Rabbit terms

straight from the ARBA standard of perfection

Abscess or Boil

localized area of inflammation caused by an infection under the skin, in a gland, or in a hair follicle which may produce localized swelling, heat, redness, and possibly pus. A disqualification. (Not to be confused with an inflammation or irritation due to an injection, ex. vaccine)

Agouti pattern

A hair shaft that has three or more bands of color, with a definite break between each color. Usually has dark slate at the base, with two or more alternating light or dark bands of color, which is further interspersed with contrasting guard hairs. The head, feet, and ears usually have ticking. Eye circles, belly, under jaws, underside of tail, and triangle are much lighter (may be white in some cases) and do not carry ticking.

Albino

A white rabbit with pink eyes caused by a recessive gene, rendering the rabbit unable to produce any colored pigment

Arch

The gentle curvature of the spine, extending from the neck to the rear of the rabbit. Best observed by viewing the animal from the side.

Awn fluff

The soft, crimped, intermediate wool fibers ending with a straight tip. A type of wool fiber described in the Giant Angora standard.

Awn hair

The strong, straight, guard hair protruding above the undercoat of the Giant Angora.

Back

The top portion of the shoulders, loin, and hindquarters

Balance

Type-- shape or conformation. An orderly and pleasing arrangement of physical characteristics, so as to present a harmonious appearance

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Markings-- Equal distribution of corresponding markings, such as color divisions of the Harlequin, or equal amounts of color on the cheeks of the Dutch. Equal distribution of color in the pattern and side markings of the Checkered Giant, English Spot, and Rhinelander.

Band

An unbroken vertical circle of marking color around the body of the Harlequin

Banding

A hair shaft having various colors, normally associated with an agouti coat

Bangs

The longer wool appearing at the front base of the ears and top of the head in some wool breads.

Bar

A semicircle of marking color, running vertically on the sides or body of the Harlequin

Barred

Elongated spots that should appear round, as found in the side markings of the Rhinelander, English Spot, or Checkered Giant.

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Light colored streaks or bars on the front of rear feet of agouti varieties

Base color/undercolor

the fur color at the base of the hair shaft next to the skin

Bell ears

Ears that have large, heavy tips with a distinctive fall or lop

Belly

The abdomen, from the last rib to the pelvis, containing the primarily the organs of digestion

Belly color

The color on the underside of the rabbit extending from the forelegs to the crotch area

Bib

Chest wool on the Lionhead, which is also considered to be a part of the mane

Blaze

The white marking found on the face of the Dutch. It should be medium wide, and wedge shaped, covering the nose, whisker bed, and tapering up to the ears, where it joins the hairline. The blaze is to continue to the cheeks and should be well rounded and follow the jaw line after passing the whisker bed

Blemish

Any defect or fault that detracts from the appearance

Bloom

The vitality and finish of a coat in good condition

Bob tail

A tail noticeably shorter than normal. A disqualification.

Booted broken

A broken patterned rabbit marked with color on the entire body except for white which appears below the elbow on the front feet and/or below the ankle on the rear feet

Boots

The colored marking on the feet and legs of Pointed Pattern rabbits

Bowed legs

Legs (either front or back) that are curved outwardly or inwardly from the middle. A disqualification.

Breed

A class of domestic rabbits that reproduces itself with distinctive characteristics, such as fur, markings, shape, and size

Breeder

Anyone who raises a breed or variety of rabbits which compiles with the Standard of Perfection.

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A rabbit primarily used to produce offspring

Breeding certificate

A written certificate, issued by the owner of a stud buck, showing its pedigree and the date of breeding to a particular doe. It is issued as proof of ancestry of the anticipated liter.

