If you are new to rabbits, you might wonder what "DM" or "F2" means, and you might not be familiar with terms like "semi-proven" or "broken." This is a list of common rabbit-related abbreviations and terms to help interpret "bunny lingo" a little better.

 

Please note: This material is our original content and none of it may be copied, altered, published, printed, or used in any way without our direct written permission. Please do not use this list on your website or other sources. Thank you.

 

Buck: Male Rabbit

Doe: Female Rabbit

Sire: Father Rabbit

Dam: Mother Rabbit

GS / Grand Sire: Grandfather Rabbit

GD / Grand Dam: Grandmother Rabbit

GGS / Great-Grand Sire: Great-Grandfather Rabbit

GGD / Great-Grand Dam: Great-Grandmother Rabbit

Junior / Jr.: Buck or doe under the age of 6 months

Senior / Sr.: Buck or doe over the age of 6 months

Kit: Baby Rabbit / Offspring

LH: Lionhead

ND: Netherland Dwarf

MR: Mini Rex

TH: Thrianta

HL: Holland Lop

LL: Lionhead Lop or "Lionlop" (cross between a Lionhead and a Holland Lop, Mini Lop or French Lop)

VL: Velveteen Lionhead, Velvet Lionhead or "Velvet Lion" (cross between a Lionhead and a Mini Rex)

PL: Plush Lop (cross between a Mini Rex and a Holland Lop)

F1: First Generation / Hybrid (cross between two Purebreds of different breeds)

F2: Second Generation / Hybrid (cross between an F1 to an F1, F2, F3 or F4/PB of the same breed)

F3: Third Generation / Hybrid (cross between an F2 to an F2, F3 or F4/PB of the same breed)

F4: Fourth Generation / Purebred (cross between an F3 or F4/PB to an F3 or F4/PB of the same breed)

PB: Purebred

DM: Double Mane (has too mane genes, creating thick wooly mane)

SM: Single Mane (has one mane gene, creating a lighter, wispier mane)

NM: No Mane (does not have a mane gene, will not grow any mane)

Skirt: The mane-like fur that often appears on the hindquarters and flank of DM and SM rabbits

HQ: Hindquarters (the back half of a rabbit, including the hips, hind legs and rump)

Flank: The sides of the rabbit between the ribs and hips

Flange: Inside the ear on the back edge

Crown: Top of a rabbit's head (on Holland Lops) where the base of the lopped ears create a ridge like a crown

Molting: When a rabbit sheds out fur and grows a new coat

ARBA: American Rabbit Breeders Association

SOP: Standard of Perfection (description of a breed as recognized by ARBA)

Type: Qualities and characteristics of a rabbit, as measured by the SOP

DQ: Disqualification (a defect or blemish substantial enough to disqualify a rabbit from a show or from being registered)

Fault: An imperfection in a rabbit (one that will likely result in a lower show placement but will not disqualify the rabbit completely)

BIS: Best In Show (show winning)

BOB: Best Of Breed (show winning)

BOG: Best Of Group (show winning)

BOSG: Best Opposite Sex of Group (show winning)

BOS: Best Opposite Sex (show winning)

BOV: Best Of Variety (show winning)

BOSV: Best Opposite Sex of Variety (show winning)

COD: Certificate of Development (colors)

AOV: All Other Varieties (colors)

Legs: Show winnings (like legs in a race)

Registered: A rabbit that has been registered with ARBA (must meet the SOP for that breed with no DQs)

Reg #: Registration Number (a number that is tattooed on the inside of a rabbit's right ear when it becomes registered)

GC: Grand Champion (a rabbit that has been registered, won 3 applicable legs, and received a GC certificate and number)

GC #: Grand Champion Number (a number that is assigned to a rabbit when it becomes a GC)

Ear #: Ear Number (a number that serves as identification for a rabbit, tattooed on the inside of the left ear)

Weight: The weight of the rabbit, often listed on pedigrees and websites (recorded at 5-6 months of age)

Pedigree: Invaluable piece of paper! Lists the name, Ear #, Variety, Weight, Reg/GC #, etc. of a rabbit, plus the last 3-4 generations

BEW: Blue-Eyed White

VM: Vienna-Marked (carries the BEW gene and it is revealed through white markings; also called Sport, Miss-marked, Dutch-marked)

VC: Vienna-Carrier (carries the BEW gene but it is hidden)

REW: Ruby-Eyed White / Red-Eyed White

Variety: Color and pattern (e.g. Chestnut Agouti, or Black Self) (Note: pattern is usually assumed and not stated)

Self: Solid (all one-color, not shaded or ticked) coat color pattern (Black, Chocolate, Blue, Lilac)

Agouti: Coat color pattern in which each hair shaft has three bands of color

Base Color: The color of the fur next to the skin (also called the undercolor)

Broken: A coat color pattern involving a gene that "breaks" a solid color pattern so the rabbit appears white with colored markings

Solid: A solid-colored rabbit (as opposed to a Broken)

Butterfly: A "butterfly" marking across a broken rabbit's nose and whiskers (a desirable trait in brokens, the more balanced the better)

Charlie: A very lightly marked broken rabbit that has two broken genes (both parents were brokens) - named after Charlie Chaplin

False-Charlie: Looks just like a Charlie, but this rabbit only has one broken gene (one parent was broken, the other was solid)

Genotype: The genetic code that makes up a rabbit (e.g. the known genotype for Orange rabbits is A_B_C_D_ee)

Phenotype: The actual appearance of the genotype (e.g. a rabbit that is Orange in color)

Herd: Group of rabbits, usually in reference to a rabbitry's breeding herd

Cull: To keep the best offspring and sell the remaining kits in order to enhance a breeding program and make room in the barn

Pet Out: To sell to pet homes -- many breeders will often "pet out" rabbits that are not show/brood quality

Litter: A group of kits born to the same doe at the same time

Proven: Successfully kindled or sired a live litter or kit

Semi-Proven: Kindled or sired a litter, but all were stillborn or died soon thereafter

Kindle: To give birth

Nest Box: A metal or wood box that a doe (hopefully) kindles her litter in - the kits live here for the first 2-3 weeks of life

Nesting: When a pregnant doe builds her nest, using hay or whatever materials she has nearby

Pulling Fur: When a doe pulls her fur out and lines her nest with it (usually right before kindling)

Foster: To place a kit or a litter with another dam, who readily adopts them as her own

Wean: Separating kits from the dam, usually at 6-8 weeks old (we wean our kits at 7 weeks)

Throw: To produce offspring (e.g. "My doe throws beautiful orange kits," or "She only threw single mane kits this time")

Palpate: To check doe for pregnancy by feeling for kits. "Palpated positive" means a positive pregnancy test!

Take / Catch: To get pregnant (e.g. "The doe actually took this time around," or "She was bred but I don't think she caught")

Gestation: Pregnancy term (length) for rabbits, usually lasting 31 days (can vary between 28-32 days)

Stillborn: Kit that was lifeless at birth, also referred to as "DOA" - Dead On Arrival

Binky: When a bunny is really happy and excited, it will often skip, flip or otherwise twirl in the air as it hops around, doing "binkies"