Triple E Rabbitry

Dutch Rabbit Standard

Body Type

The general type of the Dutch rabbit should be relatively rounded and balanced throughout. It should start from behind the head, over the shoulders to the highest point of the loin and rounding off over the hindquarters. The shoulders should remain well rounded. Regardless of whether it is a small or large Dutch they should remain well rounded.

Weight: Jr. Bucks & Does--Under 6 months of age. Minimum weight 1 3/4 pounds.                                Senior Bucks & Does--6 months of age or over, weight 3 1/2 to 5 1/2. Ideal weight 4 1/2 pounds.

Varieties

	Black Dutch should have a dense, uniform jet-black, very glossy, running deep toward the skin, blending into a slate blue undercolor next to the skin. Black Dutch must have dark-brown eye color. Faults of the black color would include white hairs, frostiness, brownish/rust.
	Blue Dutch should have a uniform medium-dark blue, very glossy, running deep towards the skin, to blend into a slate blue undercolor next to the skin. The eye color must be blue-gray. Faults of the blue color would include white hairs, smoky blue, silvery blue, or lilac shadings.
	Chocolate Dutch should be a very glossy, uniform, dark chocolate brown running deep towards the skin, blending into a bluish dove under color next to the skin. Eyes must be a dark-brown, a ruby cast is permissible.
	Gray Dutch color is to have an agouti pattern, showing distinct bands of color. Colors on the hair shaft should be slate blue at the base, followed by medium tan, then a thin charcoal brown band, finishing with a lighter tan band. Colored portions of the body should be uniformly dispersed with black guard hairs. Narrow black lacing on the ears is desirable. Eye circles should be narrow and tan in color. The belly should display a white or cream surface color, with a slate blue undercolor, extending from inside the rear legs over the belly to the undercut. The undercut is determined by blowing into the fur. Eyes to be dark brown. Faults include brassy tinge, white hairs, light surface color on body. Lack of uniform disbursement of black guard hairs. Disqualifications would include absence of intermediate ring color over the colored portion of the body. Absence of slate blue under color on the belly.
	Steel Dutch the entire colored portion of the body is to be black, with a uniform disbursement of off-white or cream coloration on some of the hair tips. Undercolor is to be a slate blue, carried as deep towards the skin as possible. Surface color of the under portion of the tail, belly, and inside of hind legs are to be as near the body color as possible. Crotch marks are accepted. Eyes-Dark Brown. Faults would include lack of steel coloration over the back; brassy or yellow appearance; white hairs in colored sections. Disqualifications include ring pattern over the back or upper sides. White underside of tail.
	Tortoise Dutch color is to be a bright, clean orange, blending into smokey-blue shading over the lower rump, and carrying well down the haunches. The top color should carry down into the under color, blending into a dark cream color next to the skin. Upper portion of tail color should match top body color. The shadings on the head should be the darkest at the whisker bed, blending into lighter shadings on the jaws, darkening again at the ear base, and blending up the ears to match body color. The smoky blue shading is to include the underside of the tail. Eyes to be Dark Brown. Faults include white hairs, smut or smudge, throughout the orange color, lack of bold shadings, underside of tail light in color. Disqualifications include the absence of shadings.

Markings

It is important that the markings of the Dutch are to be clean and clear, distinct, and free of drags of opposite color.

                                                                                                                       CHEEKS                                              

BLAZE

The blaze is the marking along the face. It should be in a wedge shape and about medium width. The blaze should cover the nose, whisker bed, and tapering up to the ears. Although, there are no additional points added, it is desirable to have a hair line (where the blaze goes between the ears and connecting to the neck marking).

                                                                                                      SADDLE & NECK

 The saddle marking is point on the upper body where the white fur meets the colored fur. This should begin just behind the shoulders and create a perfect circle around the body.

                                                                                                            UNDERCUT

                                                                                                     STOPS