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Home > Rabbits > English Spot Rabbit Info: Care, Temperament, Habitat & Traits (With Pictures)

English Spot Rabbit Info: Care, Temperament, Habitat & Traits (With Pictures)

Englsih spot bunny rabbit in the garden

If you are looking for a rabbit with a unique appearance, the English Spot Rabbit may be just what you’ve been searching for. It is a medium-sized rabbit with a one-of-a-kind coat decorated in spots. The English Spot has a friendly personality and a short coat that is easy to care for, making them an ideal pet.

Size: Medium
Weight: 5–8 pounds
Lifespan: 5–9 years
Similar Breeds: Giant Papillon, Checkered Giant
Suitable for: First-time rabbit owners, families with children, single households
Temperament: Friendly, inquisitive, docile, adaptable 

The English Spot Rabbit was developed in the United Kingdom as a fancy rabbit, or a rabbit meant to be kept as a pet. They have a calm temperament, so they fit in well with first-time rabbit owners as well as families with children. They are highly social rabbits and thrive when housed with companions rather than alone. If you think this rabbit could be the perfect addition to your family, keep reading below to learn more about what it looks like to care for this pet.

English Spot Rabbit Breed Characteristics

Energy:
Trainability:
Health:
Lifespan:
Sociability:

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How Much Do These Rabbits Cost?

The English Spot Rabbit is a relatively common breed. They will not be difficult to find, whether you adopt one from a shelter or purchase one from a breeder. Adopting an English Spot Rabbit will be cheaper than purchasing one from a breeder; either way, they are fairly inexpensive. You can expect to pay around $50 (sometimes less) to bring this furry friend home.

The price of your English Spot Rabbit will increase if you purchase a show rabbit to take to exhibitions. This is typical because the rabbit’s beauty and unique physical characteristics will be more pronounced.

However, most of your upfront expenses will go to providing your rabbit with adequate care. Before bringing your English Spot Rabbit home, you must have a suitably-sized hutch and run. You will also need food and water bowls, grooming tools, and toys.


Temperament & Intelligence of the English Spot Rabbit

English Spot Rabbits are beloved for their mild, docile demeanors. With such an even-keeled temperament, the English Spot Rabbit makes an ideal family pet. However, it typically doesn’t enjoy being handled. If you have younger children in the home prone to grabbing small, cute things, you will need to establish boundaries early on so that your English Spot Rabbit does not develop distrust and dislike for the younger children.

While the English Spot Rabbit is calm, they are also energetic. This rabbit will not be content to sit around all day; they need adequate space to hop and run around. Without enough activity, they may become restless.

Do These Rabbits Make Good Pets? 👪

The English Spot Rabbit makes an excellent pet. Since the breed was developed as show rabbits, their temperament is outstanding. They are remarkably affectionate animals and can make any owner feel loved. And while they don’t prefer to be picked up, with enough socialization, they can tolerate being gently handled.

Girl stroking a small English spotted rabbit
Image By: osobystist, Shutterstock

Does This Rabbit Get Along with Other Pets?

Since the English Spot is a social rabbit, they thrive when they have other rabbits to live with. Instead of only adopting one, try to get a male and a female. Just be sure to have them both sterilized so you don’t end up with baby bunnies hopping around!

While some English Spot rabbits may get along with dogs or cats, it is more difficult than getting along with another rabbit. Many dogs and cats may view your rabbit as prey, and cohabitation may be difficult at best. At worst, it can be dangerous. Before bringing an English Spot Rabbit home, ensure your dog or cat does not have a high prey drive.

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Things to Know When Owning an English Spot Rabbit:

Here are some important factors to consider before adopting an English Spot rabbit.

Food & Diet Requirements 🥕

Feeding your English Spot a proper diet is one of the best ways you can contribute to their good health. While commercial pellets can provide essential nutrients for your rabbit, they should only account for 5% or less of the rabbit’s diet.

High-quality hay is an irreplaceable part of your rabbit’s diet. It is an excellent source of fiber and encourages your rabbit to chew, which will help to keep their teeth at an acceptable length.

Veggies can be fed to your rabbit on a regular rotation. Leafy greens are especially healthy for your English Spot. Be sure to introduce new veggies gradually so your rabbit does not experience any digestive upset.

english spot rabbit on straw with food pellets in dish
Image Credit: Maria Dryfhout, Shutterstock

Habitat & Hutch Requirements 🏠

You shouldn’t bring an English Spot Rabbit home if you don’t have a safe place to house it. You need an expansive hutch and run for this rabbit since they require quite a bit of room to stay active. At an absolute minimum, your rabbit’s cage should be four times their size.

