Polish Rabbit
The Polish rabbit is a small domestic rabbit breed that is frequently raised by fanciers and frequently displayed at rabbit competitions. The Polish rabbit, despite its name, probably originated in England rather than Poland. The breed known as Polish in the UK is also known as Britannia Petite in the US. In the UK, there is no information on the breed known as Polish.
Prior to the 1950s, the majority of Polish rabbits in the US had white coats and either red or blue eyes. A real albino is white with ruby eyes. The blue-eyed white is not a true albino but carries the white gene of the Vienna breed. Rabbit clubs have accepted colored Polish variants since the 1950s. The American Rabbit Breeders' Association first identified a black and a chocolate hue in Polish rabbits in 1957. The blue variety was acknowledged in 1982, and the shattered variety received approval in 1998.
The American Polish rabbits, especially the bucks, are often relaxed and amiable. If the does are not spayed, they may become aggressive. When handling rabbits, children should constantly be watched to make sure the animal is not unintentionally hurt. When left outside of their cage, rabbits can be readily trained to accept a harness and leash as well as to use a litter box. It is essential to "rabbit-proof" a space where a rabbit is allowed to roam freely. Rabbits love to chew on electrical cables, baseboards, and carpets.
