Sorry, I do not have many photos of my Harlequin Dutch Rabbits yet (we are so bad about photos ) But if you go to the photo section, above right) and click on Harlequin Dutch, there are a few, very few. LOL

I have bred rabbits and in fact Harlequin Rabbits but Harlequin Dutch Rabbits are relativity new in our Rabbitry. After breeding many different breeds over the years, I am now concentrating on Curly Astrex Rabbits and Harlequin Dutch Rabbits. Neither are approved by ARBA (The American Rabbit Breeders Association) at this time.

The Harlequin Dutch I now have were given to me as a gift from a dear friend that also breeds them and lives in N WI. I am very pleased with the stock she owns and the lines mine are out of. Sally was lucky to find a line of Harlequin marked Dutch rabbits that were breeding pretty nice Harlequin markings when she purchased her babies. She has bred DT rabbits for several years as well as trained rabbits to walk on leashes, do tricks, use a litter box, to come when called and to do rabbit agility.

I looked for some sort of Standard for the breed, but of course here in the USA, the Harlequin Dutch are not excepted yet by the ARBA, so there really is no Standard for the Breed. It is always good to have a goal or idea of what you are looking for in your stock. You should always breed the best animals you have (health and markings) so a Standard among those that are breeding to build a breed or excepted color is a map or plans, if you will, a standard to breed by. Here is something I found on the Internet.

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HARLEQUIN - The color to be banded or barred pattern of black &
orange, (definitions, a band is considered as unbroken circle of
marking color, a bar is a semi-circle of marking color, running
vertically on a side).

The cheeks to be equally divided, one side black, the other orange.
One ear is to be black, the other orange (one solid color from tip to
base). The black ear is to be on the orange side of the face and the
orange ear is to be on the black side of the face.

The pattern over the back and belly may be banded, barred or a
combination of both without preference. Clean lines are to be
stressed, with alternating black and orange color. The ideal body
pattern to consist of at least 4 or more alternations of bands and/or
bars on each side, beginning at the saddle & undercut.

The hind legs & feet to continue alternation of black & orange to the
white stop markings. The top & underside of tail to show alternation
of orange & black.

Eyes - Dark Brown.

Faults - Head & Ears incomplete demarcation, ears the same color, ears
which fail to alternate with cheek color pattern. Body excessive
brindling of pattern, lacking distinct bars or bands. Poor balance of
sides due to plain unmarked side.

Disqualification - An absence of two colors (black & orange) on each
section: the head & ears, the body, the belly, the feet & legs and the
tail.

Note: The body type of the Harlequin Dutch should be consistent with
the current Standard of Perfection. All markings and general
disqualifications apply.

**By "current Standard of Perfection" she means the ARBA SOP for Dutch
breed rabbits.**

There is, no surprise, a Yahoo Groups list for Harlequin Dutch Rabbits. I was glad to see the photos at the site and am convinced I have some pretty nice stock based on what I saw.....I know, get some photos up.

-- The Rabbit Agility Team
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:57:03 -0400