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GLOSSARY Terms and abbreviations used thoughout this site. These definitions are in regards to Netherland Dwarfs, but may apply to other breeds as well. BIS, RIS or BRIS: Best In Show, Best Reserve In Show. BOB, BOS or BOSB: Best Of Breed, Best Opposite Sex Of Breed. BOG, BOSG: Best Of Group, Best Opposite Sex Of Group. BOV, BOSV: Best Of Variety, Best Opposite Sex Of Variety. Brood (buck or doe): Refers to rabbit used for breeding. May be unshowable due to weight or color, but considered useful. BUB, Bubba: Big Ugly Buck. Affectionate term for bucks too large and long-eared for showing. Also called False Dwarf. Generally considered Pet Quality. See Dwarf Gene; Quality. BUD: Big Ugly Doe. Affectionate term for does too large and long-eared for showing. Also called False Dwarf or Brood Doe. BUDs are the baby-makers and capable of producing show quality offspring. They usually have larger litters, and kindle more easily and reliably than small True Dwarf does. See Dwarf Gene; Quality. Butterfly: Refers to Broken. Color around the nose or muzzle. Can cover entire muzzle, or just be spots on either side of the nose. Balanced markings on both sides of nose is preferred. Carrier: Portable cage for transporting. Usually divided into 2 or more holes. See Hole. Commercial: Refers to breeds that are raised for meat or fur, usually the larger breeds. Also refers to the operation of breeding for meat or fur. Coop: Holding cage(s) at a show. See Shows. Cull, Culling: The process of removing unwanted animals from the herd by selling or giving them away, or in some cases, euthanasia. Culling is done to improve the breed, reduce numbers, or to eliminate genetic flaws and incurable disease. Cull also refers to the animal being culled. Dam: Mother. Dense: Full, undiluted color. Black, Chocolate, Siamese Sable, Chestnut, Chinchilla, Orange. See Color Articles. Dilute: Gene which produces a lighter version of a color. Blue is the dilute of Black, Lilac is the dilute of Chocolate, Siamese Smoke Pearl is the dilute of Siamese Sable, Fawn is the dilute of Orange, Squirrel is the dilute of Chinchilla. See Color Articles. DQ: Disqualification. Any deviation from the SOP that will disqualify a rabbit from being shown. See SOP; Fault; Color Articles. Dwarf Gene: The dwarf gene is responsible for the small size, short ears, and round shape of the ND. If a kit gets 1 copy of the dwarf gene, it will be a True Dwarf with the small round type. This is the Show Bunny. If it doesn't get the dwarf gene (50/50 chance), it will be a False Dwarf. This is the large, racy, long-eared type that is unshowable. Affectionately called Big Ugly (BU). If the kit gets 2 copies (1 from each parent) of the dwarf gene, it's lethal. This double-dwarf kit is called a Peanut, and will usually die within 3 days of birth. They will be very small with deformed heads and hindquarters, and it's believed with undeveloped digestive systems which is why they don't survive. A pair of True Dwarfs are more likey to produce Peanuts. A False Dwarf doe (BUD) paired with a True Dwarf buck will produce some True Dwarfs, some False, but no peanuts. False Dwarf bucks (BUB) have no real use. However, overweight, heavy-boned typey bucks can be considered True Dwarfs if they conform to the general shape desired, having round heads and bodies, and short ears. These large bucks will be unshowable, but can add their good qualities. Peanuts are proof that both parents are True Dwarfs. See Abnormal Kits. Ear Number, Ear #: Permanant tattoo in left ear, also included in the pedigree. May be numbers, letters, or series of either. Identifies the rabbit for show or breeding. Registered rabbits receive a symbol in the right ear at the time of registering. Fader: Kit that begins to waste away at weaning, usually around 4-6 weeks of age. Also called Waster. See Dwarf Gene; Abnormal Kits. False Dwarf: See Dwarf Gene; BUB; BUD; Quality. Fancy: Refers to breeds that are mainly raised for show or pet, usually the smaller breeds. Also another term for the hobby of raising rabbits. Netherland Dwarfs are known as the "Gem of the Fancy". Fault: Conformation or color fault that may cause a rabbit to be placed lower in its class. Not a DQ. See DQ; SOP. Guard Hairs: Longer, stiffer, and usually shiny hairs on top of the coat. Defines the surface color. See Surface Color; Undercoat; Color Articles. GC: Grand Champion. Rabbit that has been registered with ARBA, and has earned at least 3 Legs. See Leg; Shows. Group: Division of breed that groups similar varieties together. See Variety; Color ~ Recognized. Hippo: See Abnormal Kits. Hobby Breeder: Breeder who raises animals for show, pets, or fun. Hole: Individual cage or space in carrier. See Carrier. Jr: