Rabbit Rhythms January 2025

Sable Point Lionhead. Photo Credit: ARBA.

Pictured: Sable Point Lionhead is the latest project of Lionhead breeders. It can be shown under the working standard, but not be considered for Best of Breed or Best in Show. I think it is stinking cute! 

Instead of a Breed of the Month, this issue will focus on ARBA, the American Rabbit Breeders Association. This January 2025 edition of Rabbit Rhythms will cover such topics as:

• Convention Results - New Varieties
• Do I Want to Join the ARBA - Here are the Membership Benefits
• Oldies but Goodies: Links to previous articles relevant for this time of year: Winterizing your rabbit; Chipping your rabbit; Why rabbits might lose the loving feeling.

(Click the green link to skip ahead to the article you want.)

Lastly, we will provide links to Raising-Rabbits informational products, and to rabbit related products that can benefit you and your rabbits.

Enjoy this edition of Rabbit Rhythms January 2025!

Credit for all photos belongs to the American Rabbit Breeder Association. 

Did you just get a bunny for Christmas?

Of course it wants to hang out and ride with you in safety, comfort, and style! 

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Pet totes from Oskar and Friends - cool, fashionable, and fabulous.

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2024 ARBA Convention: News

In the Rabbit Rhythms January 2025 newsletter, we took a break from our BREED OF THE MONTH spotlight to share with you our review of the results of the 101st ARBA Convention. 

It's always exciting to see new varieties and breeds accepted by the ARBA! TWO new breeds have been added in the last two years. The hard-working breeders in EIGHT different breeds have seen their efforts pay off in a new variety in each of those eight breeds.

What do these terms mean?

• Breed: In the rabbit world, a breed is a group of rabbits that share characteristics and purpose. 
  
  
• Variety: Varieties are sub-divisions of the particular breeds. Differentiating characteristics might include fur color, fur type, or fur markings.

We know you want to SEE these beautiful new varieties! Visit the ARBA website to see photos and to download PDF updates for printing and adding to your Standard of Perfection book. (They will be included in the next edition of the Standard of Perfection.) 

New Breeds

Charming Czech Frosty. Photo Credit: ARBA.

The latest ARBA-accepted breeds both originated in Czechia (Czechoslovakia):

• The Blue Holicer was accepted as a new breed last year in November 2023, and was featured as Breed of the Month in Rabbit Rhythms November 2024, Issue 104. 
• The Czech Frosty (pictured) was accepted two years ago in 2022. This intriguing and petite rabbit looks frosted due to the minimal black tipping on the white fur.

Both of these breeds retain the typical European rabbit stance - rabbits posed on their feet without the belly pressed against the show table as is seen in many commercial American breeds.

Eight New Varieties

Great news for the rabbit fancy - eight new varieties officially accepted for showing! 

Dwarf Papillon in Tortoise Shell, approved in 2024.

Himalayan Rex: Rex Body, Himi Points

The ARBA has now accepted rabbits for showing in these new varieties as of December 1, 2024. Are you raising one of these breeds? Are you planning to add one of these new varieties to your rabbitry?

• Mini Satin: Smoke Pearl
  
• American Fuzzy Lop: Frosty
• Dwarf Papillon: Tortoise Shell
• Holland Lop: Sable Point
• Netherland Dwarf: Silver-Tipped Steel
• Dwarf Hotot: Lilac
• Rex: Himalayan
• Britannia Petite: Tortoise Shell

Why show? Showing your rabbits gives you invaluable feedback as to the body structure and fur quality of your rabbits. It helps you know what is good and bad as regards the particular traits of the rabbits you show. And in the end, you will make better choices as to which rabbits you should retain for breeding purposes, and which rabbits should not be included in the breeding herd.

Additional Photos of New Rabbit Varieties...

New Variety: Mini Satin Smoke Pearl, approved 2024. Photo Credit: ARBA.net.

Sable Point Holland Lop, approved 2024. Photo credit: Happily Ever After Rabbitry.

New Variety: Lilac Dwarf Hotot, approved in 2024. Photo credit: ARBA.net.

American Fuzzy Lop in Frosty, approved in 2024. Photo Credit: ARBA.net.

New Variety: Silver Tipped Steel Netherland Dwarf Silver, approved in 2024. Photo Credit: ARBA.net.

New Variety: Tortoise Shell Britannia Petite, approved in 2024. Photo credit: ARBA.net.

A Few Variety Photos from Prior Years....

Here are a few photos of some varieties approved over the last several years. Plus a photo of a Polish rabbit wearing black otter, because it is so cute....

Orange Lutino, approved in 2022. Note the red eyes.

Dutch in Golden Yellow, approved in 2023.

Jersey Wooley in Orange, approved in 2022.

Black Otter Polish rabbit - looks great! - being shown under a working standard since 2022.

So many colors and so many body shapes and designs! Thanks to the results of the 2024 ARBA Convention, the variety in rabbits has increased a little bit more.

Find a great many more photos of the new breeds, varieties and working standards of the past several years here: https://arba.net/arba-standards-committee/

Which are your favorites? 

Do I Want to Join ARBA?

You may be asking yourself if you want to join ARBA. What does it cost? What do I get? How experienced do I need to be? What are my membership benefits? How will this help my rabbits? Are rabbit shows actually that big a deal? 

These are good questions to ask. Here is the scoop straight from the rabbit's teeth, and a link to the Join-the-ARBA web page, if you so decide.

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ARBA Official Guide Book.

In a nutshell you get:

• An educational magazine subscription
• A very useful guidebook
• Recognition of rabbit show wins toward achieving the coveted Grand Champion status
• An opportunity to network with other rabbit breeders
• Links and connections to the national breed clubs
• Access to show schedules
• A nifty membership card to add to your wallet

ARBA membership frequently provides the information and education to take your rabbit breeding to the next level, whether you raise livestock or pet rabbits. It is up to you to take advantage of, and act on all the rich info given by the ARBA.

Bunny Bazaar Online Shopping Mall

Handmade rabbit toys!

Do you have someone who is hard to buy for? 
I'll bet their bunny is easy to shop for!

They'll love any toys and treats.
Does your child want a rabbit but you're not sure yet?
Do you already have a rabbit and want to take it to the next level?

Check out Raising-Rabbits' Bunny Bazaar Online Shopping Mall!
We have supplies, equipment, and learning materials for rabbit rescuers and ranchers. 

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Winter Questions: Oldies But Goodies

We get asked a lot of the same questions every year, so here are the links (in green) to answer those questions:

• Why did my rabbits stop breeding? This is why they aren't feeling the love. 
• What do I need to do for my rabbits to help them during winter? 
• Is there anything special I should do for my bunny that I got for Christmas? Besides regular care and equipment, you may want to consider chipping your rabbit.

Like this Rabbit Rhythms January 2025 Newsletter?