Dutch Rabbit
The Fascinating World Of The Dutch Rabbit
The Dutch rabbit is often categorized as an exotic or fancy breed. This is indeed the case, but it is not a new breed, or something that's come to the forefront only recently. The Dutch rabbit is in fact the oldest of the domesticated rabbit breeds. It is special because years of careful breeding have resulted in a rabbit which meets exceedingly high standards of perfection in terms of conformation, coat pattern, and a number of other characteristics. The Dutch rabbit is the epitome of the show rabbit, and breeding these rabbits for excellence in show is a demanding and exacting task.
Six Standard Types Of The Dutch Rabbit - At first glance, that which separates the Dutch rabbit from other rabbit species is its formal appearance. It is essentially a white rabbit wearing a colored coat, or at least wearing a colored pattern. The color scheme varies according to the specific type of Dutch rabbit and there are 6 recognized types. Without going into the details or nuances of colors and shading, the colors corresponding to the various types are as follows.
The Tortoise Dutch sports bright orange markings, orange being the designated body color together with white, blending in places into smoky blue and with cream shadings near the skin. The Steel Dutch is white with black body markings. The underlying fur is more of a steel blue, blending into a cream color next to the skin.
The Gray Dutch is anything but a dull gray. Except for where the fur is white, each hair shaft is light tan at the tip, followed by bands of charcoal brown, medium tan, and a slate blue band at the base near the skin. The Chocolate Dutch has dark chocolate markings, where the chocolate covered hairs shade into a bluish color near the skin. The Blue Dutch has dark blue markings, with slate blue under color, and the Black Dutch has jet-black markings, with a slate blue under color.
The Dutch Rabbit is judged in show by the shade of its coloration, which must be near perfection to win, and by the shape of the markings as well as the cleanliness and sharpness of the lines demarcating the boundaries between the patterns and the basic white color.
It Makes A Wonderful Pet Too - Taking all of this into account, it's no wonder that breeding these rabbits can be such a challenge. One is almost tempted to forget that the Dutch rabbit makes a wonderful pet for children and adults alike. Not everyone wants a rabbit for show, and not everyone expects the markings and colors to be just so. An average, run-of-the-mill Dutch rabbit is still a very handsome little animal. The Dutch rabbit is very intelligent, quite active, and easy to train. One of the first things in training a rabbit is to teach it that it is all right to be picked up. Rabbits have a natural fear of being picked up, so this can take some time. The rabbit is very friendly and affectionate however, and once it gets used to being handled, will make a perfect “lap rabbit”. While the rabbit can deliver a painful bite, and injure with its powerful hind legs and claws, it is unlikely to do so unless mishandled.
Major Rabbit Shows And Organizations - There are two major rabbit shows in the United States each year, plus a number of local shows. The major shows are the National Dutch Rabbit Show sponsored by the American Dutch Rabbit Club, and the American Rabbit Breeders Association Show. Either of these organizations, especially the American Dutch Rabbit Club, can provide information about the Dutch rabbit breed as well as breed standards and standards for judging.