Dwarf Hotot Rabbit 101: Part 1
Channel: Pets Life
Date: 25/02/2021

One of the most recently accepted breeds in the American Rabbit Breeders Association or ARBA is the Dwarf Hotot.


It is an unusual-looking rabbit with looks worthy of the show. It is small, compact, with lovely dense fur and with prominent dark eyes. The Dwarf Hotot is a small breed of rabbits that weigh just between 2.5 to 3.5 pounds as an adult. These rabbits have white coats, small cute ears, and impressive eyes with dark markings. This rabbit has a compact body size, with a round and well-filled head and a very short neck.

According to breed statistics, the Dwarf Hotot must have rounded hindquarters, which must be in-line with their wide shoulders. The ears are thick and short. And this rabbit is not just about looks. It also has a warm and friendly personality and is definitely good as a first-time pet.


History of the Breed.

The Dwarf Hotot was accepted by ARBA in 19 83, and now, it has a very strong following. But contrary to speculations that it was from the breed of larger Hotots, this dwarf rabbit, was actually developed from a normal-sized Hotot.

The original breed of Hotot was created in France at the start of the 20th century by Baroness Bernard. The dwarf was from combining the genes of the East and West Germany breeds in the 19 70s. Two breeders bred the same rabbit independently and crossed the two specimens. The two breeders used the White Hotot and a Netherland Dwarf to develop the Dwarf Hotot.

It was only in 19 70 when Elizabeth Forstinger from California brought 7 Dwarf Hotots from West Germany to the US. She began showing the cute rabbits in 19 80. After two years of admiration, the American Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Club was launched. The Dwarf Hotot was recognized by the ARBA in 19 83 and still remains as one of the oddest but cutest rabbit breeds.

Many years have passed since it was recognized by the ARBA, the only accepted Dwarf Hotot varieties are the ones with black eye bands. In 2006, the chocolate-banded Dwarf Hotot was accepted by the ARBA. In shows, the black and the chocolate-banded Dwarf Hotots are presented side by side with their eye band colors specified in the rabbit’s registration forms.


Coat.

The Dwarf Hotot coat is short, shiny, and very dense. It has a rollback for which means that the strands will always stay upright even when stroked. Because the coat is dense and thick, it does not require much attention. And due to its size, you may not notice that it is molting. This happens in spring as animals shed their old fur to make way for new growth. More information about molting and grooming a Dwarf Hotot in a later section.

Colors.

The Dwarf Hotot color combination accepted by the ARBA is white with a black eyering that looks like an eyeliner. The black band around the eyes must not be too thin or very thick. The eye band must have a feathered appearance and should be at least 1/8 of an inch thick.  ARBA has recently accepted the white with chocolate brown eye band and soon, the white with a blue eye band color.

These are requirements for show rabbits. A pet may not have the characteristics mentioned here, but nonetheless, the Dwarf Hotot is still a pure breed. Some Dwarf Hotot specimens may not have a white coat. Some Dutch-marked or English-spotted kits may also be seen in a litter. This is not unusual. However, these rabbits may not be used for show or in competitions but make great pets. 


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