Brits, as these cute creatures are fondly called by some, are known to be energetic and high-strung Rabbits. Britannia Petites are small, fully-arched Rabbits who aren’t called petite for nothing, as they have an ideal mature weight of 2.5 pounds or 1.13 kilograms when they reach the age of six months.
STRIKE A POSE
“Most Petites will pose readily if encouraged by proper handling,” according to the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association (ARBA). There is no denying that this Rabbit is just naturally graceful with their alert stance! There are different ways to pose Brits.
In one method, you have to place the Rabbit on a flat surface facing you. Then, put one hand over the Rabbit’s back, with your thumb under the chin of the Rabbit. While holding them this way, gently raise the Rabbit until their front legs are extended with the toes touching the table.
I follow this technique and suggest that a Petite be posed as young as possible.
RECOGNIZED VARIETIES
Brits of different varieties can be entered in several shows: Black, Black Otter, Blue Eyed White, Broken, Chestnut Agouti, Ruby Eyed White, Sable Marten and Siamese Sable.
Those who fall under Himalayan (Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac), Tortoise Shell (Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac), and Otter (Blue, Chocolate, Lilac) have been recently recommended for acceptance and have been eligible to compete since December 1, 2022, according to ARBA.
WEIGHT A MINUTE!
Before you go on to show your gorgeous Britannia Petites, make sure their weights are up to standard.
SENIOR BUCK AND DOE (SIX MONTHS OLD AND UP) MAXIMUM WEIGHT 2.5 pounds or 1.13 kilograms
JUNIOR BUCK AND DOE (UNDER SIX MONTHS) MAXIMUM WEIGHT 1.25 pounds or 0.57 kilograms
SCHEDULE OF POINTS
Britannia Petites are judged based on the following point system.
PETITE STANDARDS
The Standard of Perfection book can be a little daunting when you read through it. I know, as it was really overwhelming for me at first!
I’ll be pointing out the key things to remember about how a good Britannia Petite ideally looks like based on the book, but of course it’s better that you get to read through it yourself.
BODY
Body is sprightly, fine-boned, fit, and slender. Thus, a Brit should really look lightweight and slender, not heavy and muscular.
They should exhibit a full arch, with a continual arch from the nape to the base of the tail. A straight line is formed from the top of the ears down the toes when the Rabbit is posed properly and viewed from the side. Their belly is tucked and would reveal plenty of daylight. (Daylight refers to how you can see through their belly area.)
They should have good extension on the limbs. Hindquarters are slightly broader than the shoulder and should round nicely.
HEAD
The head is ideally wedge-shaped.
It has enough width in the muzzle, preventing a pinched appearance. It should widen slightly from the base of the ear, with the greatest width can be found in between the eyes. Brows above each eye are also prominent.
EARS
The ears should be below 2.5 inches in length, and should be well set, well furred, and erect.
The ears should have a strong base and a rounded tip. They should touch all the way up with no space in between them.
LEGS
The Petite’s legs and feet should be long, slender, and straight, and should be fine in bone.
EYES
Eyes should be bright and bold.
TAIL
The tail is straight, well carried, and proportionate to the body.
FUR
The Britannia Petites ideally has flyback fur that is sleek and smooth in appearance: When touched, it should be fine, short, and dense, lying close to the body.
DISQUALIFICATION
• Presence of dewlap Dewlap is the loose skin in the throat of the Rabbit that is usually pendulous in nature. Take note that the presence of dewlap is not always a disqualification for all Rabbits. However, it is for Britannia Petite.
• Heavy curvature on the top of the skull As mentioned earlier, the head of the Britannia Petite should be wedge shaped and should not appear round in all directions.
• Ears over 2.75 inches in length Ears over 2.5 inches, on the other hand, are considered a fault.
• Rollback fur A Britannia Petite should have a flyback type of fur.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
Britannia Petites are known as Polish in Britain, but Polish is also another small Rabbit recognized by the ARBA. Confusing, right?
You might also hear some people calling them Poles, which is short for Polish!
TEMPERAMENT TALK
Michael and Adalla Carmen Evangelista of MKDY Rabbitry in Sta. Maria, Bulacan answers our questions. Don’t fret: These details about Britannia Petites won’t give you a heart attack, although they will surely make your heart pound!
Animal Scene: What do you find most interesting about Britannia Petites?
Michael and Adalla: When [we] saw the photos of Britannia Petites, the factors that [made] us even more interested in welcoming them to our homes are their posture [and pose], the color varieties, and their small size!
AS: What varieties of Britannia Petites do you look after?
M&A: We initially adopted a Black Otter and a Broken Chestnut Agouti. Their offspring are Siamese Sable, Sable Marten, Broken Black, and Chestnut Agouti.
AS: Some people say they are biters. Would you agree?
M&A: For us, [they are not biters]. Just like other animals, if they feel that they are threatened, they might bite to protect themselves.
Based on our experience, they are quite energetic at first. But during and after pregnancy, Burnaby, our doe, was super sweet and calmer. She likes to be pet and she likes [for us to] gently rub her whole body. After her kits were weaned, she became energetic again, just like other Britannia Petites.
AS: What would you advise people who are thinking of welcoming them into their homes?
M&A: Britannia Petites are not for beginners. They require previous experience in caring for Rabbits, as they are very energetic.
Unlike other Rabbits who are docile and want to be cuddled all the time, they do not like to sit or stay in one place. They like to jump and can get easily distracted.
Grooming-wise, these Rabbits do not require much compared to other long-furred Rabbits who need daily brushing.
According to Michael and Adalla, Britannia Petites require a lot of time, attention, and patience, especially for one to train them with their signature elegant pose, since they are energetic and can get easily distracted.
They also mentioned that this Rabbit has good mothering abilities: They create nests for their kits, breastfeed them regularly, and raise their kits healthily until weaning!
Their advice? “Research and study first about their behavior and temperament, just like what we did before we decided to welcome this [Rabbit] to our home!”
Photos by MANOELLE DIOKNO
