Blanc De Hotot - Possum - Graduate - Chicory

Hotot Outline
Today we are going to discuss the The Blanc De Hotot and Dwarf Hotot (pronounced "Oh-Toe" or sometimes "Hoe-Toe").  “Hotot” is correctly pronounced “oh-toe,” but in America you will hear it more often said “hoe-toe.”  These Rabbits are also known as the "Eyes of the Fancy".  It looks like a bunny with eyeliner!”  Many people when they are introduced to this breed, become instant fans.  The Dwarf Hotot is a small rabbit with a round head, short uppity-ears, a sprightly personality and a pure white coat, except for the “eyeliner.”   What could be cuter?   
These rabbits are bound to catch not only the eyes of onlookers, but also their hearts.
History
Credit for the Blanc de Hotot Rabbit is given to Eugenie Bernhard, chatelaine du Calvados, who is the second woman in history to develop a new rabbit breed.  The breed was developed in Hotot-en-Auge, Normandy near the port of Le Havre in northern France.  Bernhard's goal was to perfect a new breed for meat and fur in 1902.  She kept a large rabbitry of Flemish Giants and Géant Papillon Français (Checkered Giants).  She developed the Blanc de Hotot Rabbit breed for the desired black and white coloration on a rabbit appropriate for both fur and meat production.
 History Dwarf
Rather than simply being a miniature version of the larger Hotot, the Dwarf Hotot is the product of crossing several breeds with the Hotot.  Big size rabbits were appreciated for their saleable commercial value. However, during later years, huge bunnies went out of fashion and people started following dwarf breeds.  The Dwarf Hotot is the product of nearly simultaneous breeding efforts in East and West Germany in the 1970's. These breeders independently bred the same breed, but came together in the late 1970's to cross them.  
MY STORY OF THE CHOCOLATE DWARF HOTOT
By Nell Warren
At the 1995 Texas Rabbit Breeders Assoc. Show, Tex Thomas was judging the Dwarf Hotots & one of Nell's entries was disqualified because the eye bands were chocolate in color & a ruby cast in the eye.  He made the comment that it was very good type with a very good head & ears.  This was the first time that the color had been recognized. This rabbit went home & was subsiquntly sold for snake food because Nell didn’t think that she needed that in her herd. This color started showing up again in her breeding so I thought that God was telling her that she should try working on this. This showed up in a couple of her lines so she decided to breed back chocolate to chocolate out of the different lines. This resulted with a nice litter of chocolates.
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Overall Description
Body
The Blanc de Hotot Rabbit is a large size rabbit.  Usually, the female rabbits are slightly heavier than the males, with the body weight, ranging from 9 lbs to 11 lbs (4.1 kg to 5.0 kg), whereas the males have a body weight between 8 lbs and 10 lbs (3.6 kg and 4.5 kg).
The fur of this rabbit breed has a huge number of protector hairs that generate a shine reminiscent of frost.  The breed is known for its lustrous fur, an abundance of guard hairs that gives the fur a frosty white sheen, and the striking black eye bands.
Dwarf
Dwarf Hotots are one of the cutest breeds of rabbits. They are white as snow, with a snowball shaped body. The Dwarf Hotot is a very small, compact breed, weighing 2.25-3.5 pounds, but with a maximum of 3 pounds for showing. They require a smaller living area than other rabbits, and are easily held in one's hand.
Coat
The Blanc de Hotot rabbit has soft, rollback fur that is relatively short, except for the extra-long guard hairs that give the rabbit its frosty sheen. It does not need much maintenance in order to keep it in tip-top shape.
Dwarf Hotots have rollback coats that should roll back quickly into position when stroked the wrong way.  They need little grooming when not in a molt
colors
Most Dwarf Hotots that conform to the breed standards are solid white with black around the eyes. However, the ARBA recognizes black and chocolate varieties as well. It is worth noting that when wounded, the white Dwarf Hotot's fur sometimes comes back in black.
Blanc de Hotot rabbits are completely white, its eyes are a dark brown and the only marking they should have is a ring around their eyes resembling eyeliner.
care