Brindle

An intermixture of two colors without definite pattern

Brindling

The longer tan tipped guard hairs carried up the flanks and hindquarters of Tan Pattern rabbits

Broken coat

Fur with guard hairs missing or broken, exposing the undercoat. A coat that is molting affected by molt, exposing the undercoat

Buck

An intact male rabbit

Bulldog head

A short, broad, bold head, with a definite masculine appearance

Butterfly

A nose marking found on some marked breeds and Broken varieties. The wing portions cover the whisker bed and upper lip, with the body or nose fork extending up the center of the face

Butting teeth/simple malocclusion

Where the incisors meet evenly, without the upper incisors overlapping the lower incisors. A disqualification.

Caked teat/breast

The swollen, hard, milk-filled mammary gland caused by excess production of milk

Cap

The marking line where lower ear color stops and joins head color. Specified in the Checkered Giant

Carriage

The manner in which a rabbit carries itself. The style or characteristic pose of a rabbit

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The style in which a rabbit carries its ears

Cataract

An opaque or white lens in either or both eyes. A disqualification

Chain

The arrangement of the spots on an English Spot, running from the neck to the midsection

Charlie

An extremely lightly marked animal in marked breeds or broken groups. A Charlie usually has colored ears, narrow eye circles, and a “Charlie Chaplin” mustache-like marking. It is usually devoid of back and side markings.

Cheek spot

A single, round spot of color on the cheek of marked breeds. It should be below the eye

Cheeks

The sides of the face, below the eyes

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The rounded color head marking that forms the blaze and carries down the jawline of a Dutch

Chest

The front portion of the body between the forelegs, belly, and neck

Chopped

A body type fault in which there is an abrupt and sharp vertical fall from the top of the hip to the tail. Not well filled out and rounded

Chuffy

Excessive fat or flesh around the shoulder and rib section

Clean

A term used on French Angora, Satin Angora, Jersey Wooly, and Fuzzy Lop head, ears, feet, and legs, denoting the presence of normal fur (absence of wool).

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Well-formed markings without congestion or drags

Coat

The fur covering a rabbit

Cobby

A short and stocky body type which is close coupled and very compact

Cold

A respiratory infection, usually characterized by repeated sneezing and the discharge of a white purulent fluid from the nose. It is sometimes accompanied by matted fur on the inside of the front feet. A disqualification.

Collar

The area surrounding the neck

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The marking connecting the triangle and the chest on a Tan

Condition

The overall physical state of a rabbit in relation to health, cleanliness, fur, and grooming

Conjunctivitis/weepy eye

Inflammation of the inner membrane of the eyelid. The membrane will appear red and inflamed. A disqualification.

Cottony

A very fine, soft textured fur or wool that lacks guard hairs

Cow hocks

Hind legs that turn inward at the hock, causing the toe portion to turn outward from the body. A disqualification

Crimp

The natural waviness of the fiber in a wool undercoat

Crown

A strong basal ridge of cartilage at the top of the head, forming the ear base on some lop-eared breeds

Crown spots/Pea spots

Two spots of marking color at the inside base of the ears in Tan Pattern breeds

Dead tail

A tail that is hard and brittle due to the loss of circulation. Not a disqualification unless broken and out of alignment

Definition

The sharpness and clarity of a color break on a hair shaft, as in the ring color in Agouti fur

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The contrast between two or more colors

Density

The property or quality of a thick coat of fur. The number of fur fibers in a given area

Depth

The measurement from any point along the top line of the rabbit, straight down to the lowest portion of the body at that given point

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The term describing the extension of color down the hair shaft

Deviated spine

A deviation in the spine (vertebrae of the neck and back) wereby the normal alignment of the bones is replaced by deformed, misshapen, or mislaigned vertebrae. The condition can often be detected by a gentel palpation of the vertebrae along the topline of the rabbit. A disqualification

Deviated Sternum

A condition in which the connecting tissue of the ribs and/or breastbone fuse together forming an irregular sternum. Typically found at the lower end of the rib cage. Characterized by a lump or cone-shaped bony protrusion, which may also extend up into the internal cavity of the animal. A disqualification.

