The Rabbits of Soft Paws Haven
Here at Soft Paws Haven we have several breeds that we work with. Our breeds include the Mini Rex , Holland Lop, Netherland Dwarf and the Britannia Petite. For a more in depth look at our rabbit heard please go to
softpawsrabbits.weebly.com
softpawsrabbits.weebly.com
The Mini Rex
GGR's Ozzi, a broken black mini rex doe
he Mini Rex, known as "The People's Choice for a Fancy Breed" is a relatively new breed, presented to American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1984. The first accepted Mini Rex variety was the castor in 1988. At the 1994 ARBA Convention the new breed made history by taking two BIS back to back with Castors. By 2001, more Mini Rex were registered with the ARBA than any other breed.
The mini rex is known for its sweet temperament. The Mini Rex rabbit is a very diminutive rabbit with an ARBA guideline maximum senior show weight of only 4 1/2 pounds for does and 4 1/4 pounds for bucks. Its body is rather short and close coupled. The top body line rises gradually from the base of the ears to a high point over the center of the hips and then rounding downwards to the base of the tail. A mini rex when posed looks like a small basketball with a head on it. When viewed from the tail end, a Mini Rex is approximately as wide as it is high. When viewed from above, the body tapers down slightly from the hips to the shoulders. The ears are rather short and thick and are carried erect.
This popular pet and show rabbit has a magnificent, plush velvet-like coat that must be felt to be appreciated. The fur is one of the most notable features of this breed. The fur is approximately 3/8 of an inch in length and when felt with the bare hands is like rubbing a piece of plush velvet. The guard hairs are the same length as the under fur giving an extremely plush, silky, feeling to it when stroked. The fur has a lustrous appearance and has a distinct springy feel when depressed.
ARBA standards recognizes 19 colors/varieties for the Mini Rex including: black, castor, blue, chinchilla, opal, tortoise, chocolate, lynx, seal, white, lilac red, Himalayan, broken, REW, Otter and Sable Point, smoke pearl and Sable pattern. Breeders are continually trying to develop new colors.
We focus on a new color variety of mini rex called "Lutino." While we have black, blue, castor, white and broken, our goal is to use more developed varieties to eventually get a Lutino mini rex herd that adheres to the standard in hopes of eventually getting a Certificate of Development.
The mini rex is known for its sweet temperament. The Mini Rex rabbit is a very diminutive rabbit with an ARBA guideline maximum senior show weight of only 4 1/2 pounds for does and 4 1/4 pounds for bucks. Its body is rather short and close coupled. The top body line rises gradually from the base of the ears to a high point over the center of the hips and then rounding downwards to the base of the tail. A mini rex when posed looks like a small basketball with a head on it. When viewed from the tail end, a Mini Rex is approximately as wide as it is high. When viewed from above, the body tapers down slightly from the hips to the shoulders. The ears are rather short and thick and are carried erect.
This popular pet and show rabbit has a magnificent, plush velvet-like coat that must be felt to be appreciated. The fur is one of the most notable features of this breed. The fur is approximately 3/8 of an inch in length and when felt with the bare hands is like rubbing a piece of plush velvet. The guard hairs are the same length as the under fur giving an extremely plush, silky, feeling to it when stroked. The fur has a lustrous appearance and has a distinct springy feel when depressed.
ARBA standards recognizes 19 colors/varieties for the Mini Rex including: black, castor, blue, chinchilla, opal, tortoise, chocolate, lynx, seal, white, lilac red, Himalayan, broken, REW, Otter and Sable Point, smoke pearl and Sable pattern. Breeders are continually trying to develop new colors.
We focus on a new color variety of mini rex called "Lutino." While we have black, blue, castor, white and broken, our goal is to use more developed varieties to eventually get a Lutino mini rex herd that adheres to the standard in hopes of eventually getting a Certificate of Development.
The Holland Lop
SPH's Cotton, Blue eyed white holland lop buck
The Holland lop rabbits, known as "The Hallmark Breed" are extremely cute and cuddly. They are easy to handle and almost hassle free. They do not belong to the aggressive category of pet rabbits; rather they are far calmer and well-behaved than their aggressive counterparts. The Holland lop rabbits are curious by nature and adjust very easily even in a new environment. They are a small lovable bunny who have wide long ears, which hang down near their cheeks. Their bone structure is supposed to look large and massive but they actually have a fine bone structure and they don't weigh that much. They have broad shoulders, deep chests, and short thick legs. Being the smallest lop-eared rabbit, their maximum adult size is 4.0 pounds but for showing they should be about 3.5 lbs.
Our main focus with our hollands is improving the type and quality of the beautiful Blue eyed whites by using torts, blacks, blues and other varieties of vienna marked and vianna carrying lops. We DO NOT use shaded or chocolate/lilac in our BEWs and discourage anyone else from doing so. We do have rabbits that do not carry the blue eyed gene and will be bred to other rabbits that don't carry the gene as well, so if you are looking for a lop to use for breeding, let me know so I can get you the best rabbit for your project.
Our main focus with our hollands is improving the type and quality of the beautiful Blue eyed whites by using torts, blacks, blues and other varieties of vienna marked and vianna carrying lops. We DO NOT use shaded or chocolate/lilac in our BEWs and discourage anyone else from doing so. We do have rabbits that do not carry the blue eyed gene and will be bred to other rabbits that don't carry the gene as well, so if you are looking for a lop to use for breeding, let me know so I can get you the best rabbit for your project.
