Todocat

Need to speak with a Vet Doctor?

Polish Rabbit Breed – todocat

General information:

There are several possible scenarios regarding the origin Polish rabbit breed. The red-eyed white rabbit variety was the first of the Polish rabbit varieties. They were originally from England and Germany, and certainly not from Poland. They have been mentioned in English literature since the 1860’s. In 1884, seventeen Polish rabbits were introduced to Hull, England. One source said that the person who raised them obtained them from wild rabbits. Other breeders have bred white or silver rabbits and even Himalayan rabbits to develop this variety of Polish rabbits. According to an article written by Samuel E Rice in the 1952 APRC Guide, the Polish rabbit was imported to America in 1912 by WE Dexter of Boston. White-eyed rabbits were the only variety recognized by the National Pet Stock Association and remained so for many years. Referee John Weltevreden also wrote an article for Rabbit World magazine in which he said that the Polish red-eyed white rabbit looked like a miniature white New Zealand. Some Polish breeders imported rabbits from England to improve the quality of their rabbits, but were deeply disappointed by the overall appearance of these rabbits. On the other hand, American breeders have managed to selectively cross rabbits to obtain rabbits with red eyes that are not very rectangular in shape.

Name: Polish

Origin: Anglia

group: Small rabbits

Weight: Between 1.1 – 1.6 kg

Average life expectancy: up to 5-10 years

Color: white, black, blue, spotted

Temperament: Their docile and affectionate nature is perfect for single people, couples, seniors or families with children old enough to understand how to behave with these rabbits. Polish rabbits need a lot of attention.

Race status: The Polish rabbit breed is not threatened in any way, being one of the most popular pet breeds. He is raised exclusively to be a pet and to participate in profile competitions.

Distinctive features: His head should be short, with full cheeks and bright, confident eyes. The color of the eyes differs depending on the color of the fur, but they are generally red or blue. Because it is a small animal, the Polish rabbit is often confused with other dwarf breeds, such as the Dutch Dwarf.

In 1938, the American Association of Rabbit Breeders recognized the Blue-eyed White variety, and Samuel E Rice of Saugus was credited with developing that variety. In 1920 he bought six red-eyed females and three males from WE Dexter. It took three generations of crossbreeding to get white-eyed white rabbits. Referee Weltevreden wrote in his article about Polish rabbits than blue-eyed rabbits they were first presented at a World Show in Leipzig, Germany, in 1919. Several varieties of colors began to appear in the United States beginning in 1932.

Samuel E Rice is also credited with obtaining and developing the Chocolate and Black varieties. He developed these two colors, initially using a red-eyed male and a Havana female. Around 1947, the varieties of dark and chocolate colors began to show a stardand in accordance with the requirements of ARBA. Several Polish breeders of colored rabbits were known at the time: Jack Ross and John Mellozzo (~ 1948) and since 1952, FA Arnold, Arnold Wolfe, Floyd Tobias, Austin Gaver, William F. Thompson, Frank Call, Andrew Bain , Charles A. Henry, brothers Cushing and Alan L. Mitchell. The latter wrote an article in the APRC Guide in 1957 stating that a breeder had managed to obtain red-eyed Polish rabbits using a New Zealand Red Rabbit and a Red-eyed Polish Rabbit. Other breeders crossed Polish with English Spotted to get colorful varieties. A well-known breeder of Polish colored rabbits was Referee Carlton Gaddis. He bought his first rabbits from Charlie Henry of Saugus around 1954.

READ ALSO  Silver Cream Rabbit Breed - todocat Blog

He developed the Black variety, with which he managed to win numerous awards, reaching almost equal to the red-eyed rabbit.

The blue variety of rabbits managed to be absorbed by ARBA much later. He first appeared on the referees’ table in 1977 at the Houston ARBA Convention. However, this variety has been around for some time, and the problem for ARBA members was that this breed would not suffer as much as the Dutch Dwarf, which was created in a large number of varieties. Members noticed a decrease in the quality of rabbits due to the diversification of varieties, and did not want the Polish breed to have the same result. For this reason, ARBA did not approve of the blue variety from the beginning, although they continued to talk about this rabbit. Moreover, breeders continued to compete with the blue Polish rabbits in profile competitions, promoting them more and more. In 1982, the blue variety was approved by ARBA.

This was followed by the approval of the spotted variety in 1998. Gail Gibbons of Cedar Lake began growing spotted Polish rabbits as early as 1985. He used a black and white Holland Lop rabbit with slightly drooping ears to introduce this pattern into rabbits. Poles. Then he mated the breed with black females and chocolates. The first time he introduced a spotted rabbit was in 1990, at the ARBA Convention in Tampa.

The Lila version is currently in the process of obtaining the ARBA agreement. Enlow Walker is the initiator and supporter of this variety.

