Body Types of Rabbits
Rabbits come in five different body types, Commercial, Compact, Cylindrical, Full Arch, and Semi-Arch. On this page, you can read about each type, which breeds make use of that body type, see a photo and learn how to pose rabbits with that body type!
Commercial Type
Breeds with body type: French Angora, Giant Angora, Satin Angora, Champagne d'Argent, Californian*, Cinnamon, American Chinchilla, Crème d' Argent, French Lop, Harlequin, Hotot, New Zealand, Palomino, Rex, American Sable, Satin, Silver Fox, and Silver Marten
Description: The Commercial body typed rabbits are the ideal meat type. They should be medium in length and throughout the entire body, the depth should be equal to the width. The whole body should be round with very firm flesh, showing roundness of body and firmness of flesh with very little offal when dressed. They should have a top line that starts directly behind the ears, have a deep shoulder, and rise continuously to a high point over the center of the hips, approximately two-thirds of the way back. The top line should continue in a smooth curve downward to the base of the tail. The result of an ideal top line should result in a smooth, well-rounded back, loin, and hindquarter.
How to Pose: Commerical rabbits are easily posed by gently placing your hand over the head of the rabbit and using the other hand to align the front feet with the eyes. The hind feet should be tucked neatly under the body of the rabbit, but the hindquarters should not be pushed up under.
Compact Type
Breeds with body type: American Fuzzy Lop, English Angora, Standard Chinchilla, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, Florida White, Havana, Holland Lop, Jersey Wooly, Lilac, Mini Lop*, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, Netherland Dwarf, Polish, Silver, and Thrianta
Description: Lighter weight and shorter in length than commercial breeds, posed with forelegs and hocks flat on table, with the exception of a few, such as the Netherland Dwarf and Holland Lop
How to Pose: The compact type is very similar to the Commercial body type, except they are lighter in weight and are shorter in length than the Commercial breeds. The Netherland Dwarf and Holland Lop are a bit different from the rest of the Compact breeds in that they are not posed with their heads down, but with their heads up in a “natural” position. They are to be posed with their eyes and front feet even, and their hind feet and stifle to be even just like the Commercial rabbits. The rest of the breeds are posed with the head down rather than up. They are to also be well-rounded, with rounded shoulders that blend into full hindquarters. Like the commercial body type, the compact breeds should have a high point at the back of the loin, above the stifle, and the top line should round off all the way to the tail.
Cylindrical Type
Breeds with body type: Himalayan*
Description: This group has a type that is long, slim, and cylindrical with fine bone, and a long slender head, stretched out as far as possible but with the fore and hind legs remaining flat on the table, the length, type and markings are shown to their best advantage.
How to Pose: In spite of the obvious difference between the cylindrical and other breeds, the way of posing is actually quite similar. Align the front feet with the eyes, and the hind feet with the point of the hip, then just stretch the rabbit out.
Full Arch Type
Breeds with body type: Belgian Hare, Britannia Petite, Checkered Giant, English Spot, Rhinelander, and Tan*
Description: Show an arch starting at the nape of the neck, running over the shoulders, mid-section, loin, and hips to the juncture of the tail. Usually allowed to move naturally after the primary examination, and are posed up on front feet and toes.
How to Pose: This breed of rabbit is not usually posed at all, but allowed to run up and down the table. This body type is very different from the others, because the rabbit is to have much more depth than it has width. The body of a full arched breed is to be carried well off the table. The hips should have good depth. Like the commercial and compact breeds, the full arched breeds should taper gradually from the shoulders to the hips. Rather than setting a full arched breed up, it is allowed, and even encouraged to run up and down the table. This can be done by tapping the table behind the rabbit or tapping the rear end of the rabbit. If you own this breed of rabbit, you will want to work with it to encourage it to run up and down the table so the judge does not have trouble when you show. Not all Full Arch breeds are allowed to run, some (like the Britannia petite) are just encouraged to set up lightly on their front feet.
Semi-Arch Type
Breeds with body type: American, Beveren, English Lop, Flemish Giant*, and Giant Chinchilla
Description: Very good arch starting at the back of the shoulders and carrying through to the base of the tail and is referred to as having "mandolin" type. Posed with the forelegs and hocks flat on the table for the initial examination. Sometimes allowed to move naturally after the examination.
How to Pose: Align the front feet with the eyes, and the hind feet with the point of the hip. Do not push the rabbit up, but don't stretch him out either!
