English Spots are a full arch, marking based breed. The ideal spot is a rabbit that carries itself high off the show table and sports a specific pattern of spots on its coat. The pattern should be distinct and clear and should not drag into the white on the coat. Ideal Body Type
Ideal MarkingsHead Markings Eye circles: An English spot in show should have spots, or eye circles, over each eye. The eye circles should be round bands of color that are clear in shape, identical on each side, and distinct from other markings . Eye circles that are too large, too small, are dragging in color, or uneven should be faulted. Feathers above the eye should not be faulted. Absents of either eye circle is a disqualification. Butterfly: A butterfly marking should be on the nose of any ideal English spot. The butterfly marking should have two well rounded wings on each lip of the animal. The body of the butterfly, or nose fork, should be proportionate to the wings and extend up the bridge of the nose by approximately 1/4". The butterfly should be faulted for irregular shape, lack of symmetry, dragging color, or unproportionate, crooked or off centered nose fork. Splits or white spots in the butterfly is a disqualification. Cheek Spots: Each cheek of an English spot should have a spot of color underneath the eye circle on the whisker bump (if located in any other placement it will be considered a missing cheek spot). Cheek spots should be approximately 3/4", round in shape, separate from all other head markings, and identical on each side. Cheek spots that are misshapped, too large, or are not identical are considered a fault. Double or missing cheek spots is a disqualification. Ears and Ear Base: Ears should be colored completely with a sharp and clear cut at the base. The ear base should be clean and not ragged. Faults for dirty ear base, white hairs, frostiness or too light in color, mealiness. Disqualify for white on top 50% of the ear. Body Markings: Herringbone: The herringbone mark is a strip of color that begins at the ear base and runs down the animals spine to the tip of the tail. The strip of color should have a herring bone effect, or a jagged spike effect, (ideally symmetrical on both sides) and broaden out at the beginning of the saddle and narrow again at the tail. The Herringbone should be even in proportion to the rest of the body. Breaks, smooth, or uneven edges should be faulted. Disqualifications include more then one break in the herringbone (late starts are considered a break but not weak tail color.) and any break exceeding 1/4". Side Marking: The side marking is made of of two parts, the chain which is found on the shoulder and nape of the neck (but should not touch the herringbone), and the hip which is found on the hindquarters of the rabbit. Spots in the chain should begin small and increase in size as the spots lead into the hip. The spots should be defined in a clear round shape and fallow a sweeping pattern. Side Pattern: The side pattern should an unbroken graceful sweep of spots starting at the chain leading down into the body and back up into the hip. The pattern should be even, free of gaps and congestion. Spots should be clear from one another and have defined shape. Faults include undefined pattern shape, lack of sweep, congested spots, straw spots out side of pattern, plain sides, gaps in pattern, blotchy, barred, or connected spots. Sever faults for feathered pattern. Graduation: Spots should increase in size as the pattern leads from the chain into the hip. Faults for no or poor graduation. Balance: Side markings should be symmetrical and even on both sides. Faults include one side having too many spots (Aka heavy marking), one side having too little of spots (Aka plain markings), and sides not matching. Disqualifications for one or both sides missing side marking. Teat Spots: Six spots (one on each teat) is desirable on the belly. Missing teat spots is not a disqualification. Line of spots on the center belly is permissible but not desirable. Leg Spots: It is desirable to have a spot on each elbow and on each heel, it is not a disqualification if spots are missing. Ideal ColorsEnglish spots can come in a large array of colors including selfs, agoutis, tans, and shaded, but only 7 colors are accepted by the American Rabbit Breeder Association to be shown. These colors include Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, Gold, Gray, and Black Tortoise. *Colors below may not match the exact ideal. Check out the American English Spot Rabbit Club for better ideal color examples.*
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Special ThanksSpecial thanks to everyone who allowed me to use images of there rabbits as reference. I would also like to thank the American English Spot Club for there very helpful info on English spots. All this information can be found on there website in much greater detail.
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