Posing Your Rabbit

 

One of the best ways to evaluate the "type" on your rabbit is to learn how to properly pose them. Overposting is the most common posing fault. overposing creates the illusion that your rabbit has good depth. Underposing is another common fault. this makes your rabbit look longer and lack the desired depth. 

This rabbit is underposed, making it seem much longer than he is

This rabbit is overposed making her have good depth, but she is scrunched.

 

To really understand how to pose your rabbit you must learn the style of rabbit you are breeding.

The ARBA has five body type profiles: 

 

Simi-Arch

Simi-Arch rabbits are American, Beveren, English Lop, Flemish Giant, and Giant Chinchilla

Commercial

Commercial rabbits are French Angora, Giant Angora, Satin, Angora, Blanc de Hotot, Champagne d'Argente, Californian, Cinnamon, American Chinchilla, Creme d'Argente, French Lop, Harlequin, New Zealand, Palomino, Rex, American Sable, Satin, Silver Fox, and Silver Marten

Compact

Compact Rabbits are also broken up into two group: 

Low Headset Breeds: English Angora, Standard Chinchilla, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, Florida White, Havana, Lilac, Mini Lop, Mini Rex, Mini Satin, Polish, Silver and Thrianta

OR

High Headset Breeds: Holland Lop, Lionhead, Jersey Woolie and Netherland Dwarf

Full-Arch

Full-Arch Rabbits are broken up into two groups:

Posed Breeds: Belgian Hares, and Britannia Petite

OR

Running Breeds: Checkered Giants, English Spot, Rheinlander, and Tan 

Cyndrical

Cyndrical rabbits are Himalayan. They are the only breed posted this way.  

Posing a rabbit is essentially the same for all breeds:

  • Place the front feet directly under the eyes.
  • Align the toes of the rear feet with the front of the hips.

Posing takes time and patients. Especially with junior rabbits. Having your rabbits' nails freshly trimmed and their feet on a flat, soft surface, (like low profile carpet) helps when learning to pose. Be consistent, and don't be afraid to ask your breeder for help.