A listing of terms used commonly throughout the rabbit world.
Abortion - A birth which occurs before the normal time. Expelling the embryo/fetus from the womb of the female before the normal gestation period has ended.
Adult - Any fully developed, mature rabbit of breeding age. For show purposes, a rabbit 6 months of age or older in breeds having four showroom classes and 8 months or older in breeds having six showroom classes.
Agouti - A hair shaft that has three or more bands of color, with a definite break between each color. Usually dark slate at the base, with two or more alternating light or dark bands or rings of color, which is further inter fused with contrasting dark guard hair, such as chinchillas.
Albino/REW - A pink-eyed, white furred/wooled rabbit.
Anterior - A normal birth, where the front feet and head are presented first.
ARBA - The initials of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc., which promotes rabbits in the U.S. and foreign countries, provides licensing of judges and registrars, and publishes a book of standards. (The Standard of Perfection) which describes the desired characteristics for each recognized breed.
Arch (Arc)- A gentle curvature of the spine, which extends from the neck (or shoulders in some breeds) to the rear of the rabbit. It is best observed by viewing the animal in profile.
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 (Awn Fluff) in the Giant Angora.
Back - The top portion of the rabbit's shoulders, loin, and rump. (See Figure 1 Above).
Balance - (1) Type: Shape or confirmation. An orderly and pleasing arrangement of physical characteristics so as to present a harmonious appearance. (2) Markings: Equal distribution of corresponding markings, such as color division of the Harlequin, equal amounts of color on the checks of the Dutch. Equal distribution of color in the pattern and side markings of the Checkered Giant, English Spot, and Rhinelander.
Balanced Ration - Feeds having proper portions of individual ingredients to provide for growth, reproduction, and good health.
Bangs - The longer wool appearing at the front base of the ears and top of the head in some wooled breeds.
Banding - (1) A hair shaft having various colors. Normally associated with an agouti coat. (2) An unbroken vertical circle of marking color, extending around the body of the Harlequin.
Bare Spot - A portion of the rabbit's pelt that lacks fur due to molt or any other cause.
Barred - (1) Elongated spots which should be round (as the side markings of the English Spot or Rhinelander, or the check spots of the Checkered Giant, English Spot or Rhinelander) (2) Light colored streaks or bars on the front or rear feet. (3) A semi-circle of marking color, running vertically on the side of the Harlequin.
Barren Period - A time during which a rabbit will not conceive and reproduce.
Base Color - The color of the fur next to the skin.
Bell Ears - Ears that have large, heavy tips with a distinct fall or lop to them.
Belly - The abdomen, from the last rib to the pelvis (See Figure 1 Above)
Belly Color- The color on the underside of the rabbit, extending from the forelegs to the crotch area.
Blaze - The white markings found on the head of the Dutch rabbit. It covers the nose, whisker bed and runs along the jaw line. The shape is that of a wedge, which tapers from the nose area to the base of the ears.
Bloodline - A term (incorrectly) used to denote a strain of rabbits.
Bloom - The vitality and finish of a coat in good condition.
Blemish - Any defect or fault which detracts from the appearance.
Boil or Abscess- A localized area of inflammation caused by an infection under the skin, in a gland, or in a hair shaft. It produces a localized swelling, heat and redness. A Disqualification from Competition.
Boots - The colored markings on the rear feet and legs of Himalayan marked rabbits.
Bowed Legs - May be applied to the fore or hind legs. Bent like a bow. Legs curved outwardly or inwardly from the middle. A Disqualification from Competition.
Breach - Hind feet and rump presented first.
Breed - A class of domestic rabbit which reproduces itself with distinctive characteristics, such as fur, markings, shape, and size. A breed may be divided into varieties which are generally identified by color. A further subdivision of the breeds may include several varieties in groups as in the Netherland Dwarfs and Harlequins.
Breeder - (1) Anyone who raises a special variety or varieties of rabbits or cavies which comply with their accepted Standard of Perfection. (2) A rabbit used primarily to produce offspring.
Breeding Certificate - A written certificate issued by the owner of a stud buck, showing its pedigree in full, and the date of breeding to a particular doe. It is issued as proof of the ancestry of the anticipated litter.
Brindling - (1) The longer tipped guard hairs carried up the sides of Tans. (2) An intermixture of two colors without definite pattern.
Broken Coat - A coat with guard hairs missing or broken in spots, which exposes the undercoat. Areas where the coat is affected by molt which exposes the undercoat.
Broken Ear - A distinct break in the cartilage of the ear which prevents erect ear carriage. A Disqualification from Competition.
Broken Tail - A tail that is, or has been broken and is out of line. A Disqualification from Competition.
Buck - Male rabbit.
Buck Teeth or Wolf Teeth- Protruding or elongated incisors in either the upper or lower jaw caused by malocclusion which prevents normal wear. A Disqualification from Competition. (See Malocclusion also)
Bull Dog - A short, broad, bold head with a definite masculine appearance.