The Netherland Dwarf
The Netherland Dwarf, known as "The Gem if the Fancy" are small, cobby rabbits with a rollback coat, brachycephalic head and upright pose. The breed was developed in the Netherlands in the early 20th century, and was shipped over to the United States not long after. They have since become one of the most popular breeds to date, right up there with the Holland Lop and Mini Rex. They have 25 accepted varieties, and several other varieties with a Certificate of Development (COD). Netherland Dwarfs have a feisty, but not aggressive personality. Maxing out ideally at 2.5 pounds, they have a stronger prey mentality than their larger Holland Lop cousin, but remain one of the most popular breed of pet and show rabbit. They adjust to their people and tend to pick favorites.
This is a fun rabbit to show. They are easy to train, and if properly structured, very easy to pose. They tend to have smaller litter sizes, and have a plethora of genetic mishaps that go along with the dwarfism gene, including "Peanuts" (Kits that inherit 2 copies of the dwarf gene) and "Max Factors" (Kits that inherit the Max Factor Gene). Because of this, they can be a challenge for breeders and tend to be pricier than other breeds.
Our goal with our Netherland Dwarf Herd is primarily to improve the quality of the 3 Lutino varieties that are included on the Lutino COD. These varieties include Shadow Lutino, (Chestnut and Opal Lutino), Orange Lutino, (Orange lutino) and Beige Lutino, (Self Black Lutino). We use Chestnut, Opal, Black Otter and Black for improvement stock, and have lines that are free of the Lutino gene as well.
This is a fun rabbit to show. They are easy to train, and if properly structured, very easy to pose. They tend to have smaller litter sizes, and have a plethora of genetic mishaps that go along with the dwarfism gene, including "Peanuts" (Kits that inherit 2 copies of the dwarf gene) and "Max Factors" (Kits that inherit the Max Factor Gene). Because of this, they can be a challenge for breeders and tend to be pricier than other breeds.
Our goal with our Netherland Dwarf Herd is primarily to improve the quality of the 3 Lutino varieties that are included on the Lutino COD. These varieties include Shadow Lutino, (Chestnut and Opal Lutino), Orange Lutino, (Orange lutino) and Beige Lutino, (Self Black Lutino). We use Chestnut, Opal, Black Otter and Black for improvement stock, and have lines that are free of the Lutino gene as well.
The Britannia Petite
The Britannia Petite, called "the Elite of the Fancy" is known as the “Polish” in Britain, is one of the smallest breeds of rabbits recognized by the ARBA. Active and energetic, the Petite is more high strung than other breeds. They take perseverance and patience to handle, but are one of the most showy breeds to exhibit. The max weight 2.5 pounds.
Although thought to be vicious and bitey by some, the aggressive Brit is less common than non Brit breeders would think. They are a clever breed that responds well with consistent, repetitive training, and can learn to pose with a diligent handler. They don't, however, make the best pets. They are bred to be a spirited, feisty breed, and do not do well with constant handling by small children. Instead, I would recommend them more as a show breed only, for calm youngsters that are level headed and not afraid of a challenging breed.
The Petite does well with particular people; that is, they become more comfortable with the person that handles them the most. Often times a Petite that poses beautifully at home with "their" person, will not behave on the show table, and nip at a judge or hug the table like a potato. It can be frustrating, so having other breeders work with your rabbit can make a big difference.
Their large, expressive eyes and adorable wedge like faces make them impossible to to "Awwww" over. Their streamline full-arch body type, long, fine legs and sleek flyback coat give them a posh, elegant appearance that is impossible to not appreciate. They are one of two full-arched breeds that pose in a stationary fashion, whereas the other full-arched breeds "run" across the show table for evaluation. Because of this, practicing with posing is absolutely paramount for a successful show career.
While this pint-sized dragon can be an intimidating project to take on, it is such a fun, inquisitive and beautiful breed, and is completely worth it.
We are currently focusing on Chestnut and Otter, and have a small Lutino project in the works as well. Our lutino varieties focus primarily on Shadow Lutino, (Chestnut lutino), but we have some Dove Otter (Black Otter) as well.
Our Petites are available for breeding/show homes only.
Although thought to be vicious and bitey by some, the aggressive Brit is less common than non Brit breeders would think. They are a clever breed that responds well with consistent, repetitive training, and can learn to pose with a diligent handler. They don't, however, make the best pets. They are bred to be a spirited, feisty breed, and do not do well with constant handling by small children. Instead, I would recommend them more as a show breed only, for calm youngsters that are level headed and not afraid of a challenging breed.
The Petite does well with particular people; that is, they become more comfortable with the person that handles them the most. Often times a Petite that poses beautifully at home with "their" person, will not behave on the show table, and nip at a judge or hug the table like a potato. It can be frustrating, so having other breeders work with your rabbit can make a big difference.
Their large, expressive eyes and adorable wedge like faces make them impossible to to "Awwww" over. Their streamline full-arch body type, long, fine legs and sleek flyback coat give them a posh, elegant appearance that is impossible to not appreciate. They are one of two full-arched breeds that pose in a stationary fashion, whereas the other full-arched breeds "run" across the show table for evaluation. Because of this, practicing with posing is absolutely paramount for a successful show career.
While this pint-sized dragon can be an intimidating project to take on, it is such a fun, inquisitive and beautiful breed, and is completely worth it.
We are currently focusing on Chestnut and Otter, and have a small Lutino project in the works as well. Our lutino varieties focus primarily on Shadow Lutino, (Chestnut lutino), but we have some Dove Otter (Black Otter) as well.
Our Petites are available for breeding/show homes only.