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| Netherland Dwarf |
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| About the Netherland Dwarf: |
Germany imported the first Polish (UK) to their country from England in 1884, with further imports taking place in to the early 1900's. The max weight was set at 1.5 kg. Their heads were to be short, strong and well-rounded, with eyes large and prominent, ears to be short, rather broad at the base and pointed at the tips. Bodies are as small as possible, short coupled and very broad. Finally, the fur was to be short, fine, tightly set to the body and shining white. At that time in history, the Hermelins was known as the Pole.
The breed made little progress in Germany because of World War 1, as the economics situation was not exactly favorable for small rabbits, as the larger breed skins were in high demand over the smaller pelts, and the larger carcasses were far more appropriate to satisfy the requirements of the family's consumption. Luckily for the Polish breed there were the dedicated stock keepers that preserved the original breed through selection for size and type. Some enterprising fanciers began to see the small pelts of the Pole as an imitation of true Ermine fur, which was extremely expensive, and high demand. This would then become the death of the Pole name and the beginning of the breed known today as the Hermelin. (Hermine in German is Ermine) In 1918 appeared the Blue-eyed white, bred by a Mr. Kluge of Hohndorf and Mr. Lohse of Dippoloswalde of Germany by crossing the Ruby-eyed Pole with the Dutch and White Vienna breed of rabbits. By 1920 there had been drastic morphological changes and this rabbit was becoming a true dwarf.
Now off to Holland where the German Hermielin would be come recognized in 1907 by the Nerherlands Bond Donynenefokkers. Up until 1930 there were only Ruby-eyed whites and Blue eyed-whites. Now Dutch Fanciers crossed these to other large breeds to develop colored dwarfs. They worked for many years and in May of 1940 they were granted a standard. It is sad to note that the next World War nearly destroyed all this hard work. There were only 17 to be known of after of the war.
In 1947 a group of English Standard Rex breeders made their way to a show in Amsterdam, where they had brought rabbits to help the Dutch reestablish their herds. This is where Joyce Naylor, one of the breeders viewed a Black, Blue, and a White Netherland Dwarf at this show and knew she had to have them. In 1949 in thanks for the help to the Rex breeders there, they sent to Joyce in England, 9 dwarfs, one agouti, two blacks, two blues, one sable, one blue eyed white and two ruby-eyed whites. Joyce Naylor formed the Netherland Dwarf Club in October of 1949 and in 1950 the British Rabbit Council accepted the new breed the English Netherland Dwarf. |
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| Information Provided By: The American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club |
| Photo Provided By: The American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club |
| Official Website: The American Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club |
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