Dwarf Hotot Rabbits are best kept indoors to protect them from extreme temperatures, predators, and other outdoor dangers. They should be allowed to roam and exercise, preferably where they can get sunlight and fresh air. Extension hutches, exercise pens or lawn enclosures are recommended for safe outdoor exposure.
Blanc De Hotot
If kept in a cage, the enclosure should be at least five times the size of the rabbit with plenty of room to stretch and stand upright.  The rabbit enclosure can be indoors or out, weather and temperature permitting. Blanc de Hotots do not do well in extreme heat or cold, so always be aware of outdoor conditions before letting your rabbit spend time outside.
diet
Dwarf Hotot Rabbits as pets enjoy wet food, carrots, hay or lettuce, dark leaf lettuce is good. (Iceberg lettuce contains too much water and too little fiber to be suitable.) Limit giving them fruit with sugar in it.  Dwarf Hotot Rabbits are herbivorous and their diet will mainly consist of hay, pellets, and vegetables. Hay is very important for both digestive health and dental health.  Grass hays such as timothy, orchard, and oat hay can be fed in unlimited quantities, but alfalfa is high in calories and should only be provided occasionally.  Fresh pellets should also be made available daily – choose a pellet high in fiber and avoid mixes that include other foods like corn, seeds, or dried fruit.  Fruits and starchy vegetables should be limited in the diet, but make great treats! Make sure that all fresh foods are washed thoroughly, and uneaten fresh foods should be removed at the end of the day.  Fresh water should always be available, either from a sipper bottle or in a stable water bowl.
Health
Dwarf Hotots sometimes have trouble with GI stasis, so a good diet with plenty of hay is needed.  Like other small mammals, the Dwarf Hotot Rabbit can be susceptible to colds and viral infections. Exposure to draft, sudden changes in temperature and stress can lower the rabbit’s resistance to sickness. Rabbits are also vulnerable to conjunctivitis (a bacterial infection of the eyelids caused by smoke, dust, and fumes) and ear mites. Intestinal ailments like coccidiosis (parasites propagated by unsanitary conditions), bloat, and hairball obstructions are also common in rabbits.
Dwarf Hotots are susceptible to intestinal blockages caused by ingesting fur, also known as trichobezoars or hairballs.
The Blanc de Hotot rabbit is not susceptible to any hereditary diseases, but there are some things owners need to watch for. Overgrown teeth is by far one of the most common problems. Those caring for a rabbit should also check their ears periodically (bi-weekly) for any sign of ear mites, as it is also rather common, especially in outdoor rabbits. Flystrike is also another rabbit issue that occurs when flies lay their eggs in a rabbit’s soiled coat (usually on their bottom). When these eggs hatch, their sole source of protein is your rabbit. Lack of appetite, lethargy and/or sudden yelps of agony can be signs of flystrike. Take your rabbit to a veterinarian if you believe it has flystrike, as it could be deadly.
Temperment/behavior
The Blanc de Hotot Rabbits are active and strong hardy rabbit breed and they can be easily developed in all wire cages. The female rabbits of this breed are quite good mothers, and the Blanc de Hotot Rabbit have good-size litters. The juvenile rabbits of this breed will grow quite fast.  Their sweet dispositions make Blanc de Hotots great for families looking to have their first pet.
Dwarf Hotots usually have a friendly personality, making them a good choice as a pet or show rabbit. Their small size also makes them ideal pets or show rabbits.  The Dwarf Hotot Temperaments can range from outgoing to moody/unstable, but as a rule they are friendly rabbits and well suited to a pet life.  Their affectionate, playful temperament is another quality that makes the Dwarf Hotot an excellent choice for pet owners.
Caution as a pet:  Rabbits are a poor choice as a pet for young children. They may be soft and cute, but rabbits are easily stressed and frightened around loud noises and activity, and may bite or kick to get away.
 In general, rabbits are physically fragile and easily stressed, and not recommended as pets for young children.

uses
Rabbits tend to be bred for one of four things: meat, fur, show, or pet use. The Blanc de Hotot rabbit is referred to as an “All-Purpose Rabbit” because it fulfills all four of these purposes.  It is a Multi-purpose rabbit, and It is a fine breed for either meat production or for showing, and they should also make for a great pet!  Even though this is a large breed of rabbit, they are gentle and easily handled. This makes them good for pets or show rabbits as well as meat production.
The Dwarf Hotot is strictly a fancy breed.  At 3 pounds max, they are too small to be of commercial value.  Not all the babies in a litter of dwarf Hotots will be showable, some will have colored spots on their body or incomplete eyebands.
Club
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) maintains the breed standard for all of the recognized rabbit and cavy breeds for it's international membership.  Recognized breeds are eligible for Registration and Grand Champion recognition.
In 2004, additional imports to the US were made from Germany, the Netherlands and England.  The Blanc de Hotot is considered globally endangered, and is listed by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy at "threatened" status, meaning they have a global population of less than 1,000 and less than 100 registrations in the US each year.  Though recent imports from Germany to the state of Washington in 2009 and from France to Nova Scotia, Canada in 2013, the Blanc de Hotot is an endangered breed in North America.  The Blanc de Hotot is recognized by the British Rabbit Council  and the American Rabbit Breeders Association.[6] In Britain, the Blanc de Hotot is grouped with other rare rabbit breeds in the Rare Varieties Club.  In the United States, the breeder association is named the Hotot Rabbit Breeders International.
The American Dwarf Hotot Rabbit Club (ADHRC) was organized in 1982.  In 1983, the Dwarf Hotot was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA), and is one of the more recent breeds to be recognized.  It has never been without a strong following, but also has never been among the most popular breeds.   For many years, the only accepted variety was white with black eyebands.   In the year 2006, chocolate banded Dwarf Hotots were accepted by the ARBA.  The black and chocolate banded bunnies are shown together, but the color must be specified on the registration forms.  Blue-band Dwarf Hotots have also been in development, but are not very near acceptance at this time.
This breed is currently not recognized by the British Rabbit Council (BRC).
Your continued interest in the Blanc de Hotot keeps this beautiful breed alive and well by encouraging breeders to continue to strive for excellence.
The Blanc de Hotot is a beautiful rabbit that has made its way from the hearts of the French to the USA. Breeders work with people across the globe to promote and encourage the production of this breed.
The average lifespan of a Rabbit
The average lifespan of a rabbit is around 5 to 6 years and in captivity can live up to 8 years. . A rabbit is a long-term commitment with many living more than 10 years –
The average lifespan of a Dwarf Hotot is 7 to 10 years, and the litter size for this breed is 2-4 bunnies.
Word of the week: Graduate
Why the Possum's Tail is Bare
retold by Barbara Shining Woman Warren