Junior. Rabbit under 6 months of age, over 8 weeks old. Kindle: Birth; delivery of litter. Kit: Baby rabbit, under 8 weeks old. Leg: Certificate earned for being best of its class at a show. Only 1 leg per rabbit can be earned in 1 show. Can earn more legs in multiple shows at the same site. See GC; Shows. Max Factor: See Abnormal Kits. Molt, Moult: Shedding of old fur and wool to allow the growth of a new coat. Often in response to summer heat. A rabbit that is going through a heavy molt is said to have "blown its coat". ND: Netherland Dwarf, also referred to as just Dwarf. The smallest breed of rabbit. Adult weight between 1.5 lbs and 3.5 lbs. Showable weight limit 2.5 lbs. See Dwarf Gene, Color Articles; American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club. Non-extension: The "ee" gene. Removes most of the surface color from the coat. Necessary for Sable Point, Tort, Orange, and Fawn. It takes 2 (recessive) and can hide for many generations. When 2 rabbits come together that carry "ee", they will produce non-extension varieties. Also responsible for Fox (Tort Otter), and Ermine (Frosty) which are unrecognized. See Surface Color; Color Articles. Palpate: Examination of bred doe for evidence of pregnancy. This takes practice and involves feeling for the kits in the doe's womb. Peanut: See Dwarf Gene; Abnormal Kits. Points: Refers to shaded and Himalayan varieties. Darker color on ears, nose, feet, and tail. See Color Articles. Pre-junior, Pre-jr: Term used by some breeders to indicate kits between the ages of 4 and 8 weeks. See Weanling. Quality (Show, Brood, Pet): Show Quality is a rabbit that conforms to the SOP. Brood Quality may not be showable, but useful for breeding. Pet Quality doesn't fall into either catagory. See Dwarf Gene; SOP; BUB; BUD. Rabbitry: The housing or operation of raising rabbits. See Rabbitry. Ring Pattern: Refers to Agouti only. Banded hair shaft that displays 3 distinct rings of color when the coat is blown into. See Guard Hairs; Surface Color; Undercoat; Color Articles. Rufous, Rufous Factor: Sometimes called Otter Factor. Rich reddish color that makes Otter and Chestnut extra striking. Necessary for Tan and unrecognized Red. Scanning: Odd behavior displayed by some varieties. The rabbit moves its head back and forth like it's watching a tennis match. Most common in pink-eyed varieties, but sometimes shadeds do it, too. It's assumed the pink eyes can't see very well, and the rabbit scans to get a better picture of its surroundings. Seems to be genetic as not all rabbits in these varieties do it. Showable, Show Bunny: Rabbit that conforms to the SOP, and has no DQs. See DQ; Quality; SOP. Sire: Father. Smut, Soot: Undesirable dark color at the end of the hair shaft. Common on Sable Point where it looks like dark ticking on the body. Breeding to Himi or REW will help clean up Sable Pt smut. Black-based Orange and Fawn have black ticking, and are referred to as Sooty Orange or Sooty Fawn. Including the chocolate gene will clean up the soot on Orange/Fawn. Sr: Senior. Rabbit over 6 months of age. Considered adult. SOP: Standard Of Perfection. Description of breed as recognized by American Rabbit Breeders Association. Surface Color: Top or basic color. The color at the end of the hair shaft which defines the variety. "Blue Otter's surface color is blue, Chestnut's basic color is black." See Guard Hairs; Undercoat; Ring Pattern; Color Articles. Table: Judging table at a show. "This rabbit has done well on the tables." See Shows. True Dwarf: See Dwarf Gene. Type, Typey: General conformation. Typey refers to a rabbit that closely conforms to the SOP. See SOP. Undercoat: Layer of wool next to the skin. Usually lighter than the surface color. See Guard Hairs; Surface Color; Color Articles. Unrecognized, Unshowable: Variety or breed. Unaccepted by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. See Color Articles; DQ; SOP. Variety: Color. See Color Articles. Weanling: Kit that is eating solid food. Usually 4-8 weeks of age. Also refers to kits that have been separated from their dam. Wideband: Gene necessary for Tan and Steel. Fills in all the white tan pattern or agouti markings with color. On Tan, the fill color is reddish-tan. On Steel, it's black or brown, and also removes the agouti banded hairshaft leaving gold ticking. Also said to be important for Silver Marten to make the white markings brighter. See Color Articles. Related Info: ANDRC; ARBA; Links * DISCLAIMER * This article was written from personal experience and opinion, and some input from other breeders. It is intended as a guide only. Other breeders may disagree or have other methods. This article or any part of this site may not be reproduced without permission. |
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