Amenities that must be included in your rabbit’s enclosure include open space, a place to go potty (such as a litter box), a water bottle, a food dish, and toys.

Exercise & Sleeping Needs 🐇

Since the English Spot Rabbit is an active rabbit, they will need a lot of exercise. Providing them with a large and secure enclosure will give them plenty of space to run around and burn off energy. You can also provide them with toys to keep them moving. Perches, ramps, and other fixtures built into your rabbit’s enclosure can encourage your English Spot to explore and stay active.

Training 🥎

English Spot Rabbits were bred to show rabbits, and training is something they were born to do. You can train your English Spot Rabbit to use the litter box or go beyond the basics and teach them fun tricks. Either way, positive reinforcement will be your most effective tool to teach your pet desired behaviors.

Your English Spot Rabbit will respond poorly to punishments or other forms of negative reinforcement, so avoid these inefficient methods. Using negative reinforcement may create a setback in your training, damage your bond with your rabbit, and make them unwilling to train with you. Therefore, sticking to rewards, praises, and treats is the best way to teach your rabbit right from wrong.

Grooming ✂️

The English Spot Rabbit has a short coat, making grooming relatively simple. You will need to brush its fur regularly to keep the skin and coat healthy and clean. You will also want to trim your rabbit’s nails when they grow too long. Since rabbits’ teeth grow constantly, you must make regular appointments with your vet to have your pet’s teeth filed down if their food is not doing the trick. If your rabbit’s diet doesn’t seem to help maintain the length of their teeth, consult your vet and discuss what dietary changes can be made.

Lifespan and Health Conditions 🏥

The English Spot rabbit is generally healthy, although there are some health complications that you will need to watch out for, both serious and minor. One concerning condition that all rabbit owners should be aware of is gastrointestinal stasis or GI stasis. GI stasis occurs when the passage of food through the GI tract slows to a crawl. This impediment is often caused by a drastic change in your rabbit’s GI bacteria, but in some cases, it can be caused by a physical obstruction such as a hairball. It can cause your rabbit to stop eating, and as it progresses, it can lead to severe consequences, including organ failure and death.

Another serious condition to be on the lookout for is flystrike. This maggot infestation most often occurs when a rabbit’s living conditions are sub-optimal. However, it can technically happen to any rabbit, so always be vigilant even if your rabbit’s living conditions are exceptional.

Minor Conditions:
  • Ear mites
  • Malocclusion
Serious Conditions:
  • GI stasis
  • Flystrike

divider-rabbitpaw1Male vs Female

Generally, the temperament and appearance of male and female English Spot rabbits are about the same. However, you should be aware of a significant health risk that unspayed female English Spot Rabbits can face.

There is an extremely high risk of uterine cancer in unspayed females. As many as 60% of unspayed female rabbits over three years old will develop uterine cancer. To avoid this, spaying your rabbit is highly encouraged.

Chocolate English Spot Rabbit
EnglishSpotRabbitChocolate1(cropped) Image By: Kat Chzhen, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0 

3 Little-Known Facts About the English Spot Rabbit

1. English Spot Rabbits Can Have Unique Markings

The English Spot is adorned with dazzling spots that cause many people to covet its beauty. Their patterning includes dark rings around the eyes, colorful ears, polka dots on the cheeks, trails of spots along the sides, and a butterfly nose marking.


2. The English Spot Rabbit Was Bred to be a Show Rabbit

The fact that the English Spot Rabbit was meant to be a show rabbit is quite unusual. When the English Spot breed was developed, it was rare to breed rabbits for shows.


3. The Breed’s Origins Are Mysterious

The specifics of the English Spot Rabbit’s origins are not entirely known. Some believe the rabbit is derived from the Great Lorrainese or Great Papillon, while others believe they are descended from the English Butterfly.

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Final Thoughts

The English Spot Rabbit is an ideal pet for first-time rabbit owners and experienced pet parents. Its docile nature makes it a friendly companion for adults as well as children, and with proper socialization, it can tolerate being handled. While they are calm in nature, they still require quite a bit of activity and will thrive best in an active environment with plenty of space to roam. If you believe you can provide the necessary care for this incredible rabbit, consider adding the English Spot to your home!

See Also:


Featured Image Credit: MarkClark22, Shutterstock

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