Rex rabbit, Mini Rex rabbit, Astrex Rex rabbit, Dalmation Rex rabbit, Nutria Rex rabbit, Opossum Rex rabbit, Satin Angora rabbit, Giant Angora rabbit, German Angora rabbit, French Angora rabbit, English Angora rabbit, American rabbit, Alaska rabbit, Flemish Giant rabbit, British Giant rabbit, Britannia Petite rabbit, Netherland Dwarf rabbit, American Polish rabbit
Description: Britannia Petite rabbits are a tiny breed known as Polish rabbits outside
of the United States. This small, easily frightened rabbit is very similar
to the American Polish, but with some subtle differences. First of all,
they have longer legs, and ears slightly shorter (2 and a half inches or
less) than the American Polish. They weigh slightly less, averaging around
2 and a half pounds, and have a much less 'compact' look. Their fur is
slightly thinner, shorter, and tighter on the skin. Colors include: black,
black otter, chestnut, ruby-eyed white and sable marten.
Population status: Rare
Facts: Britannia Petite rabbits originated in England, probably from just random,
small-sized rabbits. They are now considered a very fancy show breed,
needing to be trained to pose just right for judges. Complicating this is
their skiddish, fragile temperament. They don't make the best pets, and if
handled, slow, cautious, but firm is the way to go. It takes time for them
to trust, and if handled wrong, they can easily injure from jumping around
spastically in fright.
Description: Because of the Netherland Dwarf breed's 'dwarfism', it is
considerably tiny and cute. With a flat round head and small ears (average
being 2 inches or less), it's face is rather disproportionate to the
rest of the body. It is known as being the smallest classified breed of
rabbit (weighing only around 2 pounds), as well as coming in the most
varieties of colors and color patterning of any other breed. Colorings
include, Solids: black, chocolate, blue, lilac, and white (as with
the American Polish breed, the white variety can have blue or ruby eyes).
Shaded: sable point, Siamese sable, and Siamese smoke pearl.
Agouti: chestnut, chinchilla, lynx, opal, and squirrel. Tan:
tan, otter, sable marten, silver, marten, and smoke pearl marten.
Misc. includes: fawn, Himalayan (which can be black, chocolate,
blue, or lilac), orange, steel, and tortoiseshell.
Facts: Netherland Dwarfs are a mix of the Dutch breed and wild rabbits.
Subsequently they can often have aggressive personalities, which is
believed to be the result of the breeders using these various wild rabbits
selected only for their body size to achieve the current dwarfism that
makes the Netherland Dwarf. Although, more recently, there has been select
breeding of mild temperamented Netherland Dwarfs, so use as domestic pets
has become much more popular. So popular in fact, that it is one of the
most common breeds to be sold in pet stores today. Regardless, they are
still generally seen as an energetic breed all around.
The breed was first produced in Holland in the early 1900's, but after
World War II, there were only 18 left, 9 of which the English rescued and
brought to the United Kingdom. The United States imported it's first
Netherland Dwarfs in the late 1900's.
Often confused with: English Polish (aka, Britannia Petite), Netherland Dwarf
Domesticated? Yes
Place of Origin: Belgium
Description: The American Polish breed is among the smallest breeds of rabbits. Ideally
weighing around 3 pounds, they come in a variety of colors: black, blue,
broken, chocolate, and white. The white variety can have blue or ruby
eyes--ruby being a true albino, but blue just stemming from the Vienna
white gene. Until 1950, only the white variety was considered true Polish.
Although their body shape is very similar to the Netherland Dwarf breed, it
is actually a bit bigger. Comparatively, Polish heads are long and not
rounded, as well as having fuller cheeks. Their ears are longer, at an
average of 3 inches, than the Netherland Dwarf at 2 or less inches. Their
hi-gloss flyback coat is very sleek and shiny.
Facts: The first Polish are believed to have been originally developed in the
1860's from albino forms of the Dutch and Himalayan rabbit breeds. They
aren't very known in Poland, so the Polish name is believed to have been
for flair and fancy. First exhibited in England in 1884, they have since
been raised as popular, fancy, exhibition rabbits in England and Germany
especially in the 1900's. More recently, especially with their pleasant
personalities and hardy nature, have they been considered more of a pet
than show breed all over the world.