Butterfly - A nose marking found on many breeds and Broken varieties. The wing portions cover the whisker bed and upper lips, with the body or nose fork extending up the center of the face.
Butting Teeth - A form of malocclusion where the incisors meet together evenly instead of the upper incisors overlapping the lower incisors (also called "pegged" teeth). A Disqualification from Competition.
Caked Teats or Udders - Engorgement of a does mammary glands and teats with an abundant milk supply (inflammation usually indicates mastitis).
Cannibalism - The practice of a doe eating her own young.
Cap - The marking line where lower ear color stops and joins head color. Specified in the Checkered Giant.
Carriage - (1) The manner in which a rabbit carries itself. The style or characteristic poise of a rabbit. (2) The style in which a rabbit carries its ears.
Charlie - An extremely lightly marked animal in marked breeds or Broken Groups. Usually having colored ears, light eye circles and a Charlie Chaplin mustache like marking for a butterfly and are also usually devoid of back and side markings. The trait is usually genetically recessive.
Cheek - (1) The sides of the face below the eyes. (See Figure 2 Above) (2) The rounded color head marking that forms the blaze and carries down along the jaw line of a Dutch.
Chest - The front portion of the body between the forelegs and neck. (See Figure 2 Above)
Chopped - A condition of the body type in which there is an abrupt and sharp vertical fall of the top of the hip to the tail. Not well filled out and rounded.
Classification - A system of arranging the judging within different breeds.
Cobby - A short and stocky body type which is close coupled and very compact.
Cold - An infection localized in the nose. Usually characterized by repeated sneezing and the discharge of fluid from the nose. Sometimes accompanied by matted fur on the inside of the front feet. A Disqualification from Competition. (NOTE: The matted fur is only an indication and shall not be considered as conclusive evidence of a cold.)
Compatible - In eye color, normal color that complements or matches the body color.
Condition - The overall physical state of a rabbit in relation to its health, cleanliness, fur and grooming.
Conjunctivitis - Inflammation of the inner membrane of the eyelid and sometimes the portion of the membrane that covers the white of the eye. A Disqualification from Competition.
Coprophagy (Cecottrophy) - The normal practice of the rabbit consuming some of the droppings (soft night feces) directly from the anus.
Cottony - A very fine, soft-textured fur or wool which lacks guard hair.
Cow Hocks - Hind legs that turn inward at the hock causing the foot portion to turn outward from the body. A Disqualification from Competition.
Crimp - The natural waviness of the fiber of a wool undercoat.
Crossbreeding - Mating individuals of different breeds. Thus making a non show able rabbit.
Crown - A strong basal ridge of cartilage at the top of the head between the ear base on some lop-eared breeds.
Culling - Removal of undesirable rabbits from the herd.
Dam - The mother of a rabbit.
Dead Hairs - Fur which lacks life. Caused by molting or an unfinished coat.
Dead Tail - A tail which is hard and brittle due to the loss of circulation. Not a disqualification unless broken and out of alignment.
Density - The property or quality of a thick coat of hair. The number of fur fibers in a given area.
Definition - (1) The sharpness and clarity of a color break on a hair shaft, as the ring color in Agouti fur. (2) Sometimes used to describe color contrasts.
Depth - (1) Measurement downward from the top line of the body to the lowest portion of the body. (2) Sometimes used to describe the extension of color down the hair shaft.
Dew Claw - An extra toe or functionless digit on the inside of the front leg.
Dewlap - A pendulous fold of loose skin which hangs from the throat. Common in does. Should be in proportion to the total body size. Not accepted in some breeds. (See Figure 1 Above)
Disqualification - One or more defects, deformities or blemishes which renders a rabbit ineligible for competition or registration.
Doe - Female rabbit.
Double Check Spot - A regular check spot which is divided into two spots by a line of white. Not to be confused with stray colored spots which may occur around the cheek spot.
Drags - Intrusions of color markings into a white marking area or visa versa.
Ear Canker - An inflamed scabby condition deep inside the ear. It is caused by an infestation of the ear canal by rabbit ear mites. A Disqualification from Competition.
Ear Lacing - A colored line of fur which outlines the sides and tips of the ears.
Eye Bands - The color around the eye on Dwarf Hotot or Hotot.
Eye Circle - Marking of color around the eye. As in Tan and Broken varieties.
Eye Color - The color of the iris. The circle of color which surrounds the pupil of the eye.
Eye Stain - Splotches or streaks of color around the eyes in Himalayans and pointed white varieties.
Embryo - A kit in the early stages of development inside the womb of a doe.
Faking - Any dying, plucking, trimming or clipping so as to alter appearance. (Includes coloring toenails, powdering and indiscriminate use of grooming preparations designed to alter the natural condition of appearance.)
Faults - Imperfections for a particular breed or variety. Not serious enough to disqualify the rabbit.
Felting - Wool fibers that have become interwoven during natural growth.
