other fur gene mutations it is dominant. This means that a Lionhead rabbit crossed with a normal rabbit will still pass on the 'mane' gene to some offspring, producing more Lionheads. There are differing accounts of where the Lionhead mutation first occured; some sources say it originated in Belgium, as a result of crossing Swiss Fox with Belgian Dwarf rabbits to create a long-coated dwarf rabbit, with the progeny then bred with the Dwarf Angora. Other sources say the mutation simply occured in a litter of pure-bred Dwarf Angoras, with the dominant Lionhead gene spreading through the Dwarf Angora breed in Europe. An undesirable trait in the Dwarf Angora, attempts were made to set the gene in a new breed, 'Téte de Lion'. Whatever its origins, the Lionhead certainly originated in Europe, and the Dwarf Angora played an important role in its early development. Rabbits with the 'mane' gene were imported to Britain and bred with other small wool breeds and Dwarf breeds, to develop the Lionhead breed as we know it today. (The Netherland Dwarf has had a particularly strong influence in establishing the compact body shape and small ears of the breed standard, and also introducing a wide variety of colours). The Lionhead was officially recognised by the British Rabbit Council in 2002, in all known colours and patterns. Lionheads were imported to the United States around 2000, where the breed is under development but not yet recognised by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
Appearance
The Lionhead is a small rabbit, weighing around 1.3-1.7kg (3-3¾lbs).
Lionhead rabbits have a compact, medium build with a short, broad and well-rounded body. The head is broad, slightly rounded and close-set on the body, with short, upright ears.
Lionheads have soft, medium length hair on their body, with a 'mane' of soft wool, 5-7cm (2-3inch) long, standing up in a fringe around the head and extending to a 'bib' on the chest.
Breeding Lionheads true to the breed standard is not simple. Rabbits that inherit two dominant genes (MM) will have a double mane; baby double-maned rabbits have normal fur on the head and back extending to a vee shape at the tail, with bare flanks and belly. As they grow, the body develops normal fur, with a thick mane of longer wool right around the head, shoulders and chest and extending in a vee shape behind the neck. Many double-maned Lionheads have excessive fur on the flanks and some can develop tufts on the tips of the ears, these are considered a fault in the show standard. Rabbits inheriting one dominant gene and one recessive gene (Mm) will have a single mane; baby single-maned rabbits have normal fur, as they grow they develop longer wool around the head and ears which often thins by adulthood. Single-maned rabbits are usually hybrids, the result of crossing a double-maned rabbit with a normal rabbit. Crossing two single-maned rabbits results in some (MM) double-maned, some (Mm) single-maned rabbits and some rabbits inheriting two recessive genes (mm) will have normal fur. As double-maned rabbits often develop too much fur, and single-maned rabbits usually lose some of their mane in adulthood, breeding the ideal Lionhead is complex.
Colour
All colours found in other breeds are recognised in the UK, commonly White (red or blue-eyed), Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Siamese Sable, Siamese Smoke Pearl, Sable Point, Tortoiseshell, Agouti, Chestnut, Opal, Lynx, Chinchilla, Squirrel, Tan, Fox, Sable Marten, Smoke Pearl Marten, Silver Marten, Otter, Orange, Fawn, Steel, Butterfly.
The Lionhead breed is not yet recognised in the USA, but is undergoing development in many of the above colours, including Broken pattern.
Temperament
Lionheads are generally good-natured rabbits, although lively and often timid. Gentleness and understanding are needed to win their trust and bring out the best in their personality. They can be quite outgoing and sociable and will thrive on attention. They are usually energetic, active and playful, and despite their small size, need plenty of space to run and play.
Lionheads are not generally recommended with children as they need experienced handling. They tend to be easily frightened and may become aggressive.
Some Lionheads may have a more skittish, or even aggressive nature. The Lionhead is a recent breed and still under development in many countries, temperament can vary quite a bit depending on the breeds used to develop each line.
Special Requirements
Lionhead rabbits may be more prone than other breeds to dental disease, a potentially fatal condition that is often inherited.
Choose a rabbit with a good temperament and a low risk of hereditary teeth problems, from a reputable breeder or rescue centre.
Lionheads need some additional grooming, the longer 'wool' of the mane needs to be combed once a week to prevent matting, daily grooming is necessary during moult.
Lionheads are more at risk of developing hairballs, which can cause potentially fatal digestive problems.
- See more at: http://www.bunnyhugga.com/a-to-z/breeds/lionhead.html#sthash.emA8wSz8.dpuf