English Spot
A lively, arched rabbit with a butterfly nose and a chain of spots along each side.
Origin
The English Spot was developed in England in the 19th century through careful selection for its intricate pattern. According to the American English Spot Rabbit Club, English Spots were being exhibited in England by 1890, and the National English Rabbit Club, formed in 1891, standardized the markings. Accounts differ on when they reached America: ARBA gives 1890, while the club’s guidebooks record them in the United States by 1910. The American English Spot Rabbit Club was founded in 1924.
Typical Adult Size
A medium-sized, fine-boned rabbit. The ARBA standard sets a maximum weight of 8 pounds (about 3.6 kg), and long, slender legs give the breed a light, elegant look.
Coat Type
Short, glossy fur that lies smoothly and shows the markings clearly. It is easy to care for.
Colors
Always white with colored markings. ARBA recognizes seven varieties: black, blue, chocolate, gold, gray, lilac and tortoise. The breed club describes the gray, with its banded, ticked hairs, as unique to the English Spot.
Temperament
Active, curious and energetic. English Spots tend to enjoy moving and exploring, and they suit owners who can give them space and daily exercise.
Grooming and Care
Grooming is simple: a weekly brush, more often during molts. The bigger need is room to run. This is an athletic breed that benefits from a large enclosure or a safe exercise area every day.
Distinctive Features
The pattern: a butterfly-shaped nose marking, complete eye circles, a round cheek spot below each eye, fully colored ears, a "herringbone" stripe along the spine from the ears to the tail, and a chain of spots that sweeps from the neck along each side to the hips, growing larger toward the rear. The body is fully arched and carried high on long, slender legs.
What Makes It Notable
The English Spot is a "running breed": rather than being posed, it is judged while moving freely around the show table, which shows off its arch and the flow of its markings. It even has a place in another breed’s story, as English Spots were crossed with Holland Lops to bring broken patterns into that breed, a step that eventually led to the American Fuzzy Lop.