The English rabbit is one of the oldest breeds, existing as far back as 1838.
It is also known as the Old English or the English Spot.
English rabbits weigh 6-8 lbs (2.3-3.6 kg), making them medium-sized.
They are friendly and lively and have an inquisitive nature.
There are five colours - black, blue, tortoiseshell, chocolate and grey.
The markings include a butterfly-shaped mark on the nose, coloured ears, eye circles, spine marking (which is herring-boned) and a spot on each cheek and a chain of spots along the body. If you are breeding English rabbits for showing, the spots have to match the picture shown below as closely as possible, making it very difficult - the perfect English rabbit has yet to be born!
It is also known as the Old English or the English Spot.
English rabbits weigh 6-
There are five colours -
The markings include a butterfly-
Drawing of a perfect English rabbit
English rabbits
The English rabbit has unusual genetics, so that if you breed two spotted rabbits together, you will also get selfs (solid black, blue, tortoiseshell, chocolate or grey all over) and charlies (white with coloured head markings, a stripe down the back and very few spots).
Although selfs and charlies cannot be shown, they still make very good pets of course!
Although selfs and charlies cannot be shown, they still make very good pets of course!
To see the BRC breed standard, click here
Tortoiseshell self
Tortoiseshell charlie