Bunny Translator #2: Form

In the last Language article, we discussed how bunny breeding has it's own language.  We covered some terms that you will likely hear if you decide you want to buy, breed or show a dwarf breed.  In this article, we will cover some basic terms that breeders use to describe the form of a rabbit. Again, this applies mostly to holland lops. 

This little blue point doe is a perfect example of airplane ears

Bone -    Refers to the general mass of the rabbit - big or small.  Can usually be identified by looking at the front legs when the bunny is in show position (width between two legs and short, stubby legs), or by looking at the overall chest width of the rabbit.

Airplane -  Refers to the position of the ears - being out - perpendicular to the head, or up, instead of flat against the head.

Teaspoon -  Refers to the ideal shape of the ears.  They should be show a roundness and curve at the bottom, getting narrower where they attach to the head.

Topline - The visual line running from the bunnies neck down to it's tail - from a side view.  It should be a gentle curve with fullness by the hips.

Brow -  The distance between the eyes.  Should be wide on a holland, to the point where the eyes appear almost on the side of the head and barely visible from the front. 

Crown -  The hair above the brow all the way to the back of the neck, and from the top of the ear to the top of the other ear (like a giant headband).  The crown hair should stick up noticeably higher than the hair around it.

Cheeks -  On a holland, these should be fat and wide, not long and droopy.  Ideally the same width as the top of the head.