AESRC - The English Spot Breed of Rabbits - American English Spot Rabbit Club

As you can see from this old painting, the English Spot is a rabbit, it is a unique and interesting breed of rabbits bred for show, meat and fur.

What is the English Spot?

History:
The precise origin is unknown, just like many of the other older breeds, but it has said to have come from the English Butterfly. The English Spot made its way to America around 1910, but has been prevelent in England since as early as 1850. Some of the first exhibitors of the breed were Bob Scott, Sr., M.W. Meek and Mrs. Margaret Buggunhiem. James Blyth and W.J. Seyfried, the first club secretary, together organized the American English Spot Rabbit Club Inc., in 1924. In the past, the English Spot was a white rabbit with patches of color, very similar to the present day broken variety. Through selective breeding the English Spot acquired its name by becoming a white rabbit with clearly defined markings and especially spots.

Description:
The most distinctive thing about the English is, of coarse, its spots. This is the one thing that makes it different from all other breeds. There are seven varieties and they exhibit a full arch body type. This meaning the breed is judged while it is allowed to move naturally on the show table. English Spot does are excellent mothers, and will foster young easily. It is not unusual to see English does raising other breeds as well as their own young. In a normal litter of spots you will see three different animals: 25% of the litter will be all one color, called 'selfs' or 'sports', 50% of the litter will be the desired marked english, while the remaining 25% will be animals with partial markings, typically having a moustache similar to Charlie Chaplin that is why these are called 'charlies'. English Spots do not need a lot of room: 30" x 36" doe and litter pens and 30" x 30" single rabbit pens are plenty of room. As for feed, three to five ounces daily with a bit of oats or hay for a healthy coat and all the fresh water they can drink, will keep them in good condition. If you are looking for a beautiful, hardy rabbit that has challenging genetics, the English Spot is the rabbit for you.

Varieties:
English Spots come in seven different colors called Varieties: Black, Blue, Chocolate, Gray, gold, Lilac and Tortoise. Photos of English Spots that show ideal color according to the ARBA Standard of Perfection will put posted soon. Please remember that these photographs may not do the rabbit's color justice. Also remember that the following are examples of color, and may not show proper type or markings. More information on Varieties.

Body Type:
The English Spot has a full arch body type. The body of the English Spot should be naturaly carried up off the table, showing daylight underneath. The full arch and long limbs allows this animal to carry its body well off the table. The rabbit's hips should be well rounded, of a good depth and slightly broader than the shoulders, but not of a wedged shape. The feet and legs of the English Spot are to be long, slender and be medium to light boned. The longer the legs the better. Hind legs should be longer, and are to be parallel with the body. The head should be in proportion to the body and the ears are to be held erect. In does, the head is not to be as broad as the bucks. Does are allowed to exhibit a dewlap. Does will generally show more tapering than bucks. The body is to be long, and show a full arch, and is to be well balanced. Body type is the first thing a good breeder looks for when purchasing new stock. A speciman who is marked extremely well will not show off these markings without the correct body type.

Markings:
All of the markings are to be both clean and create a sharp contrast on the white background. The ideal English Spot rabbit will have no stray spots on the head or near the herringbone. It will also have no breaks in the herringbone or white hairs in the colored markings. The sweep will be balanced and look similar to a comma with a narrow start. All of the spots are to be as round as possible. The experienced breeder looks for animals that have clean and distinct markings. They also look for animals with uniform color of markings. Plain or heavy marked animals should not be overlooked in the breeding program.

Note:
John & Jan Marshall once described the English Spot as "the most beautiful rabbit ever developed. Combining beauty of markings, a graceful body, a hearty constitution, a gentle disposition, add a touch of curiosity and wrap it up in a 5 to 8 pound rabbit and you have the English Spot."

	As you can see from this old painting, the English Spot is a rabbit, it is a unique and interesting breed of rabbits bred for show, meat and fur. *What is the English Spot?* History: The precise origin is unknown, just like many of the other older breeds, but it has said to have come from the English Butterfly. The English Spot made its way to America around 1910, but has been prevelent in England since as early as 1850. Some of the first exhibitors of the breed were Bob Scott, Sr., M.W. Meek and Mrs. Margaret Buggunhiem. James Blyth and W.J. Seyfried, the first club secretary, together organized the American English Spot Rabbit Club Inc., in 1924. In the past, the English Spot was a white rabbit with patches of color, very similar to the present day broken variety. Through selective breeding the English Spot acquired its name by becoming a white rabbit with clearly defined markings and especially spots. Description: The most distinctive thing about the English is, of coarse, its spots. This is the one thing that makes it different from all other breeds. There are seven varieties and they exhibit a full arch body type. This meaning the breed is judged while it is allowed to move naturally on the show table. English Spot does are excellent mothers, and will foster young easily. It is not unusual to see English does raising other breeds as well as their own young. In a normal litter of spots you will see three different animals: 25% of the litter will be all one color, called 'selfs' or 'sports', 50% of the litter will be the desired marked english, while the remaining 25% will be animals with partial markings, typically having a moustache similar to Charlie Chaplin that is why these are called 'charlies'. English Spots do not need a lot of room: 30" x 36" doe and litter pens and 30" x 30" single rabbit pens are plenty of room. As for feed, three to five ounces daily with a bit of oats or hay for a healthy coat and all the fresh water they can drink, will keep them in good condition. If you are looking for a beautiful, hardy rabbit that has challenging genetics, the English Spot is the rabbit for you. Varieties: English Spots come in seven different colors called Varieties: Black, Blue, Chocolate, Gray, gold, Lilac and Tortoise. Photos of English Spots that show ideal color according to the ARBA Standard of Perfection will put posted soon. Please remember that these photographs may not do the rabbit's color justice. Also remember that the following are examples of color, and may not show proper type or markings. More information on Varieties. Body Type: The English Spot has a full arch body type. The body of the English Spot should be naturaly carried up off the table, showing daylight underneath. The full arch and long limbs allows this animal to carry its body well off the table. The rabbit's hips should be well rounded, of a good depth and slightly broader than the shoulders, but not of a wedged shape. The feet and legs of the English Spot are to be long, slender and be medium to light boned. The longer the legs the better. Hind legs should be longer, and are to be parallel with the body. The head should be in proportion to the body and the ears are to be held erect. In does, the head is not to be as broad as the bucks. Does are allowed to exhibit a dewlap. Does will generally show more tapering than bucks. The body is to be long, and show a full arch, and is to be well balanced. Body type is the first thing a good breeder looks for when purchasing new stock. A speciman who is marked extremely well will not show off these markings without the correct body type. Markings: All of the markings are to be both clean and create a sharp contrast on the white background. The ideal English Spot rabbit will have no stray spots on the head or near the herringbone. It will also have no breaks in the herringbone or white hairs in the colored markings. The sweep will be balanced and look similar to a comma with a narrow start. All of the spots are to be as round as possible. The experienced breeder looks for animals that have clean and distinct markings. They also look for animals with uniform color of markings. Plain or heavy marked animals should not be overlooked in the breeding program. Note: John & Jan Marshall once described the English Spot as "the most beautiful rabbit ever developed. Combining beauty of markings, a graceful body, a hearty constitution, a gentle disposition, add a touch of curiosity and wrap it up in a 5 to 8 pound rabbit and you have the English Spot."