Do you really know all about this rabbit breed? Would you like to know more? Do you want to figure out if this is about to be your dream rabbit? If this is the case, stick around to learn about the Checkered Giant and its history, common personalities, characteristics, its sizing/weight, any common medical problems, and extra care!
The History Behind the Checkered Giant Rabbit Breed:
The entire story isn’t quite clear, but the belief is that this rabbit was first recognized as a separate breed around 1800. The breed at this time was considered “Land Kaninchen.” The soon-to-be breed was either founded in France or Germany, but there were breeders in Germany who would take the “Land Kaninchen” rabbits and breed them to Flemish Giants. This made the “Lorraine”, or the “Great German Spotted Rabbit.”
It wasn’t until 1904 that the Great German Spotted rabbit was then bred to a black Flemish Giant to produce what we know today as the Checkered Giant. This rabbit was then transported to America six years later, to then be accepted into the ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association).
Common Characteristics of the Checkered Giant:
This rabbit is known for its slender, but muscular build. The rabbit’s ears should be upright almost all of the time, but not expected to be all of the time like most breeds. The rabbit’s head is very broad and refined.
The coat of fur for the Checkered Giant is short and soft, allowing maintenance to be very simple and short-winded. The coat’s colors will usually consist of white with black/blue spots throughout the rabbit’s body.
The markings of this rabbit are very distinctive. The accepted ARBA markings include the butterfly on the nose, a line down the rabbit’s spine, and two spots of either side of the body. All of these markings must be either black or blue to meet the ARBA’s standards.
Common Personalities Found in This Breed:
The Checkered giant is a very sweet rabbit with quite the curiosity. They love the attention of owners, and really do take advantage of activity time. They love to stay active and enjoy their time out and about.
Size & Weight:
This is the first rabbit breed that I have gone over that is considered a giant, which is quite obvious due to the breed’s name. This breed has a very muscular body that still looks very slender somehow. Due to the slender factor of this breed, they can be quite long as well.
The average weight of a healthy Checkered Giant is anywhere from 11 to 13 lbs. That is one heavy bunny! These rabbits may look like the average rabbit, but in reality, they are large, heavy, and muscular animals.
Common Medical Problems:
This rabbit breed doesn’t have any known medical problems that are commonly found within the genetics of this rabbit.
Extra Care:
This rabbit does need a very large encloser due to its stature. This means more work with cleaning the area for playtime. Larger rabbit, larger cage, larger area, that’s just how it is. This is all in the name of proper rabbit care.
Sources:
“Checkered Giant Rabbit Breed Information and Pictures.” PetGuide, 20 Oct. 2017, www.petguide.com/breeds/rabbit/checkered-giant-rabbit/.
Thanks for all of the love and support that has been given throughout all of the last couple of posts. Please continue to come back every other day to learn more about rabbit care and different breeds. As always, continue to spread proper rabbit care, and I will talk to you soon, bye!
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