Meet the Rex, Large and Small

Rex rabbits come in two main types, the Standard Rex, and its’ smaller cousin, the Mini Rex. Both breeds have a luxurious, velvety fur that was once the main reason they were bred, as it’s coat was in high demand by the fur trade, although that practice has all but ceased these days.

The Big Boy in the Family- The Standard Rex

A Standard Rex usually weighs somewhere between seven and eleven pounds, and comes in a huge range of colors. Breeders have had great success in breeding Rex’s of many different hues, and the Rex rabbits of today can be found in Blue, Black, Chocolate, Lilac, Amber and Sable, to name just a few. Breeders also categorize their marking styles, with such names as Californian, Castor, and Black Otter. Rex ears stand straight and stiff, and their short coat requires very little grooming.
The Rex temperament is good natured and stable as a rule, and they do make excellent pets, especially for children. Rex does have a reputation for being very maternal in nature, and breeders will often use them to raise orphaned or rejected offspring of other rabbit breeds with great success. Although they are relatively calm rabbits, they do not enjoy very noisy environments or rough handling, a trait common to almost all rabbit breeds.

Mini Rex Rabbits

Mini Rex Rabbits are really just a smaller version of the Standard Rex rabbit, weighing on average three to five pounds. They sport the same luxurious fur, are as friendly as their bigger cousins, and considerably more active. They may not make the best pet for very small children as they are fairly fragile animals and need to be handled with a high degree of care.
Both varieties of Rex can make excellent house rabbits; they are quite easy to toilet train and will usually be quite happy in the company of both people and other animals. The decreased need for grooming makes them suitable for busier families.

Angora Rabbit Basics

Angora Rabbits are famous for their abundance of fur and their cute, cuddly appearance. Some of them can be so furry it is hard to tell at a quick glance that they are rabbits at all. The wool harvested from their abundant coat is one of the most desirable in the world. But how difficult is it for the first timer to successfully raise a happy, healthy angora?

Caring for that Coat

As you might imagine, grooming is a bigger chore for the angora owner than for those who choose a different breed. Most experienced angora owners use a system of “blowing” the fur, and advise the purchase of a pet grooming blower, as a conventional hair dryer can become dangerously hot and burn delicate bunny skin. It is best to try to do this at least once a week to remove excess hair and prevent matting and tangling. Unless it is a show animal, the Angora can be shorn in the summer, much like a sheep, to help it stay cool and happy.

Hidden Hair Danger

Because of that thick wooly coat, Angoras are prone to a condition known as “wool block” which can prove fatal if untreated. The Angora tends to eat or chew its’ fur, which sits in the stomach undigested. The affected rabbit then feels too full to eat, and may starve itself to death. Feeding them a high fiber diet on a regular basis can help prevent the problem from occurring, and for those already afflicted pineapple juice and a human stool softener such as Colace have been used successfully by breeders to cure their animals. For inexperienced owners though a visit to the local vet is always recommended.

Living with a Furball!

Angoras are usually very placid and good tempered. They make good house rabbits as long as the owners do not mind the abundance of hair all over the place at shedding time, which is a twice a year occasion.

English Spot Rabbits – Professional Show Offs

The English Rabbit, also known as the English Spot Rabbit is one of the oldest breeds of show rabbit in the world. The original English rabbit was traditionally white and black, or white and blue, but since the 1920s show associations have accepted many other colors including chocolate, lilac and tortoiseshell.

A Long and Storied History

The English rabbit first appeared around 1848, in England of course. After an initial burst of popularity on the show circuit the breed the English Spot died out somewhat. However it burst back onto the scene in the late 1880’s in new colors and varieties and has remained a rabbit fancy favorite ever since.

A Distinctive Gentleman from Head to Toe

The common factor for the English rabbit, whatever its color, is the “herringbone” line pattern that runs down its spine from ears to tail. They also have solid colored nose markings and rings around both eyes. For an English to be show worthy the spots and markings on its hind quarters must be clearly defined. A rabbit whose spots run into one another will be disqualified.

As it is such a popular show breed owners have been disqualified from competitions for trying to get away with such cheats as spot dyeing the rabbits coat or puttying their noses to make them appear more prominent!

Lively, Lovable Clowns

The English is a lively rabbit, loving to cavort about, seeming to be great show offs. Does usually make excellent mothers, and will raise kits other than their own to maturity. They do require careful and regular grooming to keep their dense coats shiny and healthy.

In the average litter of newborn English kits, only half will usually be “correctly” marked. There is often one kit that is known as a Charlie, as it has only half the usual amount of markings and a “Charlie Chaplin” mustache. Other kits can be born with a solid color coat, with no extra markings at all.

The Dwarf Lop – Colorful and Cuddly

A Dwarf Lop is very similar in appearance to its’ similarly sized cousin, the Mini Lop. The only real difference is size, the Dwarf Lop being larger by a pound or so on average.

Both breeds make great pets, but as the Dwarf Lop lives to an average of nine or ten years old, they are rabbits that will be around for a long time, with proper care and handling.

Do the Ears Hang Low?

The baby Dwarf Lop is born, like all breeds of lop, with ears that stand up straight. As they mature the ears flop down into the characteristic droopy style.

The Dwarf Lop breed was perfected first, as the result of introducing a dwarfing gene to a strain of French Lop rabbits in the late nineteen eighties. They are a relatively new breed to American market, but are becoming increasingly popular as pets for older children. It is not always recommended to give a Dwarf Lop to a very small child, as they are quite delicate and may not withstand rough handling.

Dwarf Lops come in many different colors, from black to lilac to orange. They can be one of any number of patterns too. Show Dutch Lops will only be accepted in black, white, blue, agouti, chinchilla, sable, seal point and fawn. Any other color would be disqualified as unsuitable.

As Cool as Cats

The Dwarf Lop is quite smart, and can be trained to use a litter box or tray. If you do decide to litter train any breed of rabbit it is best to use a non- clumping litter, as rabbits choke easily, and will not be able to digest hard lumps of clay litter.

Dwarf Lops are usually very affectionate and loving. Some pet owners report that their Lops actually seem to be purring when they are being stroked and petted.