http://americanenglishspot.webs.com/
English Spot
The English Spot is a full arched breed, and as such should be allowed to run the table when being judged. Letting the rabbit move naturally allows for the full impact of body type and markings to be seen.
Senior bucks and senior does should weigh 5-8 pounds. Ideal weight: Bucks 6 pounds, Does 7 pounds.
Junior bucks and junior does should weigh between 3-6 pounds.
Body: The body should be carried up off of the table to show lots of daylight underneath. The hindquarters should be well rounded, not flat or chopped.
Feet & Legs: The legs should be long and slender, medium to fine boned. One or more colored toenails are permissible.
Head & Ears: Ears are to be carried upright. The head should be in proportion to the body, with buck having a more broad head than does.
Fur: The fur should be short, dense, and fine in texture. English Spots should have flyback fur.
Head Markings: The head is to be free of stray spots. Disqualifications are connections between any head markings, or more than one stray spot.
Butterfly: The nose marking should be in the shape of a butterfly. The wings should be rounded and circle the nose from lip to lip. The nose fork should be in proportion to the wings and extend about 1/2 inch up the face. Disqualify for split butterfly, or any white spots in the butterfly.
Eye Circles: The eyes should be surrounded by an even band of color. Both should be alike and balance with the rest of the markings. Ideally, they should be as round as possible, but a feather over the eye circle should not be considered a fault. Disqualify for absence of either eye circle.
Cheek Spots: The cheek spot is a round spot on each side of the head, below the eye, on the whisker bump. They should balance with the other markings. Disqualify for double cheek spot, split cheek spot, or either cheek spot missing.
Herringbone: The herringbone should be a stripe of color, starting behind the ears, and run in an unbroken line to the tip of the tail. The edges should show a herringbone effect, which is ragged spikes. The width should be in proportion with the other markings. Disqualify for more than one break, including a late start, but excluding weak tail color, or a break that is longer than 1/4 inch.
Side Markings: The chain, body and hip markings form the pattern on the sides. The chain starts at the nape of the neck with one spot and moves downward toward the stomach, increasing in size and number. The body markings connect the end of the chain to the hip markings. They should carry in a line along the stomach, leaving a clear white area along the stomach. The body markings should sweep up toward the herringbone and join the hip markings. The hip markings are on the hindquarters of the rabbit. They should come up toward the herringbone, but not touch it.
Graduation: The spots on the sides should increase in size through the entire pattern, with the largest spots being on the hip.
Balance: Both sides should be marked alike. Disqualify for side markings missing on one or both sides.
Belly/Teat Spots: These six spots are desirable, but the absence does not disqualify. A stripe down the center of the belly is not desirable, but permissible.
Leg Spots: A spot on each elbow and hock is desirable, but lack of the marking does not disqualify.
Senior bucks and senior does should weigh 5-8 pounds. Ideal weight: Bucks 6 pounds, Does 7 pounds.
Junior bucks and junior does should weigh between 3-6 pounds.
Body: The body should be carried up off of the table to show lots of daylight underneath. The hindquarters should be well rounded, not flat or chopped.
Feet & Legs: The legs should be long and slender, medium to fine boned. One or more colored toenails are permissible.
Head & Ears: Ears are to be carried upright. The head should be in proportion to the body, with buck having a more broad head than does.
Fur: The fur should be short, dense, and fine in texture. English Spots should have flyback fur.
Head Markings: The head is to be free of stray spots. Disqualifications are connections between any head markings, or more than one stray spot.
Butterfly: The nose marking should be in the shape of a butterfly. The wings should be rounded and circle the nose from lip to lip. The nose fork should be in proportion to the wings and extend about 1/2 inch up the face. Disqualify for split butterfly, or any white spots in the butterfly.
Eye Circles: The eyes should be surrounded by an even band of color. Both should be alike and balance with the rest of the markings. Ideally, they should be as round as possible, but a feather over the eye circle should not be considered a fault. Disqualify for absence of either eye circle.
Cheek Spots: The cheek spot is a round spot on each side of the head, below the eye, on the whisker bump. They should balance with the other markings. Disqualify for double cheek spot, split cheek spot, or either cheek spot missing.
Herringbone: The herringbone should be a stripe of color, starting behind the ears, and run in an unbroken line to the tip of the tail. The edges should show a herringbone effect, which is ragged spikes. The width should be in proportion with the other markings. Disqualify for more than one break, including a late start, but excluding weak tail color, or a break that is longer than 1/4 inch.
Side Markings: The chain, body and hip markings form the pattern on the sides. The chain starts at the nape of the neck with one spot and moves downward toward the stomach, increasing in size and number. The body markings connect the end of the chain to the hip markings. They should carry in a line along the stomach, leaving a clear white area along the stomach. The body markings should sweep up toward the herringbone and join the hip markings. The hip markings are on the hindquarters of the rabbit. They should come up toward the herringbone, but not touch it.
Graduation: The spots on the sides should increase in size through the entire pattern, with the largest spots being on the hip.
Balance: Both sides should be marked alike. Disqualify for side markings missing on one or both sides.
Belly/Teat Spots: These six spots are desirable, but the absence does not disqualify. A stripe down the center of the belly is not desirable, but permissible.
Leg Spots: A spot on each elbow and hock is desirable, but lack of the marking does not disqualify.
