English Spot Frequently asked questions

English Spot
FAQ

I get asked a lot of questions at shows about this wonderful breed! Many of them are asked more than others. So I thought for fun I would include these questions and answer them. I will add more as time goes on.
(The answers are based solely on my opinions and from what Ive learned over the years of breeding english spots)

Do they make good pets?

When bought at a young age and handled often, English spots can make great pets. They more often than not don't make good pets for very young children, as they tend to be a more hyper breed and don't always want to just sit there in your lap and cuddle.
( Remember they are a running breed!)

How much do they eat?

Compared to other breeds their size, spots dont eat very much at all. They are supposed to look long and lean and be firm of flesh. A good quality rabbit pellet, will do just fine. A handful of timothy is often appreciated. Too many greens and fresh veggies can cause them to get diarrhea and alfalfa tends to make them flabby.

What size cage do they need?

The biggest you can afford the better! They like lots of room to play. If getting a cage on the smaller side, outside playtime will be much appreciated by you furry friend. My cages vary in sizes. I house my Bucks in 18" by 24" cages. Does, Juniors and Does with litters are in 24" by 24" cages. I try to let my rabbits out at intervals to play on a table top. This develops good running skills for shows!

Do they all have that racing stripe, and how do they get it?

All show quality english spots will have that "racing" stripe. Spots are born as charlies(incomplete markings), selfs(totally solid colored), and marked(complete markings). Only the complete marked will remain for future breeding and showing. Charlies and Selfs are either culled at birth, sold for meat after maturing or sold as pets.
The stripe is a breed characteristic and has been carefully bred into them for centuries.

Have a question? Just ask and you may see it here!

Whats the secret to keeping them so shiny and fit?

There is no secret really. On top of breeding good to better and culling hard; proper diet, grooming and excersize are key. My rabbits get fed 1/2 cup of a quality 17% pellet daily. Once a month I worm with Ivermectin and clip their toenails. I make sure they get out on the table at least once a week for practice, but try to do it more often if time allows. Before I put them on the table I rub some water on my hands and run it through their coats to help get the dead hair out and remove static. And thats it!