Fine Coat - A coat of fur too fine in texture, lacking body. Guard hairs are weak and thin in structure. Lacking the proper amount of guard hairs.
Finish - The desired degree of perfection in condition. Fully prime coat, color and flesh.
Flabby - The condition of a rabbit when the skin hangs loosely by its own weight. Not trim, shapely or firm of flesh.
Flank - The side of the rabbit above the belly between the ribs and hips (See Figure 1 Above).
Flat Coat - Fur lying to closely to the body. Lacks spring or body as noted by touch. Usually a fine coat coupled with a lack of density.
Flat Shoulders - Lack of continuous arch from the neck over the shoulders.
Fly Back - When the fur returns quickly to
its normal position after being stroked toward the head of the rabbit.
Foot - Part of the leg on which the rabbit stands.
Forehead - Front part of the head between the eyes and the
base of the ears.
Foreign Color - Any color of fur, nails, or eyes differing from that specified in the ARBA Standard of Perfection.
Fryer - A young rabbit, on average about 3 to 5lbs.
Genotype - The genetically inherited characteristics and potential
of the rabbit stock.
Gestation - The time between mating and kindling of a doe, usually about 31 days.
Guard Hair - Longer, coarser, projecting hair in the rabbit's coat that offers protection to the undercoat.
Group - A broad classification.
Heredity - Certain characteristics that are inherited from parents to the offspring.
Junior - A show term refers to a rabbit under 6 months of age.
Kindling - Giving birth.
Line breeding - Breeding animals that have some close ancestry, not as close as inbreeding brother and sister.
Litter - Young rabbits being raised by a doe.
Loin - The portion of the back on either side past the saddle, and above the hips.
Luster - Brightness/brilliance of fur.
Malocclusion - An inherited defect where the upper and lower jaws
do not let the teeth meet, resulting in long, uneven teeth extending out
of the rabbit's mouth.
Mating - Breeding a doe to a buck.
Mature - A fully grown and developed animal.
Molt (Moult) - The process of a rabbit losing its fur or shedding.
Muzzle - Projecting portion of the head surrounding the mouth, lower jaw, and nose.
Nest - A whole in straw or hay, which a doe lines with fur, preparing for the litter to be born.
Open Doe - A female rabbit being of breeding age , and not having been bred yet.
Out breeding - Mating or breeding of unrelated rabbits of the same breed.
Pair - Female and male to be mated.
Palpate - A test to determine pregnancy. To see if the doe has young in the uterus, by feeling the abdominal wall.
Pedigree - Written record of ancestors, most rabbit pedigrees trace back at least 3 generations.
Purebred - Any recognized breed kept pure for generations.
Rabbit - A leporidal family. However, domestic rabbits differ from wild hares in many ways. For instance wild hares who are born with fur, they can see and hear and hop around shortly after they are born. Unlike domestic rabbits are born blind, deaf, naked and in a nest unable to hop around.
Recessive - Covered up by a dominate characteristic, a characteristic which is passed from parent to offspring. (yellow fat, wooly cat etc.)
Registration - An official recording of a rabbit's pedigree, as well as a complete examination by an ARBA registrar of the type and condition of that animal.
Replacement - Animal saved for future breeding.
Roughage - Hay, grass or grasslike substance.
Self-Colored - The same color over the entire body, solid colored.
Senior - Animals over 6 months of age.
Sexing - Determing the sex of an animal.
Snipey - Narrow, elongated head.
Spaddled - (1)Forefeet=Bowed outwardly, knocked knee. (2)Blackfeet=turned outward, not set parallel to body. Can be caused from a slippery nest box.
Specialty Club - A club specializing in one particular breed.
Standard - Characteristics for a breed of rabbit as approved and written down by a registration organization such as ARBA.
Strain - A line of descent on family ancestry within a given breed.
Stress - Strain on the health of an animal.
Succulent Feed - Grass, green growing plants, which contain a high percent of moisture.
Suckling Period - The time period in which the young nurse from a doeReplacement - Animal saved for future breeding.
Symmetry - Head, ears, legs and body structure all in proportion.
Tatoo - Placed in the ear of a rabbit for identification purposes, a permanent mark.
Ticking - Wavy distribution of longer guard hairs throughout the fur.
Toxic - Poison.
Trio - A buck and two does of the same breed.
Type - Body conformation.
Undercoat - The softer, shorter fur of a rabbits coat, protected by the guard hairs.
Under-Color - The shaft next the to skin - base of the fur hair.
Variety - Group of animals within a breed separated by color.
Vent Disease - Found in both bucks and does. Indications are: reddened, scabby, usually pus producing male and female organs.
Weaning - The separation of young from the doe. Ending the lactating and nursing period.
Wool Block - Undigestible mass of wool blocking food from passing through the digestive tract. Always feed some roughage, as it helps to clean out any undigested wool in the digestive tract.
Wry Tail - Curled or twisted, abnormally bent to one side, cork screw tail.
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