Possum once had a very long bushy tail. He was so proud of it that he combed it out every morning and he always sang about it at the dances. Rabbit used to have a long bushy tail too, but he lost his in the frozen lake. Rabbit was jealous of Possum's tail, so he decided to play a trick on Possum.

A great council meeting and dance was to be held; all the animals were invited to attend. It was Rabbit's job to spread the news. Passing Possum's place, he stopped to ask Possum if he intended to come to the dance. Possum said, "Oh, I'll go if I have a special seat. Because I have such a handsome tail I ought to sit where everybody can see me."

Rabbit said he would definitely see to it and he would also send someone to comb and dress Possum's tail for the dance. This pleased Possum very much and he said he would be there.

Rabbit went straight way to the Cricket who was an expert hair-cutter; he is known by the Cherokee as the "barber". Rabbit told Cricket to go the very next morning and attend to Possum's tail for the dance. Rabbit told Cricket exactly how he wanted Possum's tail fixed, and then Rabbit went on about his mischief.

Bright and early the next morning, Cricket went to the Possum's place. He said he had come to get Possum ready for the dance. So Possum stretched himself out on the floor and shut his eyes while Cricket dressed his tail. Cricket combed out the tail and began to wrap a red string all around it to keep the fur smooth until that night. But as he wound the string around Possum's tail, Cricket was clipping off the hair close to the roots and Possum never knew it.

When it was time for the dance that night, Possum went to the townhouse where the dance was to be held. Just as Rabbit had promised, the very best seat was saved for Possum. Then Possum sat down and waited for his turn to dance. When his turn came, he loosened the red string from his tail and stepped into the middle of the dance circle.

The drummers began to drum and Possum began to sing. As he danced around the Circle, he sang, "See my beautiful tail." Everybody shouted and he danced around the Circle again and sang, "See what a fine color it has." The animals shouted again and he danced around another time, singing, "See how it sweeps the ground." The animals shouted louder than ever, and Possum was delighted. He danced around again and sang, "See how fine the fur is." Everybody was laughing so long and so loud that Possum stopped to see what was the matter. He looked around at the circle of animals and they were all laughing at him. Then he looked down at his beautiful tail. There wasn't a hair left on it; it was completely bare! Possum was so upset and embarrassed that he fell over on the ground in a dead faint...with a slight grin upon his face, as possums do to this very day when taken by surprise.
(adapted from "History, Myths and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokee" by James Mooney)

http://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/blanc-de-hotot
http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-breeds/dwarf-hotot-rabbit-breed-information/
http://rabbitbreeders.us/dwarf-hotot-rabbits
National Specialty Club:
www.adhrc.com
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rabbits/DwarfHototRabbit.php
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http://knowledgebase.lookseek.com/Dwarf-Hotot-Rabbit.html
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http://4-starpetcare.com/getting-to-know-dwarf-hotot-rabbit/
https://rightpet.com/breed-species/small-exotic-mammal/rabbits/dwarf-hotot-rabbit
http://www.petguide.com/breeds/rabbit/breedsrabbitblanc-de-hotot/
http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/breeds/rabbits/dwarf-hotot/
http://www.adhrc.com/
http://rabbitbreeders.us/blanc-de-hotot-rabbits
 http://www.adhrc.com/linked/choc_band_story.htm
http://www.native-languages.org/legends-rabbit.htm
http://www.powersource.com/cocinc/articles/possum.htm