APRC Guide 1952 and 1957
ARBA „Official Guide to Raising Better Rabbits”, 1965, 1973
„Domestic Rabbits and their Histories”, B. D. Whitman, 2004
Revista „Rabbits”, „The Beauty of the Blues: Polish Rabbits with Potential”, Donna Marshall, 7/1979
„Domestic Rabbit”, „The Polish”, W. H. Kennedy, Sept.-Oct., 1975

Physical description:

Polish rabbit breed it is small in size, which is easily recognizable due to their thin body, like hair, and small and perfectly raised ears. The ears of the Polish rabbit is one of the main features, being small and sharp, held either on the back or with the flags on the outside, as if it were always on alert. His head should be short, with full cheeks and bright, confident eyes. The color of the eyes differs depending on the color of the fur, but they are generally red or blue. Because it is a small animal, the Polish rabbit is often confused with other dwarf breeds, such as the Dutch Dwarf. But a closer look shows that the Polish rabbit is much longer, slightly larger and with a sharper head. Accepted colors are blue-eyed white, red-eyed white, black, brown, and blue. At the beginning of this breed, only the color white was accepted and recognized, but soon the other colors appeared in the standard of the breed. The average weight is between 1.1 and 1.6 kg. The Polish rabbit is today an extremely popular breed and one always on the podium in profile competitions. Its fur is short, soft and easy to care for, compared to other breeds that have long fur.

READ ALSO  Palomino Rabbit Breed - todocat

Personality:

Most breeders believe that these small rabbits are best suited for families with young children, because they also the Polish rabbit he is small and adorable even in his adulthood. However, the smaller the rabbit, the easier it is for children to escape and injure them, which is why this breed is not recommended for young children, even if the rabbit is calm and gentle. Their docile and affectionate nature is perfect for single people, couples, seniors or families with children old enough to understand how to behave with these rabbits. Polish rabbits need a lot of attention and like to be lifted, held in their arms and caressed by their human companions. Their small size makes them great for people living in small apartments. It is necessary to give her some toys to chew and play with, because otherwise she will spend her time rubbing everything in her way. These small rabbits are easier to train than large ones. You can often see Polish rabbits in magicians’ shows. Even if you don’t want to teach them how to get out of their hat, they may want to listen to certain commands or how to defecate in certain places in the house. It is much harder to teach a rabbit to respond to commands than to train a dog or cat, but with a lot of work and patience, this is possible.

Food and cage

The main ingredient in their diet is hay, preferably fatter, richer fiber. Such hay will prevent rabbit diarrhea and obesity. Other green leaves, especially vegetables, are essential for the health of the rabbit, and are occasionally needed to prevent digestive slippage. For the sake of variety, you can also offer goodies such as carrots, peaches, pears, apples, plums, strawberries or other fruits. However, you need to be careful when feeding it fruit, as it can be high in sugar. Commercial rabbit breeders also add other nutrients to their daily diet. They must always have fresh water in a bowl. Polish rabbits they are rabbits to be kept indoors, and due to the fact that they are small, the cage is somewhat formal. When they are outside, stretch cages, fenced areas are recommended, just to give them more protection. At the same time, it is recommended that when it is left outside to play, it should be kept under supervision or kept under cover so that it is not attacked by birds. If it is kept in a cage, it should be at least five times the size of the rabbit’s body and allow it to stand relaxed. It is not advisable for the floor of the cage to be made of wire because the rabbit could catch its legs in the wire mesh. The rabbit should have only one place to hide when he wants to sleep peacefully.

READ ALSO  Dutch Rabbit Breed - todocat

Toilet:

Polish rabbits they do not need special care, and due to the short fur, a daily brushing is enough to leave no hair behind. As he changes his fur, you need to pay more attention to him. Also, rabbits participating in profile competitions will need special care, which is often done in a specially created place. Brushing also has the role of avoiding the formation of fur balls that the rabbit swallows every time it does its own grooming. Junior rabbits need more care than senior rabbits because they have a finer, more sensitive fur. There are quite a few tools that can be used for care. Brushes, combs can be used and even a hair dryer can be used to give volume to the fur.

Purpose and status of the breed:

According to the American Livestock Breeds Conervancy, the Polish rabbit breed is not threatened in any way, being one of the most popular pet breeds. He is raised exclusively to be a pet and to participate in profile competitions.

Health problems:

Like other rabbit breeds, Polish rabbit breeds can be prone to colds and viral infections. Exposure to dust, sudden changes in temperature, and low ability to withstand stress can predispose you to various diseases. These include:

– conjunctivitis is a bacterial infection of the eyelids caused by smoke and dust;

– ear problems;

– coccidiosis is an intestinal problem, a parasite caused by poor hygiene;

– bloating and obstruction of the airways due to hairballs.