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How
it all started !
This
history is a composite of histories which have been previously
recorded by Kevin Smithey, Joyce Naylor, and Lionel Mannering of
the United Kingdom. Much of the text is in the original wording
or is paraphrased wording of the original authors. Other
materials were added as could be gleaned from numerous other
sources.
About the early 1880's in England, there appeared in the litters
of Dutch rabbits a white sport [mutation] with red eyes, of a
similar body type to the Dutch of that time, weighing about
3-1/2 to 4-1/2 lbs., cobby in build and soft in coat. These
white sports were later given the name Polish, but they were far
removed from the petite little Pole [Britannia Petite] that we
know today. Although not strong or robust in character, a few
were kept and interbred, and were found to reproduce their own
kind. Through selected line-breeding, several more white rabbits
with red eyes were obtained.
This new creation was shown at an exhibition in Hull in 1884,
and at about that time these Polish were exported from England
to the Hanover district of Germany.
Their arrival in Germany was greeted with enthusiasm and the
fanciers of that time set a standard somewhat similar to that of
the Netherland Dwarf today. In an effort to obtain this new
type, the Polish were crossed with small wild rabbits. The
resulting young were agouti in color, but in the next generation
blacks appeared and, as is inevitable in this color group,
red-eyed whites soon made their appearance again.
It was the white which first prospered in Germany, and they were
granted a standard in 1903. A Mr. Otto Lippolt was given the
credit for perfecting the breed in this, its present form. By
this time the Hermelin, as they had become known, was becoming
popular throughout Germany and had found its way into Holland,
where it was accepted by the Nederlands Bond Van Konynenfokkers
in 1907 and called ÒPool Roodogig.
At the beginning of the First World War, the blue-eyed white
made its appearance in the province of Saxony, now in East
Germany. As to how the blue-eyed white was first bred, little is
known, as information from Eastern European countries is
difficult to obtain. These animals were larger in bone
structure, longer in body, and had a more harsh, flyback coat
than did the red-eyed whites.
Until the late 1930's, the only colors of Dwarfs were red-eyed
and blue-eyed whites. However, at this time the great Dutch
fancier Jan Meyering, together with some close associates, saw
the possibilities of a colored Dwarf and began to cross red-eyed
whites with the normal counterparts of the larger breeds they
wished to dwarf. After many years of selective breeding, colored
Dwarfs had arrived at their present high standard, and were
first given a standard in Holland in 1940.
It was not until after the Second World War that the Netherland
Dwarf came to Britain, as a result of a visit to Holland in 1947
by some English Rex fanciers. Because of the German occupation
of Holland, the Dutch fanciers rabbitries had become either
nonexistent or very depleted. In an effort to assist the Dutch
fanciers, this party of English fanciers, including Joyce
Naylor, took some Rex to an exhibition in Amsterdam, and it was
here that they first saw the Netherland Dwarf. At one end of the
hall they saw these tiny rabbits, Dwarfs they were told they
were. They looked so cute, with their bold heads, tiny ears, and
alert look. Blacks, blues, and whites. How they wished they
could have some. But owing to the recent occupation of Holland,
only 17 Dwarfs had survived. However, in 1949 Mrs. Naylor went
to London with other fanciers to collect 9 of these rabbits. One
blue-eyed white, two red-eyed whites, two blues, two blacks, one
sable, and one agouti.
On October 13th, 1949, four of these fanciers formed the
Netherland Dwarf Club. The Club grew quickly, members patiently
waiting for stock. Early in 1950 the British Rabbit Council gave
them official recognition. In 1950 they held their first Dwarf
Club show, at New Malden in Surrey, with a total of 18 rabbits
entered. Needless to say, these attracted great attention. They
also had a lot of criticism about importing a new breed. Won't
last six months was a familiar cry.
In those early days, many noteworthy rabbits were bred and, as
always with rabbits of long-lasting show careers, made their
presence felt on the show tables of Britain. Alas, many of these
good Dwarfs of the show tables were unable to reproduce
themselves in the breeding pen. Why this may have been so is
unknown.
The Dwarf which many fanciers thought was no more than a mere
novelty has become, forty years later, one of the top Fancy
rabbits, topping the entries at the major shows. It seems to get
more popular as each year goes by.
The English fanciers are quite pleased that they feel they
helped us get started in Dwarfs in America, and they are further
pleased to hear of the large entries at our shows. The Dwarf is
the ideal rabbit for the future, as it is small, hardy, and easy
to feed. It is ideal for the urban fancier in these days of high
costs.
In the past two decades, the Dwarf has been accepted on the
continent of America, in Canada, and, latterly, in South Africa.
Consequently, it is now in all the rabbiting nations of the
world and proof that the Dwarf is truly the Gem of the Fancy.
The history of the Dwarf in Britain is that of a new breed being
exported to a foreign country, being bred to a different
standard, and then being re-imported more than half a century
later as yet another breed.
Frank
Fox wearing his familiar
hat, Judging the 1993
Nat Adult Stock Show.
Brian
Rideout Judging the
1987 Adult Stock Show.
Dennis
Pepper judges Agouti's
at the
1986 Nat ASS.
Stan
Southgate Judges
the 1987
Nat YSS
The YOUNG
Simon Beynon
age 16 !!
Stewarding for
Alan
Norbury
at the
1986 Nat ASS.
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