Dewclaw

An extra toe on the inside of the front legs, which can be used for digging, burrowing, and scratching

Dewlap

A pendulous fold of loose skin that hangs from the throat. It is common in does and should be in proportion to the total body size. A disqualification in some breeds

Disqualification

One or more defects, deformities, or blemishes that render a rabbit ineligible for competition or registration

Doe

An intact female rabbit

Double cheek spot

Two criteria must be met to qualify as a double cheek spot: the spots must be near the same size and they must be in close proximity to each other. BOTH must be present to be considered a disqualification, this applies to English Spots, Rhinelanders, and Checkered Giants

Drag

The intrusion of a color marking into a white marking area

Ear base

the area where the ears attach to the skull or head

Ear carriage

The holding or carriage displayed by a rabbit’s ears when it is in a relaxed, normal pose

Ear lacing

A colored line of fur that outlines the sides and tips of the ears

Ear mark

A permanent ink tattoo in a rabbit’s left ear for the purpose of identification

Ear mites

An inflamed, scabby condition, inside the ear, caused by an infection of the ear canal by ear mites. A disqualification

Entropion

The condition in which one or both of the eyelids fold inward. This condition generally results in trauma to the eye and my be evident by inflammation, discharge from the eye, or eyelid swelling. Can be hereditary, a disqualification

Extension

Term describing length of leg and limb

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The term describing the depth of color carried down a hair shaft

Eye band

A thin marking that forms a complete outline of the eye. Found in the Blanc de Hotot and Dwarf Hotot

Eye circle

A round marking surrounding the eye

Eye spot

Translucent spots usually found on the cornea of the eye below the pupil. This is often caused by a notch in the upper eyelid, but can be caused by an injury

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Spot on the iris that is a different color that the rest of the eye. Both are disqualifications

Eye stain

Splotches or streaks of color around the eyes in Pointed Pattern rabbits

Faking

Any dyeing, plucking, trimming, or clipping so to alter the appearance with the intent to deceive. Ex. coloring toenails, powdering, and indiscriminate use of grooming preparations designed to alter the natural condition or appearance. A disqualification

Fault

A deviation from perfection or a physical imperfection

Feather

Small colored drag off the back or top of the eye circle. Usually associated with the English Spot, Rhinelander, or Checkered Giant

Feathering

Any drag in the coloration of a Hotot or Dwarf Hotot eye band

Felting

Wool fibers that have become interwoven during natural growth. A fault in wooled breeds

Fiber

The individual hair that combines with others to compose a coat of fur/wool

Fine coat

A coat of fur too fine in texture, lacking body. The guard hairs are weak and thin in structure. The coat lacks the proper amount of guard hairs

Finish

The desired degree of perfection in condition. Fully prime in coat, color, and flesh

Flabby

The condition of a rabbit where the skin hangs loosely on the body. Not trim, shapely, or firm of flesh

Flange

The thin outer portion of the backside of the ear. A fault when viewed from the front of the rabbit on breeds with ears carried erect and close together

Flank

The side of the rabbit between the rib and the hip, above the belly

Flat coat

A coat of fur lying too close to the body. Lacks spring or body as noted by touch. Usually a fine coat coupled with lack of density

Flat shoulders

A trait that occurs when the topline over the shoulders is noticeably parallel to the surface of the judging table. A lack of continuous arch from the neck over the shoulders

Flesh spot or Freckle

A foreign colored pigment on the skin in the nose and mouth area. A disqualification in some breeds, such as the Dutch

Flyback

A coat of fur that quickly returns to its smooth normal position when stroked from the hindquarters to the shoulders.

Foot

The portion of the skeleton on which the rabbit walks or stands. Front font, it’s below the pastern (ankle). On rear, it’s below the hock

Foreign color

Any color of fur, toenails, or eyes, differing from that called for in the Standard of Perfection for the breed or variety. A disqualification

Forequarter

The portion of the body, starting with the neck, back to and including the last rib

Fringe(s)

The wool on some breeds appearing on the ears and falling between the tassels and bangs